When I’m “sick”
July 11, 2008
When you take a “sick” day from work, it can be for a number of reasons. Maybe you have a cold, flu, or the Ebola virus. Or maybe you had a migraine, or were sitting home popping Pepto-Bismol due to nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, or diarrhea. Sometimes you take a “sick” day simply because you desperately need a mental break from your office/job. Either way, if your company affords you sick days, use them.
The only thing I hate is when you take a sick day and then spend the entire next day at work answering questions about your 24-48 hour “sickness.” Managers, co-workers, and sometimes even the building custodians ask – Feeling better today, What was wrong with you, or my favorite Were you really feeling sick or just sick of us? As funny as that question may sound in your manager or co-worker’s head, it’s NEVER that funny to you. All it insinuates is…I don’t really believe you were sick.
And in every office, there’s those one or two of those people in your office who have to know EVERYTHING that’s going on with EVERYONE at all times. They’re the ones who when they catch you eating lunch at your desk ALWAYS ask – What’s for lunch and then peer over your shoulder and practically inhale your food. Or they are the same ones who notice when you’re late or leave early and make comments like – I see you got out of here early last Friday or Don’t worry I don’t think anyone else noticed you were running late this morning and then smile. It must give them some sort of purpose to be in everyone’s business. They were most likely those kids in school who would remind the teacher that he or she forgot to assign homework or kept us in class after the bell with one more “important” question that just couldn’t wait. I’ve never understood this nosey co-workers and nor do I want to. However, I do want to ask – WHAT DOES IT MATTER??
Once a manager even called me while I was at home sick and asked – Weren’t you just sick a couple of months ago? To which my response was yes, and I’m sick again. In fact I had been sick two months prior to that with bronchitis and guess what, it came back. Sometimes that happens. I even had doctor’s notes for my absence and was on antibiotics. I also found it strange that my boss would even ask a question like that since I provided doctor’s notes each time I was out of the office for more than 1 day, which was rare, but that year I had the misfortune of contracting bronchitis twice.
The company affords me so many sick days and I’d be a fool not to use them. Maybe as a kid we were rewarded for perfect attendance at school, but in the workforce you’re awarded nothing for perfect attendance. If anything, you are taken advantage of and over utilized if you are in attendance each and every day. That is why YES, I take sick days. And NO, I don’t appreciate people commenting on them. Save your compassionate inquiries regarding my well-being because obviously I’m better if I’m back at work today…right? Save the how are you feeling questions for sometime when I’m out of the office for a substantial amount of time. Like if I were to be bitten by a rattlesnake or hospitalized for salmonella.
Sometimes I wonder why some companies even offer sick time if they are just going to treat you like a felon each time you take a sick day or two. Whether I’m sick, tired, hung over, or de-toxing, it’s NONE of anyone’s business because I am only taking time that is rightfully mine. So please quit asking me if I was really sick or if I’m feeling better today or I’ll call in sick permanently.
Are you serious!?!
July 9, 2008
I don’t think there’s anything more gross or rude than people that talk on their cell phones while sitting on the toilet in your work restroom, or any public restroom really. I can’t imagine what issue is so pressing that it can’t wait until you are out of the sanctuary of the bathroom. What happened to the bathroom being a place of relaxation? How can I relax when you’re in the stall next to me discussing “important” issues such as your friend’s recent pedicure…You just got your toes done!?! Aw, why didn’t you ask me to go?
And who really wants to be on the other end of a conversation with a soundtrack full of toilet flushing, pee sounds, and the occasional toot toot? I was just in the work restroom today with a woman who, despite the ample amount of empty stalls, sat in the one right next to me and carried on a loud conversation about what she would bring to the BBQ this weekend. First of all it’s WEDNESDAY morning and second of all, NO ONE IN THERE CARES! Even my incessant flushing and angry coughs couldn’t make her shut up. Instead, she just spoke louder. These people are the same people that try to carry on a conversation with you when you are locked in your stall. Don’t they know that it’s poor restroom etiquette to acknowledge another person and initiate a conversation once he or she is securely locked in his or her stall? The stalls are there to create a sense of anonymity and that can’t be done with you saying…Is that you in there??
And on that same note, don’t stand by the sink and talk to your co-workers…TAKE IT OUTSIDE! Some people are trying to concentrate in there and they can’t do it when you’re discussing your recent knee replacement or what a bitch Bonnie in AP is being today. I sometimes go to the bathroom to escape the constant chatter, questions, phone calls and emails so I would appreciate it if you would just keep the work restroom quiet! Haven’t you ever heard of text messaging?? If you are that in need of constant human interaction just send some texts!
Cube Jungle - what REALLY happens in and around your cubicle. 
No need to wave…I saw you all day.
June 23, 2009
It never fails that each day as I leave work at the 5 pm official dismissal, I am bombarded with waves goodbye from my co-workers. These waves never seem to cease until I acknowledge them, wave back and say something like “see you tomorrow” or “have a good night.” Even when I’m in my car, pulling out of our parking lot, the waves continue from car to car. Sometimes, holding up the traffic exiting the lot. Okay enough is enough. Why are we remaining so cordial and kind? We all know we just want to get the hell out of here and into our homes so that we can cry, get drunk, drugged, obsessively eat, gamble, exercise, or surf the web for porn. Anything to escape the soul-crushing reality that we have to do this all over again tomorrow.
So please, don’t hold up my time getting out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow so save your wave and please get out of my way.
Filed in annoying co-workers
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