Falling ill with a new job
Discussion
Hi all,
I started a new job about 5 weeks ago, and thanks to sods law I've taken ill with strep throat this week after a few weeks of having a sore throat. Talking, swallowing, and to an extent, breathing are difficult and painful.
I've been to the doctor on Tuesday after waking up in a much worse condition, who advised that I not work as my condition will only get worse, and is potentially contagious. I phoned my manager right away, and gave her the bad news, and offered to do the part of my role that is fairly isolated and doesn't involve talking, or anything I find difficult. She was friendly and helpful but said that if the doctor has advised it, then I mustn't come into work until I was completely well.
It doesn't help that this role is a huge step for me - I've always tried as hard as I possibly can, but this is a very prestigious 'halo' company and so I've been pushing myself as hard as possible since I started. I also relocated 600 miles or so for it, so I'm desperate for it to work out.
I'm just annoyed that I never once had a day off ill in my 3 years at my last place, and have been bored out of my head and living off soup for the last 2 days.
Is there anything I can be doing in the meantime so that this won't reflect quite so badly on me?
I started a new job about 5 weeks ago, and thanks to sods law I've taken ill with strep throat this week after a few weeks of having a sore throat. Talking, swallowing, and to an extent, breathing are difficult and painful.
I've been to the doctor on Tuesday after waking up in a much worse condition, who advised that I not work as my condition will only get worse, and is potentially contagious. I phoned my manager right away, and gave her the bad news, and offered to do the part of my role that is fairly isolated and doesn't involve talking, or anything I find difficult. She was friendly and helpful but said that if the doctor has advised it, then I mustn't come into work until I was completely well.
It doesn't help that this role is a huge step for me - I've always tried as hard as I possibly can, but this is a very prestigious 'halo' company and so I've been pushing myself as hard as possible since I started. I also relocated 600 miles or so for it, so I'm desperate for it to work out.
I'm just annoyed that I never once had a day off ill in my 3 years at my last place, and have been bored out of my head and living off soup for the last 2 days.
Is there anything I can be doing in the meantime so that this won't reflect quite so badly on me?
If this reflects badly on you I say you are working for an ass.
You called in immediately, presume you have a doctors note (not sure how doctors work in England) and you offered to work isolated etc. What more can you do, everyone gets ill at some point, yours happened to be at the start of your job, I have just taken my first sick day since starting work 16 years ago. No difference, being ill is being ill no matter when it is.
As a manager of a team of 12 in the finance industry I would rather a contagious employee stayed off and got better rather than pass it to me, I would re allocate work and assist with the slack until employee is back. As a manager my primary concern is my staff, if they are happy and well they will work efficiently, if they are not happy or ill efficiency drops and mistakes are more likely.
You called in immediately, presume you have a doctors note (not sure how doctors work in England) and you offered to work isolated etc. What more can you do, everyone gets ill at some point, yours happened to be at the start of your job, I have just taken my first sick day since starting work 16 years ago. No difference, being ill is being ill no matter when it is.
As a manager of a team of 12 in the finance industry I would rather a contagious employee stayed off and got better rather than pass it to me, I would re allocate work and assist with the slack until employee is back. As a manager my primary concern is my staff, if they are happy and well they will work efficiently, if they are not happy or ill efficiency drops and mistakes are more likely.
megapixels83 said:
If this reflects badly on you I say you are working for an ass.
You called in immediately, presume you have a doctors note (not sure how doctors work in England) and you offered to work isolated etc. What more can you do, everyone gets ill at some point, yours happened to be at the start of your job, I have just taken my first sick day since starting work 16 years ago. No difference, being ill is being ill no matter when it is.
As a manager of a team of 12 in the finance industry I would rather a contagious employee stayed off and got better rather than pass it to me, I would re allocate work and assist with the slack until employee is back. As a manager my primary concern is my staff, if they are happy and well they will work efficiently, if they are not happy or ill efficiency drops and mistakes are more likely.
Can I work for you please?You called in immediately, presume you have a doctors note (not sure how doctors work in England) and you offered to work isolated etc. What more can you do, everyone gets ill at some point, yours happened to be at the start of your job, I have just taken my first sick day since starting work 16 years ago. No difference, being ill is being ill no matter when it is.
As a manager of a team of 12 in the finance industry I would rather a contagious employee stayed off and got better rather than pass it to me, I would re allocate work and assist with the slack until employee is back. As a manager my primary concern is my staff, if they are happy and well they will work efficiently, if they are not happy or ill efficiency drops and mistakes are more likely.
You seem nice.
xjay1337 said:
Can I work for you please?
You seem nice.
I have always said I will treat my staff just as I would expect to be treated and just learned from the managers and directors I have had. The ones that treated every one as part of the team and human always got the best results from us. The ones that treated us as a bunch of people that had to obey their every demand and thought life should stop because of work never got the results from us as our motivation was zapped. Never had anyone take the piss in 4 years of management (short i know) but so far so good and the company appreciates it as we are always on top with our budgets, results and client feed back.You seem nice.
I came down with what I thought was a bad cold, about 3 weeks into a new job this year. Turned out to be glandular fever in the end, only went to the quack due to the inflamed glands worrying the missus!
I just sucked it up, went to work, struggled through the day and did my best, then home to collapse in bed with a fever for ~12 hrs, rinse and repeat for a fortnight until I recovered finally.
I just sucked it up, went to work, struggled through the day and did my best, then home to collapse in bed with a fever for ~12 hrs, rinse and repeat for a fortnight until I recovered finally.
Had something similar at the start of the year. New job, was really happy in it, still in probation period and I haven't taken sick leave in about 7 years... And I got struck with a really bad flu.
Was slightly dreading having to call in sick - but when I did the reaction was "look after yourself and don't come back until you're 100% recovered" - which was nice
I ended up being off for two weeks. It never came up again and nobody really seemed to care.
If your employer does have an issue with it, then it's possibly not the dream job it seems to be.
Was slightly dreading having to call in sick - but when I did the reaction was "look after yourself and don't come back until you're 100% recovered" - which was nice
I ended up being off for two weeks. It never came up again and nobody really seemed to care.
If your employer does have an issue with it, then it's possibly not the dream job it seems to be.
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