What's an Acceptable amount of sick days?

[Wildrose]

I'm asking for help on this because I'm beginning to suspect I have a real problem. I've been sick a lot this year... well, last year technically. It's my first year with the company, and I don't like it. Some of it was completely unavoidable, like the week long martian death flu and the complications after getting a wisdom tooth taken out.

But now! I've gotten shingles this month. If you've never had it, shingles is the recurrence of the chicken pox virus. It stays dorment in your body forever, but if it recurs it can be quite serious. The main result is shooting, horrific nerve pain which can linger as long as 2 years. I stayed home for 3 days because of that, but it seems I'm in luck because the pain is gone. All I have is numbness in my side. Then, 2 weeks later, I had a stomach bug and stayed home for one day. Now, today, I've just caught a sinus cold with sore throat and fever. The sore throat is the problem because I talk all day and it's hard to do when I'm coughing uncontrollably.

Anyway, I guess what I'm asking is, is this normal? Shingles happens because of a depression of the immune system. It can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, almost anything. But I seem to be getting sick so much! I'm full time so my job pays me for those days, but that makes me feel guilty. I rather wish they weren't paying me, I would feel better then. I might be a bit of a wuss about it sometimes, but I don't make anything up... would you all say this is normal?  Or should I go to the doctor and see if there's something wrong with my immune system? I seem to catch every darn thing... help please!

[DottyG]

Had shingles.  And, you were right to stay home.  Mine was on my face and got into my eye.  And I still remember the excrutiating pain it caused.

Talk to your supervisor and tell him/her that this really isn't typical.  Be upfront and honest and find out what they're thinking.  That will relieve your mind a lot.

And, do get your immune system checked.  To be honest, I think you're just under a great amount of stress with a new job, and your immune system is saying "WHOA NELLY!"  But, it never hurts to get it checked out and just make sure all is well.

Talk to your supervisor, though.  Seriously - as soon as you can for your own piece of mind.

[Chocolate Cake]

I found that I would get sick most often when I had a job I didn't like either because of the work or because of the boss.  Is that your case?

As far as your sick days go, does your company have a stated policy on paid time off?   If so, and if you are within that timeframe, you'll be okay.  That's what it is there for.

However, if you feel like you are stretching your boss' goodwill, why not offer to pick up some time on the week-end or evenings to make up for your absences?

(By the way, I've had shingles before, too.   That pain sure does cut to the bone, doesn't it?  Anti-viral meds and pain relievers helped me a lot.  Of course, I did walk with a slight limp for a while as the shingles were on my upper thigh.)

[Lexophile]

I would definitely have your immune system checked. It could be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency that's causing your immune system not to work properly.

Many people have been out where I work this season. We seem to have an inordinate amount of "floating sicknesses" that people are passing around. I have been sick three times this winter and I hadn't taken a sick day in the past five years. Seeing your doctor is definitely an appropriate first step. And you can show your supervisor that you are trying to be proactive about it and not just taking time off. 

[Katharine]

I would talk to your boss/supervisor and just be honest. If they know that you know it is a little out of hand they will probably be willing to work with you.

I once had a boss who tried to have me fired for missing 3 days in 2 years. She however had missed 16 days in 7 weeks. I knew she was trying to drive me out and I quit the next week. I was so relieved to be away from her. I have true horror stories.

[Katharine]

Oh and I hope you feel better soon!

[beakiebean]

I'd also try to be extra diligent about making sure your getting enough sleep, taking a multi-vitamin, eating well, and exercising. Those will all help keep you healthy.

I agree though that this year everything seems to be going around. I'm hardly ever sick and I feel like I've hardly been well this winter. I don't know why but it seems like whenever we have a mild winter that everyone is sicker. Maybe the nice weather keeps the germs alive longer?

[Sirius]

Things seem to happen when you've just started a job. I had been on a job for three months when I developed a nasty upper respiratory infection, and had to take three days off.  Mr. Sirius has been on his job for 6 months, and he had to take off because he developed cellulitis in his left leg. 

[nonesuch4]

Wow, you've been under a lot of stress.  You only stayed home 3 days?

I had been laid off from my job, (unexpected and unwllingly), my cat had decided to become anorexic, and as I fretted over how to keep her alive, DH said, "You're going to make yourself sick."  As soon as she started to eat again, I became nauseous, chills, fever, funny little rash on my back.  The Dr. was rubbing her hands together, saying, "Classic, the symptoms are classic."  I felt like death warmed over for five weeks.  If I got up at six am, I needed a nap four hours later. 

Here is what helped me feel better: Make sure you have good food for your body to repair itself.  I don't know what you do, but try to eat something every four hours.  You don't need to eat more, just divide up your meals so you're never running on empty.

Oddly, the five weeks I ate every time I felt ambitious enough to walk to the kitchen, I lost five pounds.

[hobish]

I'm going to throw in with the talk honestly to your supervisor & let him/her know that this isn't nomal for you. I actually had to do just that a bit ago myself because i was calling out a lot. When i told my sup, "hey, i'm really sorry i have been out so much, the ulcer i have that should be gone by now has gotten worse; but i am taking steps to fix it," they were very understanding. Most corporate policies don't require you to share exactly why you are out, but sometimes it helps, i think, as long as they don't think you're looking for pity. My sick time is finally back up to 0 hours available, i'd been at negative something for a while. I definitely sympathize.


All those suggestions to make sure you are eating right & getting enough sleep, etc. are excellent, too!

I really hope you feel better, too!

[WithoutIssue]

I think the already previously posted advice about talking to your supervisor is a good idea.

Something else to consider is that you may be exposed to a whole new range of lurgies which are affecting your immune system.

Although I have numerous immunity problems related to my asthma, they were well controlled for years until I changed jobs.  My former job had been predominantly with people who had no kids and the employer was also very insistent that if you were sick you do not come into the office. My next job was with a lot pf parents whose kids naturally caught bugs at school etc and this combined with a poor sick leave policy meant that I was in turn exposed to every cough, cold, flu and so on going around. I had a long spell in hospital with a severe chest infection, then some months later got whooping cough. It took two years before my immune system adjusted and I stopped getting sick. (I'd like to think it probably would have been less if I'd not been hit so hard with the chest infection and whooping cough.) I did talk to my manger because I was feeling worried about the amount of time I was taking off and he said it was funny but all new staff seemed to get sick! They never did anything about it.

Maybe your system is still adjusting to a new environment?

[MerryRaven]

As a supervisor I would agree with everyone here.

Also as a supervisor I don't want you there when you are sick with something contagious, tummy bugs, colds and flu are things that can be passed on to others.  I would rather, as a supervisor have a person that stays home when falling ill to possibly prevent the spread of illness.

Shingles is entirely different and I know can be very serious.  I had an employee who had it. 

Just be really honest that this isn't normal for you, you are just going through a rough patch right now.

[supotco]

Our general office policy is anything over 10 days looks ooky. But if you really are verifiably, genuinely sick for longer, well, you are sick.

[Oxymoroness]

Anyway, I guess what I'm asking is, is this normal? Shingles happens because of a depression of the immune system. It can be caused by stress, lack of sleep, almost anything. But I seem to be getting sick so much! I'm full time so my job pays me for those days, but that makes me feel guilty.

When you're actually sick* the appropriate number is the number it takes to get better. Do what you can, get your immune system checked out, etc. and be honest with your supervisor. If it's a company worth working for, then they'll understand.

FWIW, about 2 to 3 three months after every major event in my life I get sick as a dog. So, what you're going through isn't surprising to me. Feel better soon!

*Sorry, I'm projecting. My co-irkers the Princess and the Slacker often take sick days when they're not.

[Sterling]

I feel just like you.  I have been at this job right at a year now and I feel so guilty.  I started off here after getting over a serious upper respitory infection.  I was ok for almost 2 months and then was sick agian.  Since then I have also had 2 cases of extream food posioning, strep, and the full blown flu.  I also have had some personal issues where I have had to take vacation time to deal with.  I worry that they think I just want off all the time.  I try to tell myself that I still have a build up of vacation time and sick leave so I can't have been gone to much right?  After all they give me the time I am allowed to use it correct?  And I still feel bad.

Just explain to your supervisor that you have been feeling very ill and hopefully you'll know why soon.  then go to the doc and find out.