Are you one of those people who has never taken a sick day in their life? Did you make it through school with perfect attendance?
Do you take “mental health” days? Or, do you take every possible day off that you can without being fired?
I suspect that most of us fall somewhere in between those two extremes. I think I have taken one sick day when I wasn’t sick. There could be more, but there is only one that comes to my mind.
Some companies roll over sick days, some insist that you can not have more than six or so a year. I was listening to the radio, and one teacher who is near retirement has amassed more sick days than days in a school year, so she is going to have a “sick year.” It amounts to early retirement with her still being on the school district’s books for one last year.
There are two schools of thought on this subject. Some people feel that we recuperate faster if we stay home when we are ill. And it’s been suggested that it’s wiser to stay at home when you are ill rather than contaminating all those around you. AND, there are those who believe that you need mental health days.
Others believe that it is irresponsible to take a day off when you are not ill, and that you shouldn’t take a sick day unless you are seriously ill. Part of this philosophy has to do with responsibility to your company, part of it has to do with making ethical decisions.
Returning after a couple of days……
I took the day off on Wednesday of this week, thinking as the day started that I was sick. Still, I cleaned the kitchen, did several loads of laundry, made endless cups of tea, and played at my sewing table for an hour or two working on a Christmas gift. I was sure I had a cold. When things eased, I thought that perhaps it was allergies. And finally, I decided I was going to live, and got on with my life. Still, I didn’t work in the office, and I didn’t go out to do the marketing. I guess I played hookey.
I am in the enviable position of being able to choose when I put in the required time for my job. When I abandon my office, I make up the hours in the evening, or on the weekend. I’ve had eighteen years of this freedom. When Dear Husband retires, and my job ends, I worry that I won’t be able to adjust to the real world of punch clocks.
I have a great sense of obligation. I’d feel guilty about calling in if I wasn’t seriously ill, but I’m sure I’m spoiled by the freedom I’ve come to expect. That’s my Libran personality at work.
So……do you play hookey, or would you never think of missing a day at work?

Any day that starts out with two inches of cold rain and a visit to the periodontist, is a day when staying in bed would have been preferable!
Since it was going to be such a rotten day from the start, I tried to arrange for my overdue mammogram, too. Unfortunately, they couldn’t squeeze me in (pun intended), and I have to make an appointment and go back.
So, I had more than two hours to kill before another doctor’s appointment. I used it to get a little Christmas shopping done.
The day is incredibly gray and rainy, and this evening we are to take my mother to dinner for her birthday. I don’t want to cook, but I’m not thrilled about having to go out again. Mother deserves a more chipper companion than I’m likely to be.
I’ve had better days.