Im a little upset!

[YELLOWLAB]

I have been with this small agency for two years, (11 sworn). I missed my first full day yesterday. to illness. Im still sick, and called my supervisor and advised him of my current status. While talking with him and explaining that I was still on the rack, and tomorrow does not look well.

I heard him say "Hmmm." I advised him if I start to improve, I will let him know.

I am 41, never been late, stay late on occasions without OT, and help others in my department. I have no kids for which I had to stay home with when ill. We have others who miss many days due to illness, and are habitual. I may have read too much into his remark. I pride myself on my attendance, and I don't like to miss work. It just happens to be a holiday when I came down with the illness, that can't be controlled.

I am a little upset, and womder if others have been in a similar position. This I believe. is the problem with working in a small dept. there is little coverage.
Just when you think you are dependable, you have skeptisism.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Be safe!

Thanks

[deputy x 2]

People get sick..and like our jobs...it is out of our control. Your past work ethics is already known to your sup and co workers. If you are sick you are sick...and with only 11 sworn members...ya need not get everyone else sick. Trust me...I would be ticked if you came back and made me sick.

Don't worry...your sup is thinking about coverage..that is his/her job. Take care of yourself. Don't go in if your not 100%...it's not like a 9to 5 desk job where you don't need all of your faculties.

[serenade84]

He's just stressed because they are going to be shorthanded. I'm sure he didn't second guess your illness.

[barkalot]

I've had a supervisor question my illness. He/she actually called me back to see if I was actually home, and when I didn't answer, uttered a disparaging remark just before the answering machine could catch it.

Of course, I was home, and called him/her right back. We always kept our ringer off in the bedroom since I slept days. I didn't know we had a call coming in until the answering machine clicked.

I was bugged since I was in the same position as you; dependable, hard-working and hated calling in sick due to knowing someone else would be stuck working on short notice.

[Blackavar]

We had a sergeant who insisted upon knowing the nature of staff illness when they called in. Until.....one day a staff members otld him, I don't know which end to put in the toilet and I can crap through a screen door without hitting the wire." He didn't ask after that.

[pulicords]

A new sergeant? If so, when you get back to work let him know how you feel. It sounds to me like it's just a case of poor communication. If you were really sick, he should understand that his response (even if he was just kidding) didn't help matters any. He may have been kidding or just responded to your absence without thinking. If either was the case, letting him know how you felt about his response in an appropriate manner isn't out of line and might be appreciated.

On my department medical information is strictly on a "need to know" basis now due to confidentiality laws. If someone calls in sick these days (as long as they've got sick leave on the books), we wish them a speedy recovery and do what we need to do to cover any shortage of personnel. When the employee returns, our sick leave form asks for no details beyond the days taken off due to illness.

[YELLOWLAB]

Thx. for your time on this issue. I value your input, and me being farely new to the career, I was irritated. The Sgt. has been in the position for 2 years, very sarcastic, and wants to climb that ladder asap. Feeling like crap is not helping the issue.

Thanks guys

[LA DEP]

I actually had a Sgt who was the on the opposite end of the spectrum on this.......since I was working a small team at the time (8 Deps + 1 Sgt) and we shared an 12x12 office with the OTHER small team (also 8+1) and fairly often were all in the office at the same time (good thing we were all friends); both Sgts would get more than a little bent if you decided to come to work with the 'crud' and shared it with everyone else for some reason.....(something about there then being 18 people sick instead of 1)......

If you are sick, stay the hell home please......

Just dont be calling in if you sprained your pinky or something like that......

[Fuzz]

You acrue sick time for a reason......because people get sick. You are allowed to use that time without any undue scrutiny from a supervisor (as long as there is not a pattern of abuse). Many times supervisors are focused on one aspect of their job which is to provide coverage and staffing instead of actually supervising and mentoring the officers. I know its hard in a small department and you probably dont want to rock the boat, but I wouldnt worry about it too much.

My department has a history of only questioning certain individuals regarding sick use while others openly schedule it on the calendar to use it up before retirement.

[YELLOWLAB]

Thanks Fuzz; I believe at 41 years of age, I get more and more jaded, and the ones that get the most recognition and the less scrutiny are the brown noses. That being said, i'll keep on, keeping on, and do my job.

Thanks for the feedback. Stay safe!

[DagoStar]

I would review your department's and union polices.

Our supervisors cannot ask us about our illness nor do we have to explain.. We just call in and say we are sick or our dependent is sick, etc. If the illness goes over 5 days my supervisor can request a doctor's note.

[YELLOWLAB]

Dago I agree, a doctor's note is after 4 days for our policy.

[WPD954]

you guys have it good, 3 days for doc's note.