IT'S not a sickie, it's a mental health day.   :-?

That's the belief among one third of workers who admit to faking an illness to get the day off work because they feel they are not coping.

Workers with competent bosses they respect are less likely to pull a sickie because of the guilt factor, the Galaxy poll of almost 1300 employees also found.


Almost one out of four workers who categorised their manager as a poor performer admitted to taking days off when they weren't sick purely because they hated their boss.  

But the most common reason for faking illness was attributed to anxiety, with one in three workers citing too much responsibility or feeling burnt out.   :(

Close behind was family commitment, with 27 per cent admitting to absenteeism as a way of juggling personal responsibilities and emergencies.

Overall, the majority of workers - 63 per cent - admitted to taking a sickie at some point in their lives to get the day off.   :)

Stephanie Christopher, the national director of the workplace consultancy firm SHL which commissioned the study, said the feeling by a worker they were entitled to a mental health day was closely linked to the relationship they had with their boss.

"Ineffective management affects productivity in lots of different ways, including staff loyalty and motivation," she said.

The finding that workers who feel they have too much responsibility are more likely to take sick days which are not genuine appears to contradict research to date, which has found that workers are more likely to call in sick if they feel powerless.

But Professor Sue Richardson, the principal research fellow with the National Institute of Labour Studies at Flinders University, has found that job status and autonomy play a crucial factor when it comes to workplace anxiety and burn out.

Consequently, there is a higher rate of work-related stress recorded among bus drivers than senior executives, she said, because although both have considerable responsibilities, bus drivers have no control over their timetable or traffic conditions. Frustration turns to anxiety, anxiety leads to burn out.

Just 12 per cent admitted they had pulled a sickie because they had something else they wanted to do. Presumably, most of them live by the sea. An auditor general's report earlier this year found that an employee's proximity to the beach had a direct correlation to the number of sick days they took in a year.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/workers-throw-a-sickie-to-save-their-sanity--unless-they-live-by-the-beach-20111110-1n9iw.html#ixzz1dKjJIfOH

Stress and sickies go hand in hand.

I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::)

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 6:47am:

Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::)

It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think that such an amazingly generous concept as sick leave is yet another leave tool. It is not your leave at all it is an insurance to make sure that if you are unwell you will not sacrifice financial stability for it. Taking sickies is an abuse of what is a generous privilege that we have in this country. It is so good that we can take them as compassionate leave when our children are ill.

I can never understand those who abuse such generosity by taking their sick leave entitlement when it is due and then complain they have none when they genuinely fall sick.

nairbe wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 6:54am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:47am: Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::) It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think that such an amazingly generous concept as sick leave is yet another leave tool. It is not your leave at all it is an insurance to make sure that if you are unwell you will not sacrifice financial stability for it. Taking sickies is an abuse of what is a generous privilege that we have in this country. It is so good that we can take them as compassionate leave when our children are ill. I can never understand those who abuse such generosity by taking their sick leave entitlement when it is due and then complain they have none when they genuinely fall sick.

No nairbe, you leave sufficient in case you get sick, but you make sure it's used up before you leave the job. Ex public service.....that's my excuse.

I wonder if the majority of people use up the bulk of their sick leave before they exit the job? I would hazard a guess in the affirmative.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 7:00am:

nairbe wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:54am: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:47am: Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::) It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think that such an amazingly generous concept as sick leave is yet another leave tool. It is not your leave at all it is an insurance to make sure that if you are unwell you will not sacrifice financial stability for it. Taking sickies is an abuse of what is a generous privilege that we have in this country. It is so good that we can take them as compassionate leave when our children are ill. I can never understand those who abuse such generosity by taking their sick leave entitlement when it is due and then complain they have none when they genuinely fall sick. No nairbe, you leave sufficient in case you get sick, but you make sure it's used up before you leave the job. Ex public service.....that's my excuse. I wonder if the majority of people use up the bulk of their sick leave before they exit the job? I would hazard a guess in the affirmative.

None of our staff have in the time Ive been here.

Not hard to tell you are ex-public service with an attitude like that.  Sick leave is not there for leisure.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 7:00am:

nairbe wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:54am: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:47am: Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::) It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think that such an amazingly generous concept as sick leave is yet another leave tool. It is not your leave at all it is an insurance to make sure that if you are unwell you will not sacrifice financial stability for it. Taking sickies is an abuse of what is a generous privilege that we have in this country. It is so good that we can take them as compassionate leave when our children are ill. I can never understand those who abuse such generosity by taking their sick leave entitlement when it is due and then complain they have none when they genuinely fall sick. No nairbe, you leave sufficient in case you get sick, but you make sure it's used up before you leave the job. Ex public service.....that's my excuse. I wonder if the majority of people use up the bulk of their sick leave before they exit the job? I would hazard a guess in the affirmative.

And you wonder why people call you a bludger. Sucking on the public tit  YOU MAKE ME SICK  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 7:00am:

If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place

That in a nutshell explains why you have never attained a status higher in business than what you are now.

During peak times of work, I would do 6am - midnight 7 days per week to achieve a goal set down by Corporate.
I live and breathe my work a lot of the time.

I will also add that these multi-nationals have also rewarded me handsomely as well.
Particularly the American ones.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 7:00am:

nairbe wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:54am: Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 6:47am: Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::) It never ceases to amaze me that people seem to think that such an amazingly generous concept as sick leave is yet another leave tool. It is not your leave at all it is an insurance to make sure that if you are unwell you will not sacrifice financial stability for it. Taking sickies is an abuse of what is a generous privilege that we have in this country. It is so good that we can take them as compassionate leave when our children are ill. I can never understand those who abuse such generosity by taking their sick leave entitlement when it is due and then complain they have none when they genuinely fall sick. No nairbe, you leave sufficient in case you get sick, but you make sure it's used up before you leave the job. Ex public service.....that's my excuse. I wonder if the majority of people use up the bulk of their sick leave before they exit the job? I would hazard a guess in the affirmative.

It's people like you who give the public service a bad name. Sick leave is NOT an annual entitlement to be taken at all costs. It is to provide leave for genuine illness. But you know this already don't you?  ::)  

Ha! I knew that would drag in the usual suspects.

I know I am the only person in Australia to have used up my sick leave before resigning. One of a kind, that's me!

I think the real story is that I'm the only person who's game to admit it.

People might not take so much sick leave if the boss said, "you're looking a bit exhausted and overworked today George, have a long weekend, take Monday off".

You don't hear that as much as you should.

Come on all you business owners, give your workers that put in 110% a day off, it will be worth it, they'll love you for it and work twice as hard when they come back.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 9:22am:

Ha! I knew that would drag in the usual suspects. I know I am the only person in Australia to have used up my sick leave before resigning. One of a kind, that's me! I think the real story is that I'm the only person who's game to admit it. People might not take so much sick leave if the boss said, "you're looking a bit exhausted and overworked today George, have a long weekend, take Monday off". You don't hear that as much as you should. Come on all you business owners, give your workers that put in 110% a day off, it will be worth it, they'll love you for it and work twice as hard when they come back.

Don't come to me looking for a job - take your attitude somewhere else.

Better still start your own business and see how you go. "I think I'll have the day off. Oh sh1t, I don't get to eat"  ;D

Well in my job, and it seems to be fairly uniform across the  board - I think the entitlement is 8 days of sick leave per year, and I haven't heard of any workplace where it is cumulative. IF you got even so much as a cold, that'd take the bulk of your entitlement for the year.  More than likely you're forced to come back before you're completely better, so you pass it on to the next guy, and so overall productivity is harmed by making the sick come to work.  

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 6:47am:

Stress and sickies go hand in hand. I'm always amazed by these people who leave work with 27 weeks of unused sickies. If they didn't want you to use them, they wouldn't give them to you in the first place  ::)

Taking a sick day when you aren't sick is basically theft. It annoys the hell out of me (and it is always the same ones) who seem to always be sick on Mondays and Fridays.

Having said that, employers / managers shouldn't bully people who are genuinely sick.

Uncle wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 9:54am:

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 9:22am: Ha! I knew that would drag in the usual suspects. I know I am the only person in Australia to have used up my sick leave before resigning. One of a kind, that's me! I think the real story is that I'm the only person who's game to admit it. People might not take so much sick leave if the boss said, "you're looking a bit exhausted and overworked today George, have a long weekend, take Monday off". You don't hear that as much as you should. Come on all you business owners, give your workers that put in 110% a day off, it will be worth it, they'll love you for it and work twice as hard when they come back. Don't come to me looking for a job - take your attitude somewhere else. Better still start your own business and see how you go. "I think I'll have the day off. Oh sh1t, I don't get to eat"  ;D

I won't uncle, I've finished work now, and I only did it to the slave driver companies who wanted you to do three jobs for the price of one, and the government where you have to have time off occasionally, to get over the humdrums.

If taking a sick day off is theft, can someone tell us what unpaid overtime is.   :(

wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 10:48am:

If taking a sick day off is theft, can someone tell us what unpaid overtime is.   :(

Voluntary.

MANY Australian workers are forced to work extra hours without being compensated, a new survey suggests.   :(

The poll of 42,000 employees, billed as the largest ever conducted with Australian workers, has found many are under increasing pressure at work.

The finding comes as it emerged that households are pouring half their weekly budget into housing, food and transport and family finances are more stretched than ever.

Health, education, home-loan and food costs have raced ahead of general inflation in recent years in a hip-pocket hit on essential spending, and it's working mums, young workers and older men feeling the pinch.   :(

ACTU President Ged Kearney says increased business productivity is coming at the expense of workers' wellbeing.

"We have in fact what we call a productivity squeeze which means businesses are achieving productivity (gains) through a great deal of pressure on workers,'' Ms Kearney told ABC Radio.


What's more worrying is that there is a large amount of unpaid work being done, she said.   :(

"We are being told by our members that they are working harder than ever, longer than ever and not getting paid for that extra work.''

The survey found "sandwich women" forgotten blokes and insecure youth are the three groups being exploited the most.

More than 60 per cent of working mums, or "sandwich women" said they felt most under pressure  to work harder and that increased flexibility would improve their working life.

Men aged 45-64, dubbed forgotten blokes said they felt their age hindered their work chances while workers under 25 or "insecure youth" also reported high levels of financial stress.

Ms Kearney said that even under current workplace laws workers were being short-changed.  :(

For example, the survey found 50 per cent of employees pay for workplace expenses and are not compensated for it.

"While the legislation might provide for these things, employers for whatever reason are not actually abiding by that,'' Ms Kearney said.

"A lot of our respondents, particularly in casual or insecure work, are saying that they are feeling forced to comply with this for fear of not getting shifts or for fear of not getting any extra work when they need it.''

The ACTU president said workers should not have more rights taken away from them.  ;)

"What we're seeing from employers is that they are trying to say that industrial relations laws are the reasons for productivity woes in this country and that just isn't true.

"This survey shows that workers are working harder than ever and that in some ways they're getting exploited even though the legislation is there to protect them.''   :(



Comments on this story

   Ryanthusar Posted at 8:20 PM September 08, 2011

       fair go - I'm sorry, where do you get 38 hours from. Its no longer 38 hours that is the issue, its the fact that you are expected as a salary worker to be working much more than that for the same amount per hour. That in itself is wrong. You no longer get paid for over time. Only those who are casual get it. That in itself is wrong. Some industries dont pay overtime rates at all.   >:(

wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:01am:

MANY Australian workers are forced to work extra hours without being compensated, a new survey suggests.   :(

Not my problem if they aren't assertive enough.  

... wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 10:49am:

wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 10:48am: If taking a sick day off is theft, can someone tell us what unpaid overtime is.   :( Voluntary.

The boss volunteers you for it  :)

non-volunteer yourself and your fired!

It all depends on the boss. Good bosses get good workers, rotten bosses get rotten workers. Your choice boss!

STOP THIEF,  STOP THIEF.  Someone stole Easter Tuesday, and Royal Melbourne show day.  They USED TO be public holidays.   :(

wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:27am:

STOP THIEF,  STOP THIEF.  Someone stole Easter Tuesday, and Royal Melbourne show day.  They USED TO be public holidays.   :(

]FFS   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

It all depends on the boss. Good bosses get good workers, rotten bosses get rotten workers. Your choice boss!

Exactly  ;)

wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:27am:

STOP THIEF,  STOP THIEF.  Someone stole Easter Tuesday, and Royal Melbourne show day.  They USED TO be public holidays.   :(

Yes I know. I lost those days too, but that was thanks to Jeff Kennett wanting to make a political statement.

Unpaid overtime is a separate issue (and one that I'm more than happy to bag employers about).

The issue in this thread is taking a sick day when you are not sick. In other words being paid by your employer for a day when you don't do any work and have lied to them.

Taking a sickie when not sick is grounds for dismissal if the leave is not supported with a sick certificate.

So its pretty simple, if you want a free day, get a doc to sign for it and no problems.

<<Taking a sickie when not sick is grounds for dismissal if the leave is not supported with a sick certificate.>>
.............................................................................

I've always had so many days without a cert and so many days with a cert, it's usually 3 without and 5 with.

You can get one from a pharmacy now for about $10.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 12:34pm:

<<Taking a sickie when not sick is grounds for dismissal if the leave is not supported with a sick certificate.>> ............................................................................. I've always had so many days without a cert and so many days with a cert, it's usually 3 without and 5 with. You can get one from a pharmacy now for about $10.

An employer is under no obligation to accept one from a pharmacist.

In our circumstance, we give two without a certificate but it cant be a Monday or Friday.