Anxious about calling in sick?
Have you ever needed a day off work because of stress or a mental health issue but you are anxious to call your work? Do you think about the stigma associated with calling in sick because of a mental health issue or stress so you chose not to do so?
Calling in sick to work may not be something many people do often. But for those with a serious disability or mental illness, the need to take days off work could be a common occurrence.
Sadly, some organizations, especially in developing countries, still have stigma about using mental illnesses or stress as valid reasons to take time off work. Yes, mental health in the workplace is becoming increasingly recognized by employers, but many employees still find it petrifying to discuss mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, with their managers. In fact, some managers will only accept flu as a reason to take the day off, sometimes pressuring their workers to use only this reason when calling in sick.
Thus, some employees are anxious about using stress, depression or anxiety as reasons to call in sick. They would rather struggle to work when suffering with stress or a mental health issue, or lie about the reason they are taking time off work.
There is usually a bargaining phase, where people that want to call in sick to work realize that they are not well enough to leave the house, especially if the organization they work for do not encourage using stress, anxiety or a mental illness as valid reasons. They may be so anxious to make the call, probably thinking to themselves, “I could work today. Maybe I’ll be okay once I leave the house. Am I overthinking this?” Having to make the phone call brings a certain confrontation they are not ready to face. Indeed they could send an email, but what if the organization they work for do not accept this method and only want phone calls? It could be even worse for someone with an anxiety disorder. In fact, they could be thinking that their employer and colleagues will not see them in a favourable light for missing work.
But calling in sick also protects the people you work with. If you have the flu and it is contagious, you put your fellow colleagues at risk. If you are stressed or suffering from a mental health issue, you will not be productive so the company’s profitability may be at serious risk depending on your position at the company. So, in the end, your health should be your priority. Whether you are calling in sick because you genuinely have an illness, you are stressed out or you have a mental health issue, you should be sure to take necessary steps to leave your employer and colleagues in the best possible position.
Ask yourself a few questions before you consider calling in sick to work:
- Are you contagious?
- Will time in bed help with the illness/issue?
- Do you feel you need immediate medical attention?
- Will your time at work worsen the illness/issue?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should plan on spending the work day at home. If you feel good enough to work from home, you could ask for permission to do so.
To phone in sick, you should:
- Know your company’s policy on calling in sick — this is to ensure you phone the appropriate person
- Call in as soon as possible — this demonstrates your desire to ensure that your absence has as little an impact as possible, giving your employer and colleagues enough time to provide appropriate cover and delegate your workload if possible
- Keep it short and be clear on your availability — be sure to communicate what you need to clearly and don’t ramble on about the cause of your sickness. If possible, get a doctor’s note and let your work know when you will be available
- Apologize for the inconvenience — this demonstrates moral character and a responsible attitude to your work
- Ask if there is anything you can do while off work — this demonstrates your commitment to your job, even if it is just replying emails or reading through proposals
- Express your gratitude to those that pick up the slack in your absence — you may be covering for someone else at some point, So this will be good for your interpersonal relationships with your colleagues
- Follow-up — when you get back to work, check in with your boss and colleagues, ask if there are things you should know about. This will ensure your time away won’t have any lasting impact on tasks that need to be completed.
If you are feeling stressed or have a mental health issue and need to call in sick, remember that the day or days off will benefit you immensely. It helps you recharge, reset your perspective and allows your body and mind to rest. But it is important that you attend to your stress, anxiety or depression so it doesn’t affect your work performance and composure in the work place. No one can fault you for falling sick. But a good team will be ready to support you when you are not at your best. You should ensure to focus on your recovery but also show your company and colleagues that you want the best for your team even when you are sick.
Employers should also encourage employees to feel comfortable discussing stress-related worries or mental health issues. Managers can make professionals available for employees to talk to about stress and mental health issues. Managers can also encourage mindfulness within the team and offer a flexible work environment. Stress should be an acceptable reason to take time off work. In the long run, stress-free and healthy individuals will contribute to the productivity and profitability of the organization.
We recognize that employees might require professional help in dealing with stress related and mental health issues. Please be assured that we are here to support you through the process. Should you need any support regarding your emotional and mental health, please reach out to us. We provide Counselling services and we are happy to help you. Send an email to info@patnigeria.com or visit www.patnigeria.com
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