Do you use sick days if you aren't sick?

[Deleted]

We are given 10 sick days a year as a benefit. If you don't use them, you lose them. They are considered part of our leave time - we also have vacation, personal days, floating holidays, and a volunteer day.

Should I use some before the end of the year? They are part of my overall compensation package.... and I'm pissed off about my raise this year (announced today) so I want to use my "compensation". :@

(this is not my style, I have only ever called in sick when I had something urgent come up, when something major emotionally came up, and when I'm actually sick)

[Kore]

Mental health days totally count, IMO.

[Deleted]

I don't but if I had that policy I may. I use sick time for doctor's appointments but rarely a whole day. I get legit sick maybe twice a year and I am just recovering from sick but could probably go in another one day a year.

[dexteroni]

I did occasionally. I used them on days when I just couldn't deal (which I guess would be a mental health day), and a few times when I had barely gotten any sleep the night before (usually because of a sick dog or something). I only did it when I knew it would be ok to be out; I wouldn't have done it on a deadline day or client meeting day or anything.

[drloretta]

I've used them for mental health days.

[oukapu]

Only once...on a Tuesday when I was tired of my job...early on in my career.

However, if you do it, don't be too obvious.

[puppyluv]

I was "sick" with stomach pains one day that I wanted to stay home and watch the olympics withoout it being spoiled. I am rarely able to take a sick day when I am actually sick because of deadlines. I usually preplan my sick days based on good times at work to take off.

On a side note, while I have no interest in having kids, I am super jealous that my coworkers can use the kid excuse to take all their sick days every year. If only it was acceptable to say my dog is sick, so I need to stay home with her.

[jewel]

I would never let time off expire and disappear! That's almost as bad as missing out on a 401k match.

Use it for a mental health day, sleep recovery day, full day for a dentist appointment & recovery, or just a sick of work/life day.

We don't have to specifically acount for any sick time unless it is more than 3 days in a row. I'd just call in sick or schedule a sick day off. Throw in "womanly problems" or "explosive stomach issues" if anyone tries to hassle you.

[oukapu]

Migraine is popular

[LoveTrains]

See I don't think you should use up all 10 if you aren't actually sick. IMO that is abusing the system. I think a mental health day is OK bu the days aren't for vacation - you have other time off for that.

I prefer a separate sick and vacation bank but it's not OK to take half your sick time if you aren't actually sick. Bu

[LoveTrains]

Did you ask for a raise during your review?

[HitchedIn2006]

Did mental health days about once a month at an old job where I knew I was going to quit w/in the year. Boss didn't care and encouraged us to take mental health days; she knew we were paid crap and had poor benefits.

[mbcdefg]

I don't get the point of letting them Go to waste.

I generally try to save them in case I genuinely need them, but on occasion I've taken a mental health day ... to clean the house, run a daytime errand, or take a break.

Life's too short to spend in an office all the time.

[pugz]

We are penalized for calling in and my coworkers have to pick up the slack, so i try not to. It is all one bank so i save for pre-planned days off. At previous jobs i used it all.

[joenali]

I get 10 sick days per school year and they accrue. We get two personal days that we use or lose. I think I took 2 days of sick days and I wasnt sick. I'm trying not to use them, but sometimes you just need a day off.

[salsaverde]

I only get 5 and I use them all up before the end of the year.

[orangeblossom]

I use them for actual sick days and for doctors appointments. Depending on when the appt is, I may take the whole day off.

[aspentosh]

Aug 21, 2012 22:34:25 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Aug 21, 2012 22:30:00 GMT -5 Kore said:

Mental health days totally count, IMO.

I love mental health days.

:Y:

[Deleted]

I do take the occasional mental health day. My boss encourages us to after we finish a big project. I get 60 sick days right now, so it's kind of a drop in the bucket as I'll never use them all up.

[chessie]

If I had them I would use them! I used 2 days of vacation for sick/mental health, I wanted to tell my boss I was sick of work that was the reasoning now coming into work!!

[chessie]

Aug 21, 2012 22:48:00 GMT -5 jewel said:

Use it for a mental health day, sleep recovery day, full day for a dentist appointment & recovery, or just a sick of work/life day.

We don't have to specifically acount for any sick time unless it is more than 3 days in a row. I'd just call in sick or schedule a sick day off. Throw in "womanly problems" or "explosive stomach issues" if anyone tries to hassle you.

Some places ask for a note if your sick more then 2 days or so..I know where I am at, they would want proof of why you were sick for a long time.

[Redpoppy]

I do every few months. A day off can greatly improve my mental state. I don't go to the beach or do fun stuff. I sleep, watch tv, and read magazines in a quiet house. Usually I feel off to some degree when it happens and I wouldn't do it on a deadline or day I have to be in.

[Deleted]

I get 12 sick days and 2 personal days. I use sick days for dr appointments, and will be gone all day, when it could be a half day.

Sent from my DROID3 using proboards

[mrshandy]

Not really at this point. I'm saving my time for #2. Also, our sick days never expire, so I like to save them for emergencies.

Plus with DS, I really need to save my sick time for him since I never know what fun illnesses the winter will hold.

I probably would in your situation.

[rikki]

No, but I've always worked at places with fairly generous vacation policies. I am very rarely actually sick and have probably averaged 1-2 sick days a year during the past 8 years.

[Mrs.Beagle]

Being sick of work is reason enough for me. Especially if it's a "use or lose" situation.

[thedash]

Every once in a while is ok but some employers are really touchy about using sick days if you're not actually sick. I like some PP's ideas about taking sick time for a doctor or dentist appt and just staying out all day.

[madringal]

We get 6 a year and they roll over to a max of 10. But we also have a policy for too many call ins. At 3 in a rolling 12 months you get a verbal warning, 4 is written, and 5 is recommendation for termination. sick days are not designed for employees to call off. They are there for planned sick days (doctors appts, dental work, out patient procedures) and the occasional call off.

[thatgirl2478]

I don't get any paid time off now. If I don't work, I don't get paid. However, in the past I have used sick days as 'Mental Health' days. I wish that kind of thinking would pass as a reason not to come in, but sadly I'd usually just email my boss and say I wasn't feeling well and I wouldn't be in. That way I'd avoid the awkward 'but you don't sound sick' pause...

[galaxy8227]

I do occasionally if I really need a break but ours carry over to a max of 250 so I really try to save them now that I have DS and for planning for baby #2