Really p***** do you think I'm over reacting? *Long*

**willow5** · September 18th, 2011, 08:25 PM

Ok so I'd like to know if I'm over reacting or if I'm right to be feeling this way...

Last month I was sick, just a coldy type bug but enough to be coughing and spluttering and generally miserable. I knew we were short staffed at work, really short! So I went in on the Monday feeling crap. A co-worker (lets call her L) noticed I wasn't well and asked why I had come in. I told her I would knew how short staffed we were and that I was already doing my job and someone else's so me being off would leave a big hole in the roster that week. L said she thought it was pretty crap I had to be at work when I wasn't feeling well and that it had happened to her in the past.

Ok so the next day I get a call from my boss, she also knew I wasn't well. She said she had managed to fill my shift for the next day and not to come in. I felt bad as I knew it was a hassle but wasn't going to argue too much and took the time off. I also felt bad for going in because I was worried about spreading the bug.

Skip forward a week. I go in the next Monday to find that L isn't at work. Another co-worker (lets call her M ) tells me she's sick, off for the week with a bad back. M was on covering her shift that day.

So I then find out that L is basically faking her back problem and was actually away with a friend on holiday. Apparently she didn't have any annual leave left she planned to have a week off sick. She got a medical certificate from her Chiro to say she couldn't work for a week.

This really annoyed me. We don't just have casual replacement staff on hand to fill shifts at short notice. If Someone is sick others have to work extra shifts and or come in on their days off to cover them. I dragged myself in when I wasn't well, wore a mask and gloves so as not to spread the love, then felt bad to have 2 days off. Yet she thinks it's ok to plan to have a whole week off "sick" and stuff around everyone else in the process.

What adds insult to injury is the week after I see photos on facebook with her tagged, participating in the Michelle Bridges 12 week challenge! So while she's off with a bad back, she's actually off in Brisbane, exercising and going to celebration dinners & parties afterwards.

When she realised the photos were up she made up a complete bull **** story to try to cover it. Then followed it up the next week with more lies. (I'm the only one at work that is connected with her on facebook)

So now I'm here sick as a dog, no way I'm going to be able to work tomorrow so I've already let the boss know. But I still feel bad calling in sick. So I think it's made me stew on L's week off again. Geez I feel bad when I am sick having a day off, how could she fake a whole week off, then lie, twice, with out batting an eyelid?

Would this annoy you? Or am I just being too precious?

ADDIT: The smiley in the title was actually supposed to be a little cranky face I must've clicked the wrong one while blowing my nose

**Tinks** · September 18th, 2011, 08:28 PM

That would pee me off! Sick leave is for being sick! If she had planned a holiday she should have taken holiday leave!

**~StarBright~** · September 18th, 2011, 08:29 PM

This would annoy me!!! You have every right to be PO'd!!!! You are legitimately sick and feeling awful for some well earned time off work and she is just living it up without a care in the world- and getting paid for it thanks to her handy chiro!!!!

I would almost feel like dobbing her in myself, or making a snide comment once she is back at work.. but thats just me lol!!

**delphmoon** · September 18th, 2011, 08:36 PM

While I see why your annoyed, some people are just like that and arn't as committed to working in a team as you are.

To be honest, don't waste your energy thinking to hard about it...concentrate on getting better I think

**LionsandBears** · September 18th, 2011, 08:37 PM

I'd be seriously PO'd too. She taking advantage of her employer and colleagues and committing medical fraud too probably (i'm not a lawyer).

My values are not aligned with people who behave like that. I'd have no respect. Btw- pretty sure it's grounds for dismissal and if I were her employer, I'd fire her.

**feeb** · September 18th, 2011, 08:43 PM

Grrr that is sooooooooooo wrong grrr.

Hope you feel better soon.

xoxo

**Stephie** · September 18th, 2011, 08:45 PM

I'm with Tashybabe, I'd be completely peeved and pretty sure she could get fired for it!

***Twinkle*** · September 18th, 2011, 08:51 PM

I would be livid and would seriously tell your boss! I manage staff and I would wantto know about this especially being a lied about bad back...what if she went on comp later on and blamed work!?

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**Mother Goose** · September 18th, 2011, 08:53 PM

Yes, I'd be peeved too! Gives me the right royal willies when people do this at work.

**RhiChiChi** · September 18th, 2011, 09:07 PM

:-( Firstly, I hope you feel better soon. Better to rest and get completely well than to call in sick for extended periods of time.
In regards to the other person who called in 'sick', she is really not worth the worry over and I hope she realises how inconsiderate she has really been

**Catastrophic** · September 18th, 2011, 09:58 PM

Yea that would Peeve me off too!

I hope your feeling better!

**willow5** · September 18th, 2011, 09:58 PM

Thanks girls at least I know it's not just me. DP was a bit kinda "yeah that sucks but oh well" so I thought maybe it was just me.

Thanks for all the get well wishes too

Delph I know I'm probably wasting too much energy on thinking about it but it's really just got under my skin.

I did think about dobbing her in, but well I don't really know why I haven't. If my boss came out and asked, I don't think I could not tell, actually there's no way I wouldn't. I just don't feel right about going straight out and telling. That sounds so school yard

I guess I try to think that there's a good reason for peoples behaviour when they do something that appears to be selfish, rude or the like. I just haven't been able to find a reason for it in this case.

Just to make it even worse, which could also be why it's dredged it up again. We have some compulsory training in a couple of weeks. It's at night and off site, over the other side of town actually. My co-worker M doesn't like driving at night so she asked if I would give her a lift, she lives close and we've car pooled before, no drama at all. Then last week L (who is sort of friends with M outside of work another long story altogether) found out I was giving M a lift. So she, after trying to get out of the training mind you, put her name down for the same session and asked if I'd take her as well. I must be a sucker because I said yes

Now all I keep thinking is omg who are you??! You blatantly lie to me twice then have the gall to ask me for a lift

I couldn't really say no I'm sure it would've caused a drama, and I can't be bothered with that at work. Probably why I'm here whinging to you guys

Twinkle I really hadn't thought of that! If she's that fluent a liar she just might try the compo card I guess.

Sorry if I'm rambling. I just felt I wanted to get it out there to sort out in my head what, if anything, I should do.

**Cranky Kitten** · September 18th, 2011, 10:03 PM

I'd be pretty ratty over it too, however it's not really worth stewing about - these things do have a way of coming back to bite peoples on the buttocks later on.

Hope you're better soon.

**lilima** · September 18th, 2011, 10:18 PM

As annoying as it is,( my boss does it all the time) she is entitled to the sick days and has a certificate. How she uses her sick days is ultimately her choice, and no one else can tell her what to do " while "sick." so as peeved as you may be ( and I totally feel your pain, as I am let down by my boss all the time) nothing can be done. Also remember appearances can be deceptive. As someone who suffers anxiety that no one at work knows about. I have had to take days off for *me* time before (albeit few and far between) and she may have legit reasons that you would never know about.

Anyway just trying to give you a different POV.

**onthefly** · September 18th, 2011, 10:57 PM

Yeah, I'd be annoyed.
If she's silly enough to get herself plastered all over facebook like this then I suspect it won't be long till her goose is cooked, so to speak.

**Cranky Kitten** · September 19th, 2011, 09:51 AM

I think the funniest one I've heard about was a guy who faked a sickie, went to the cricket and then got busted because his boss saw him in a clip on the news... Karma can be something of a cruel wench at times.

**willow5** · September 19th, 2011, 10:28 AM

Yeah, I'd be annoyed.
If she's silly enough to get herself plastered all over facebook like this then I suspect it won't be long till her goose is cooked, so to speak.

That's what I was thinking too! But I'm pretty sure I'm the only one with fb at work. I feel bad for knowing, like I'm lying by with holding IYKWIM.

Also remember appearances can be deceptive. As someone who suffers anxiety that no one at work knows about. I have had to take days off for *me* time before (albeit few and far between) and she may have legit reasons that you would never know about.

Anyway just trying to give you a different POV.

That's exactly what I was after, thank you. I suffer anxiety myself so I do completely understand that.

As annoying as it is,( my boss does it all the time) she is entitled to the sick days and has a certificate. How she uses her sick days is ultimately her choice, and no one else can tell her what to do " while "sick."

Having said that though if you are supposed to be off with a bad back, and are actually off participating in physical activity much more strenuous than what work would be that can't be acceptable surely? The photos were of her running jumping, star jumps little agility type exercises...
Really she could've gone to her GP and got a certificate, if it were an anxiety issue and gone to the 12 week challenge, which would be a good thing to do to help with anxiety. A mental health week, I would completely understand that.

I think the funniest one I've heard about was a guy who faked a sickie, went to the cricket and then got busted because his boss saw him in a clip on the news... Karma can be something of a cruel wench at times.

Gotta love karma

**willow5** · September 25th, 2011, 02:28 PM

Ok so I am particularly tired sick and cranky at the moment but a new development has arisen in the fake sore back saga that has again gotten under my skin. Thank god I can come in here and vent as I was very close to saying something directly to her this time, but still don't want to start dramas at work.

So Another co-worker needed some time off as her elderly father was sick and she needed to help care for him. 'L' was asked to fill a cleaning shift, to which she replied "I'm not going to stuff my back again to fill a cleaning shift."

Um there isn't really anything wrong with your back!! And several people filled your shifts, including the person requiring time off now to look after her dad, when you were off with you "sore back" doing exercises running around going to parties

Seriously I'm losing the perspective I had a week ago. That just sounds lazy and selfish to me! Grrrrrrrrrrr