54% of Canadians have faked sick to skip work

[Table 5]

I'd like to say yes, but unfortunately, calling in sick when you're your own boss is self-defeatist. You don't get paid if you don't work, and all the work is still waiting for you when you come back. Usually the only time I claim to be sick to clients is not when I want to do something fun instead, but when I'm so backed up with work, I need a little breathing room to get back on track.

I love working for myself, but I miss the idea of taking days off and still getting paid!

[Galakanokis]

I'm salaried and sign my own timesheet so it is all a wash in the end anyways...

Company only offers 5 sick days a year which is really low in my opinion. It can be tough especially if you have young kids that daycares won't take when sick.
Don't think I have ever called in sick when I wasn't but I have definitely just said I'm not coming into work on Friday/Monday whatever.

I worked a union gig years ago and and out going tech had over a 120 banked sick days on top of nearly 9 weeks of banked OT and holidays. It was crazy.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I worked at a large O&G company that refused to have flex days. The number of people that developed 24 hr ailments was staggering.

Truth is, a day a month goes a long way in addressing a lot of life's appointments and what not that need to get taken care of. At least with a flex day it's a proper program and and can be structured. I'd rather know a staff member is going to have a day off than get the email at 7:59am....

[worth]

I'm gonna get called out for this but I've been working full time since 2006 and have not called in fake sick once. I'm not really sure why people think this is OK. I guess it's not a big deal if you get paid an hourly wage and don't get paid when you're not there, but if you take salary, or get paid sick days off, I think it's pretty unethical. I guess it's easy for me to say since I really like my job and I want to go to work every day pretty much.

My Aunt and Uncle use all their sick days to the maximum and they are some of the nicest and honest people I know, but to me it just does not seem right.

We do not get paid sick days at my work and I am of the opinion that nobody should get paid sick days unless you are legitimately sick and can prove it. Sick days and personal days are BS further pussification of society.

Edit: Reading Hulse's post above makes a lot of sense as well. I can understand that part of the argument as well.

[t0rrent98]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Come work at SAIT. 4 weeks vacation + 1 week at Xmas + 10 EDO days + 10 sick days.

But then you would have to work at sait...

Nothing wrong with that, get to flirt with the girls there.... Haha.

[sa226]

Where I work it is all based on credit hours in a day. When sick, whatever credit you missed is removed from your sick bank.

If I were to take an average credit day and divide it into my sick bank, I would have something just shy of 30 sick days available.

Anybody wanna go to Tijuana?

[Shin Pad]

Being self employed, I can honestly say I haven't taken a sick day in 20 years. It's not that I haven't been sick - it just that I work through it. It's one of the "perks" of working out of my home.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by worth

I'm gonna get called out for this but I've been working full time since 2006 and have not called in fake sick once. I'm not really sure why people think this is OK. I guess it's not a big deal if you get paid an hourly wage and don't get paid when you're not there, but if you take salary, or get paid sick days off, I think it's pretty unethical. I guess it's easy for me to say since I really like my job and I want to go to work every day pretty much.

My Aunt and Uncle use all their sick days to the maximum and they are some of the nicest and honest people I know, but to me it just does not seem right.

We do not get paid sick days at my work and I am of the opinion that nobody should get paid sick days unless you are legitimately sick and can prove it. Sick days and personal days are BS further pussification of society.

Edit: Reading Hulse's post above makes a lot of sense as well. I can understand that part of the argument as well.

Because not wanting to work 40+ hours a week for the rest of your life for a company that in the end could not give two sharts for you makes you a p*ssy.

Maybe some people have more to their life than their job? and if calling in 'sick' once or twice a year makes you happy I say go for it. There is more to life than work.

I'm guessing you are much older Worth, no offense, as that sounds like something my grandpa would say. Back in the day that is all anyone lived for, work. Times have changed, people like their personal time. We shouldn't have to work 5 days a week to live, life is too short for that.

[CaptainCrunch]

I've taken maybe 4 sick days in 5 years and I haven't faked one.

As far as the doctors note, I've never seen it where you need to bring one in to get paid unless you take multiple sick days in a row or a bunch in a short period of time.

I do like the idea that some companies pay out a health and wellness bonus if you don't use a sick day, however those are the companies that send you home if you come in with a cough.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Come work at SAIT. 4 weeks vacation + 1 week at Xmas + 10 EDO days + 10 sick days.

But then you would have to work at sait...

So I have a funny unrelated story. Last year I came to visit for Stampede and stayed at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). After a hard night downtown getting inebriated and striking out, I get in a cab to get back to SAIT and tell the sikh cabbie, "Southern Alberta Institute of Technology".

He responds in a thick accent with, "Say It".

So I say it again, "Southern Alberta Institute of Technology".

He says again, "SAY IT"!

I say again, "Southern Alberta Institute of Technology".

And then I realize he wanted me to confirm it as "SAIT". I'm East Indian and I found it hilarous, even sober right now.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'd like to say yes, but unfortunately, calling in sick when you're your own boss is self-defeatist. You don't get paid if you don't work, and all the work is still waiting for you when you come back. Usually the only time I claim to be sick to clients is not when I want to do something fun instead, but when I'm so backed up with work, I need a little breathing room to get back on track.

I love working for myself, but I miss the idea of taking days off and still getting paid!

Wait, your work isn't waiting for you when you work for a company? Unless I'm sick for a week, I still have my same work waiting for me when I get back, plus I have to work harder in order to catch up.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I'd like to know where I can get a job where I have 12 paid sick days a year in addition to my vacation.

I get roughly 17. I work for AHS.

It should be noted that in a health care setting, employees need to stay home when they are sick. You should not be around severely ill patients when you yourself are sick. It is really important and it is not encouraged enough. Just my $0.02.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Swarly

Because not wanting to work 40+ hours a week for the rest of your life for a company that in the end could not give two sharts for you makes you a p*ssy.

Maybe some people have more to their life than their job? and if calling in 'sick' once or twice a year makes you happy I say go for it. There is more to life than work.

I'm guessing you are much older Worth, no offense, as that sounds like something my grandpa would say. Back in the day that is all anyone lived for, work. Times have changed, people like their personal time. We shouldn't have to work 5 days a week to live, life is too short for that.

What the bloody hell is this? France? Having to work 5 days a week in order to 'live' is absolutely not asking a lot.

However, IMO employers should be flexible when it comes to sick days. I'm sure there is an arrangement out there that works for both sides.

[undercoverbrother]

As an employer, if I have to worry about my employees not working and calling in sick, I have hired the one people.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I get 12 a year as well. And yes, every now and then (maybe once or twice a year) I'll play hooky.

Hey while were on this topic, does this count? Last week I must have ate something funny because I kept getting out of bed every 20 mins to use the can until maybe 3:30-4 a.m. After that, I decided to screw it and take the morning off and set my alarm to noon. So TECHNICALLY, I wasn't sick during the work day. I may not even have been sick at night, outside of the runs. Is that still legitimate, or would you consider that skipping work?

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by Azure

What the bloody hell is this? France? Having to work 5 days a week in order to 'live' is absolutely not asking a lot.

However, IMO employers should be flexible when it comes to sick days. I'm sure there is an arrangement out there that works for both sides.

Would you say that could be something that would be able to be negotiated between an employer and an employee/employee group?

[Nehkara]

I honestly agree with Swarly. I like options. For instance I would much prefer to work 4 x 10 hours or even 3 x 14 hours than 5 x 8 hours.

For awhile when I was working part time I was doing 7 days on, 7 days off. I would love to do that full time (7 x 12 hours).

[worth]

Originally Posted by Swarly

Because not wanting to work 40+ hours a week for the rest of your life for a company that in the end could not give two sharts for you makes you a p*ssy.

Maybe some people have more to their life than their job? and if calling in 'sick' once or twice a year makes you happy I say go for it. There is more to life than work.

I'm guessing you are much older Worth, no offense, as that sounds like something my grandpa would say. Back in the day that is all anyone lived for, work. Times have changed, people like their personal time. We shouldn't have to work 5 days a week to live, life is too short for that.

We'll have to agree to disagree because that's not how I see it. I think most companies try to treat their employees relatively well. You go to work to work, not to lie and stay home and get paid for it.

I'm 29. Working 5 days a week isn't that big of a deal. Find something that makes you happy and then it's actually worthwhile going to work.

[albertGQ]

I get six sick days a year. I haven't used one yet this year but you can bet ill use all six of mine before the year is up

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by worth

We'll have to agree to disagree because that's not how I see it. I think most companies try to treat their employees relatively well. You go to work to work, not to lie and stay home and get paid for it.

I'm 29. Working 5 days a week isn't that big of a deal. Find something that makes you happy and then it's actually worthwhile going to work.

If you love your job it isn't. The vast majority of people do not.

Devoting 70% of your days to working kinda sucks if you don't love what you do.