The Horse is Sick Today

@TheHorse (205772)
Walnut Creek, California
December 6, 2017 9:30am CST
Have you ever taken a sick day off from work when you weren't really sick? I'm doing that this afternoon at my job with the poor kids. I have a meeting related to my morning Berkeley job at 6 PM this evening, and that's when I'm generally out with an afternoon kid client. I'll use the time between 2:30 PM and 6 PM to "test drive" a bass guitar at Guitar Center in Emeryville, which is on the Oakland/Berkeley border. Do you use the term "mental health day" when you take a sick day just to regroup?
14 people like this
15 responses
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
6 Dec 17
I learnt about mental health days from a friend who used to teach the children of American soldiers stationed in Germany. I took some during my active teaching time. But I always checked first that not too many colleagues would suffer from my day off. The problem is that one has to stay at home. One can't call in sick and then frolic outside.
6 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
That's usually the case! At my current afternoon job, I'm rarely sick, so I can just be honest with my supervisor.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306236)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
6 Dec 17
Sometimes you just need to. I hope it all goes well.
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
I had an evening meeting relating to my morning job, so I really didn't have time to see a kid client. I used my afternoon down time test driving a bass and having a nice fella slightly adjust my guitar.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
6 Dec 17
Too bad that you have to use up a sick day when you're not sick. Hope you have plenty left should you actually be sick. Saying that, yes, I seem to take a day off after visiting for a few days with my gal pal.
3 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
7 Dec 17
@TheHorse Lucky you!
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Heh. This job will be ending at the end of December. I have something like 150 sick hours save up. So in theory, I could never go to work again and get paid the same.
1 person likes this
Shadi
@Madshadi (8849)
• Brussels, Belgium
6 Dec 17
With my job it is very hard to take a sick leave. Even when I’m sick I try to go to work.
3 people like this
Shadi
@Madshadi (8849)
• Brussels, Belgium
7 Dec 17
@TheHorse swimming teacher. I have about 100 kids in my classes. Can't miss those classes unless it is something really urgent. Then the process to make-up those classes would be very complicated.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
@Madshadi Ah, got it. I'm the same with teaching at the College.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
What is your job?
1 person likes this
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (36442)
• Toccoa, Georgia
6 Dec 17
I have not done that.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Dec 17
I'll probably do it again next week. I have about 160 sick hours, and the job ends Jan 1.
1 person likes this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
6 Dec 17
My moms used sick days when she hasnt been sick but because she was running out of time to use them.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Yeah, that's my situation. I'm leaving that job in January.
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
@Courtlynn Tes, but my morning job with the littlies is more fun. As traffic gets worse and worse here in the bay Area, I find myself getting frustrating with the time spent driving to get to the afternoon clients. I'll miss the kids, though, and hey, they were free hiking partners!
1 person likes this
Courtney
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
7 Dec 17
@TheHorse ooh. Won't you miss it
1 person likes this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (45472)
• India
6 Dec 17
Sometimes, we feel like taking a genuine break. So did this break helped you?
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
It was a good day overall. I did some guitar and bass stuff between my morning job and evening meeting.
lady Di
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
7 Dec 17
yeah, sometimes.. i try not to do it anymore though. But sometimes i just have no task to do, that it is better to just stay at home
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Dec 17
Today was one of those days where I worked both jobs and also completed an exam for my third job (teaching). I got up at 6 AM and am still working (progress notes) and 10:30 PM, but I will rest soon. I actually have time to do some sanding on the amplifier case (home project) tonight if I choose to.
1 person likes this
Sue H.
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
6 Dec 17
That picture is beautiful! Yeh, I used to take a day off once in awhile . But I worked for the government for a long time, and eventually I had so many days off coming they started making me take days off, lol.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Yeah, it was like that for me in Oakland. Once my sick days would max out, I was able to give half of them them to someone who was really sick or pregnant.
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
6 Dec 17
No, never done either of those. One of my work colleagues used to say he was suffering from 'heavy duvet syndrome' when he was late for work, that made me smile : )
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Duvet?
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
7 Dec 17
@TheHorse A bit of research seems to suggest that a similar American item might be a comforter?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
@Fleura I have a good one on my bed.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Dec 17
I sometimes took half days to wash the ponies for a competition but mostly I asked first and made up the hours before and after. I had a very good boss who didn't mind letting me juggle hours in this way.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Mine is the same. I just tell her when it's really a "mental health" day. In that job I determine my own schedule.
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Dec 17
I have taken sick days when I wasn't sick. I used to work for the State of Illinois and you earned many holidays that you could never get approved off, so the only other option was to use sick days. So I did. My hubby also worked for the State of Illinois and when he retired he had 101 sick days on the books. Thankfully he got paid for those.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
I wish we got paid for our sick days. I'll be leaving the afternoon job in January. I could buy a new fancy guitar!
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Dec 17
@TheHorse He actually took a leave of absence and got paid for 6 months before he actually retired, he had vacation days and holidays on the books added up to 6 months full pay so that was cool.
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Dec 17
Heck yeah, I used to take "sick" days all the time. I'd play golf, ride my bike, hang out in bars. Much more fun than work.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
Yep, that's what we call "mental health days."
1 person likes this
April
@thislittlepennyearns (58140)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
9 Dec 17
I can't do that during holidays. A downfall of retail.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Dec 17
Oh, that's true. Retail would be a whole other thing.
April
@thislittlepennyearns (58140)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
9 Dec 17
@TheHorse Hopefully after the first of the year I'll start my training for higher up on the food chain. If what I'm hearing is true.
Four Walls
@FourWalls (62145)
• United States
7 Dec 17
I have the "perfect" job: it's part time, and the boss is very understanding about things. As long as the work gets done he doesn't care. In fact, I'm going to work Sunday, then take Monday and Tuesday off to go to Chicago for a concert. If any of us need a "mental health day" he has no objections. I'm truly blessed to have a boss like that.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (205772)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 17
I'm pretty much in that situation as well right now.
1 person likes this