Would you call in sick regarding this situation?
By Scott
@callarse1 (4783)
United States
April 29, 2008 8:17pm CST
Okay, I hope everyone will read and reply to this discussion. At my job there are some co workers who love video games (nothing wrong with that in my opinion). So, the new version of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) came out at 12:00 (24:00) in the morning of 29 April 2008. Well, three of my co workers went to buy it. Two of them stayed up all night playing the video game, so they called in "sick" (yea right?).
One of my other co-workers was like "Why would you call off just to play a video game?". So that is my question to you all. Is it appropriate to call off from work because you want to experience a new CD/book/video game? Because these people called off (didn't come into work) we had more calls on hold, and had to do more work. At one point we just had two people on the phone. 
Thanks for any of your opinions and points of views.
Pablo
Thanks for any of your opinions and points of views.
Pablo3 people like this
10 responses
@Adelida2233 (1005)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I think it depends on whether your employer divides up sick days and personal days. At my job we have sick days that are accumulated monthly as well as personal days.
If your job does not have personal days, if you want a day off, its called a sic day regardless of what you are doing. Do you take off of work to take a sick child to the doctor or for a family emergency? The only reason that you are concerned about it is that they used their sick days to do something they wanted to instead if being sick.
I understand that a family matter is different than playing a video game, however people can choose to spend their days however they see fit. If that means they have to come in later in the year sick, then so be it. It's not up to you to decide how they spend their sick days.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
30 Apr 08
You are right about that. Well, I don't think one of them has any sick/personal days so I think he will get an incident for it. I guess you are right about that it's none of my business. The only reason I posted it on here is because when I was sick and actually missed work they said something to me about how much work they had to do...so I bet you can see my point. I was actually vomiting at work and had to go home versus they wanted to play a video game all day long.
Pablo
1 person likes this
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
30 Apr 08
That just goes to show you who the responsible ones are. it is crazy to take a day off becuse you were up late playing a stupid game. I like to play gmaes myself but never to that extent unless I know I have nothing goint on the next day and I can sleep in.
2 people like this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Well, I wouldn't call it "stupid", but I know right? I just didn't understand why they had to pay it all night. However it was their decision.
Pablo
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
30 Apr 08
I don't think the one worker has any sick days as he hasn't been there long enough. So he took the penalty, I guess. I'm not sure if the other one used his sick day.
1 person likes this
@rpegan (596)
• United States
30 Apr 08
It's never appropriate to call off for something like that. A game is not going to walk off while you're at work; when you go home, it will be just where you left it.
I could see MAYBE taking off work for something that only happens every once in awhile. I had co-workers take off to go to a concert before. It's still not responsible, but it makes slightly more sense to me.
2 people like this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
30 Apr 08
Well, rpegan, at least how they explained it that is their "once in a life time chance". I guess they wanted to experience it first hand, but it just sounded crazy to me. Thanks for your point of view.
1 person likes this
@geetnx (51)
• Kuwait
23 Nov 08
that's why its called a sick day. only when you are sick. where's honor in him? honesty too? irresponsible? i think his sick....in the mind because he will exchange his job just for a video game. he better be off working in video game stations rather than work in your office. he's jeopardizing your job and abusing your goodness and being considerate
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Hey thanks for replying. Well, that's what I thought. Plus they were angry with ME when I had to go home sick before (I was vomiting at work), so I said stuff to them when they came back, hahahah 
In a way, as one person said, it really isn't my business. However when they complain about me not being there cos I was actually sick & they just don't show cos they don't want to, then I have a problem & it's my issue cos I had to do more work 
In a way, as one person said, it really isn't my business. However when they complain about me not being there cos I was actually sick & they just don't show cos they don't want to, then I have a problem & it's my issue cos I had to do more work 
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
4 Jul 09
For business and professional opinion, no, that is not right. You shouldn't do it. For any other reason, you might need to consider your work comes to your priority. Video games, you can get it after work, or play it after work. Do not do anything that obstruct your work progress. We have to consider this question.
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
13 Jul 09
Yes, you are right. I wouldn't do it. I would use sick days for when I'm sick. And I actually found out just this year (I guess I never knew it before) that if we don't use all the sick days they'll pay us at the end of the year for the ones we never used. It's kind of nice because that can be like a small Christmas bonus. Have a nice day!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
1 May 08
I personally wouldn't, but we have known people who have. We had friends that when WoW came out took a day off and they completed the game in less than 24 hours LOL
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
1 May 08
So, sedel1027 I guess they are not the only one, there are other people who like to call off to play video games, hehehehe.
Pablo
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
1 May 08
That just shows how seriously they apparently take their profession/job/work (not very). It also sounds like their lack of responsibility really put an unnecessary burden on you and the other people working that day. That's just very careless and disrespectful in my opinion. It is difficult for me to have very high esteem for people who neglect their work and don't care enough about it to do a good job - especially to skip it to do something unproductive like playing video games. I hope these people don't get any big honors or promotions if that is the kind of job they do.
Now, if they really were sick, then that would be a different story.
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
30 Apr 08
This is never an excuse to miss work. What they just told their bosses is "I'm sorry, but a video game, a past time is more important than keeping my job." Don't think that the boss doesn't know that the video game came out this morning. He/She may be a gamer themselves, or have one in the house. Also, a good boss knows their employees. They know when they have a gamer on their hands, because of their personality. So they knew why they called off from jump. I should hope they keep their jobs after this.
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
1 May 08
Howdy, drknlvly6781, how are you? Well the one boss is a gamer himself so he did buy the game and said he stayed up until 5AM, but he still came into work. The one worker I found out didn't take any personal day so he just called off without having time off. That is okay with our company...if you do it more than 3 times (within 60 day time frame and without doctor's note) I believe you get a warning and if it happens again then you can be fired. The other person I found out took two personal days to play the game, hehehehe!
Pablo
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
7 May 08
Yes, you do have a point about that, they should consider their job before their hobbies I guess.
Pablo
