We have all called in sick before.
Most of the time it's because we really are sick and can't even fathom being capable of working. In fact, until I found myself staring down the road of potential disability, I NEVER called in sick unless I was in or on my way to the ER. I would say about 60% of the time I STILL went into work and went straight to the hospital FROM work. When my body was crashing so much more often, I did call in sick more, and was mostly stuck in the washroom... but what if I had to pick up prescriptions?
For many people there are other reasons. I mean, I grew up with loads of people who would call in sick because they were hungover... or would call in sick because they wanted to go fishing or to a concert...
Now, when you call in sick for a day, are you likely to go and pick up groceries or go see a movie at the theater? Probably not.
But what if you call in sick for a week... or what if you take medical leave for a month? 3 months? 6 months? One year? Longer?
And what about calling in sick for mental health reasons?
Or what if you have Cancer and you just decide you need to take a vacation - a week away to get away from all of the chemo and work and everything? And what if there is an incredibly high chance of beating it - would taking sick leave to take vacations and enjoy whatever the world has to offer acceptable? What if you took 6 months sick leave, kicked Cancer's butt within two months, but decide to take the rest of the 4 months anyways to go for trips around the globe? Will people say "good for you!" and be completely supportive?
Or what if you become physically disabled in the sense of paraplegia? Are you expected to work? Are you expected to be on disability but have it still be widely acceptable for you to go out and enjoy as much of the world as you can?
Would you have to go and get groceries, or fill up with fuel? What if you live alone? Who is going to clean the house, mow the lawn, pick up food, go to appointments? If you are on prolonged leave, does that mean you should never go and see your friends? Or go to a restaurant for dinner? What if you have a second job? If you call in sick to your second job, should you also call in sick to your main job? Why/why not?
If you have tickets to a hockey game on a Saturday, but called in sick from Wednesday-Friday, should you still go to that hockey game if you can?
Whose business is it to determine what you should and should not do when you call in sick?
Click here to take this short 10 question survey about calling in sick.