Comments on: Sick days are stupid http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html A less crappy personal finance blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:28:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: negative_net_worth http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-1056 negative_net_worth Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:58:57 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-1056 I think many people use their sick days potentially inappropriately. I know there were (are?) plenty of government positions where when one retires, they are paid for unused sick and vacation time that has accrued over the course of their career. I've known people who have received several extra months' salary this way! I think many people use their sick days potentially inappropriately. I know there were (are?) plenty of government positions where when one retires, they are paid for unused sick and vacation time that has accrued over the course of their career. I've known people who have received several extra months' salary this way!

]]> By: Mom (not yours) http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-1055 Mom (not yours) Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:11:04 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-1055 You posed an ethical question, and ethics would tell you that sick days are for sickness, not surfing. How would your kids at youth camp feel about you if they knew you were conning your employer? And eventually, abuse of benefits will lead to those benefits being negotiated away. You posed an ethical question, and ethics would tell you that sick days are for sickness, not surfing. How would your kids at youth camp feel about you if they knew you were conning your employer? And eventually, abuse of benefits will lead to those benefits being negotiated away.

]]> By: Dr. Faith http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-988 Dr. Faith Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:41:18 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-988 YEAH Academia!<br /><br />No set sick days and no set vacation days. Just don't be gone so much that the boss notices. =)<br /><br />If I were to guess, I'd say since last August I've taken off around 40 vacation days and probably 3 sick days. But then I also work 10-18hr days, 5-7 days a week - so I suppose it is a trade-off. But I like that I can work hard, play hard. It makes the vacations all the more rewarding. =) YEAH Academia!

No set sick days and no set vacation days. Just don't be gone so much that the boss notices. =)

If I were to guess, I'd say since last August I've taken off around 40 vacation days and probably 3 sick days. But then I also work 10-18hr days, 5-7 days a week – so I suppose it is a trade-off. But I like that I can work hard, play hard. It makes the vacations all the more rewarding. =)

]]> By: Dolly Iris http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-983 Dolly Iris Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:34:31 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-983 TIPS to a successful "sick" day aka surfing<br /><br />1- Make sure coworkers don't know about blog<br /><br />2- If you are going to take off Monday start acting sick Friday. <br /><br />3- If you have coworkers on Facebook do not post pictures of you hanging ten while supposedly in bed with chicken soup. This goes for status updates as well.<br /><br />4- Do not bring up fun surf weekend in conversation with coworkers<br /><br />5- Have a good time you only live once. <br /><br />6- Don't make it a habit.<br /><br />7- If possible book day off instead TIPS to a successful "sick" day aka surfing

1- Make sure coworkers don't know about blog

2- If you are going to take off Monday start acting sick Friday.

3- If you have coworkers on Facebook do not post pictures of you hanging ten while supposedly in bed with chicken soup. This goes for status updates as well.

4- Do not bring up fun surf weekend in conversation with coworkers

5- Have a good time you only live once.

6- Don't make it a habit.

7- If possible book day off instead

]]> By: MoneyFunk http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-977 MoneyFunk Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:35:22 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-977 LOL. I think all of us use our sick days as vacation days. I just hate the guilt that is associated with taking sick or holidays off. <br /><br />Like "OMG! I have so much work sitting on my desk!" "Oh, but I need to do X for Ms X"<br /><br />Hello? There is so much more to life than work! I really need to remember that. And then when I do ask for vacation... "well, only if your work is done". Hello?!?! I work my arse of at work for this company and nobody really appreciates it. Oh, I could keep ranting. LOL. <br /><br />I really need to work for myself! LOL. I think all of us use our sick days as vacation days. I just hate the guilt that is associated with taking sick or holidays off.

Like "OMG! I have so much work sitting on my desk!" "Oh, but I need to do X for Ms X"

Hello? There is so much more to life than work! I really need to remember that. And then when I do ask for vacation… "well, only if your work is done". Hello?!?! I work my arse of at work for this company and nobody really appreciates it. Oh, I could keep ranting. LOL.

I really need to work for myself!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-976 Kelly Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:51:53 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-976 I don't get sick days being a mom, but my hubby does. There have been times when I'm sick (especially while I was pregnant with my 3rd or 4th that he took off so I could get a day of rest) <br /><br />In fact I think they have a similar policy that someone mentioned above where all the days are together. So he gets paid vacation, paid days off (think Christmas), and sick days. They have to be used in different ways (IE sick days can happen anytime, vacation has to be planned), but it's rare he uses it all up. He usually saves a week around the holidays which is nice.<br /><br />But heck yeah, people use sick days all the time for things other than being sick. I don't get sick days being a mom, but my hubby does. There have been times when I'm sick (especially while I was pregnant with my 3rd or 4th that he took off so I could get a day of rest)

In fact I think they have a similar policy that someone mentioned above where all the days are together. So he gets paid vacation, paid days off (think Christmas), and sick days. They have to be used in different ways (IE sick days can happen anytime, vacation has to be planned), but it's rare he uses it all up. He usually saves a week around the holidays which is nice.

But heck yeah, people use sick days all the time for things other than being sick.

]]> By: Rebecca C http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-975 Rebecca C Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:29:27 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-975 Um, where can one apply for said government job? I'm not secret agent material, but I can do wonders with duct tape and a paperclip! <br /><br />I work for a 'private non profit' that is federally funded and the benefits here are, in a word, crap. I do get 15 day vacation and 15 days sick leave, but if you use the sick time, you get reprimanded in your annual review. Did I mention I have been here 12 years? I can't afford the health insurance and we get 35 cent raises a year if we are lucky. So enjoy every perk you get, and save your sick days for when you have baby ninjas. You'll need it. Totally non related, your savings account makes me weep. <br /><br />To answer the question why am I still work there, I live in a town with a population of a nearly extinct species. My work is 1/2 mile from my house. the nearest city to find work in is an hour away. And the unemployment rate in this county is 15%. And nearly that in the surrounding counties. So there is no where else to go without adding at least two hours to my workday and away from my babies. 8.5 hours is bad enough. <br /><br />If your super secret government agency ever invents time travel, could you go back about 14 years ago and punch me in the face before I had all my debt? Thanks. <br /><br />Wait, what was the question? Oh, yeah, do I cheat with sick days. Nope. Because if I did God would afflict me with the eppizudict for lying. And I'd get fired. Thats the downside of working so close to home. Um, where can one apply for said government job? I'm not secret agent material, but I can do wonders with duct tape and a paperclip!

I work for a 'private non profit' that is federally funded and the benefits here are, in a word, crap. I do get 15 day vacation and 15 days sick leave, but if you use the sick time, you get reprimanded in your annual review. Did I mention I have been here 12 years? I can't afford the health insurance and we get 35 cent raises a year if we are lucky. So enjoy every perk you get, and save your sick days for when you have baby ninjas. You'll need it. Totally non related, your savings account makes me weep.

To answer the question why am I still work there, I live in a town with a population of a nearly extinct species. My work is 1/2 mile from my house. the nearest city to find work in is an hour away. And the unemployment rate in this county is 15%. And nearly that in the surrounding counties. So there is no where else to go without adding at least two hours to my workday and away from my babies. 8.5 hours is bad enough.

If your super secret government agency ever invents time travel, could you go back about 14 years ago and punch me in the face before I had all my debt? Thanks.

Wait, what was the question? Oh, yeah, do I cheat with sick days. Nope. Because if I did God would afflict me with the eppizudict for lying. And I'd get fired. Thats the downside of working so close to home.

]]> By: Alan @ Saving For Serenity http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-974 Alan @ Saving For Serenity Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:46:22 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-974 My company gives 3 weeks (15 days) for vacation, and 16 days for paid sick days. If you don't use it at the end of the year, they'll pay it out. Does your company have a similar option?<br /><br />For example, one guy didn't use any of his vacation or sick days, and then essentially got paid for 6 weeks worth of work at the end of the year. The taxes on it were brutal, obviously, but it still might be worthwhile. My company gives 3 weeks (15 days) for vacation, and 16 days for paid sick days. If you don't use it at the end of the year, they'll pay it out. Does your company have a similar option?

For example, one guy didn't use any of his vacation or sick days, and then essentially got paid for 6 weeks worth of work at the end of the year. The taxes on it were brutal, obviously, but it still might be worthwhile.

]]> By: MPP http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-973 MPP Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:53:50 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-973 Oh totally jealous of all this time off! I get 5 sick days and only 10 vacation days. *hangs head* I don't know if it's ethical, but I have definitely taken "mental health days" for things like attending the Inauguration, or when my sister came to visit, or when I wanted to beat DC traffic and travel on a Friday morning.... wow I sound like a terrible employee.... Oh totally jealous of all this time off! I get 5 sick days and only 10 vacation days. *hangs head* I don't know if it's ethical, but I have definitely taken "mental health days" for things like attending the Inauguration, or when my sister came to visit, or when I wanted to beat DC traffic and travel on a Friday morning…. wow I sound like a terrible employee….

]]> By: Jessie http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/2009/07/sick-days-are-stupid.html#comment-972 Jessie Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:51:48 +0000 http://www.punchdebtintheface.com/?p=131#comment-972 Generally speaking - don't take the sick time if you don't need it. What happens if one day, you get SICK, I don't mean *cough*cough I don't feel well - but truly sick! What if you need surgery? Then - your trusty bank of sick time will be waiting for you.<br /><br />Your well and truly lucky that they actually let you acrue sick time! Where I work they allow up to 12 sick days a year before you don't get paid when you take a sick day. But it doesn't carry over - you don't get to keep it....<br /><br />so - don't go surfing - yeah, it sucks - but that's what being a 'grown up' is all about. Generally speaking – don't take the sick time if you don't need it. What happens if one day, you get SICK, I don't mean *cough*cough I don't feel well – but truly sick! What if you need surgery? Then – your trusty bank of sick time will be waiting for you.

Your well and truly lucky that they actually let you acrue sick time! Where I work they allow up to 12 sick days a year before you don't get paid when you take a sick day. But it doesn't carry over – you don't get to keep it….

so – don't go surfing – yeah, it sucks – but that's what being a 'grown up' is all about.

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