Freelance Writers and Sick Leave
February 22, 2007 by Anne Wayman
Filed under Jobs
My back went out Sunday morning… Monday morning I was literally unable to stand up. (MzTiz was most amazed as I did the hands and knees bit.) Tuesday I was able to email a couple of clients putting things on hold, I was standing and I got the dishes done, but I spent most of the day in bed. Yesterday I worked about three hours in patches. A good hour of that was away from the computer. A client/friend took me to lunch and I couldn’t walk the 2 blocks. He was delightful and drove me.
Today is better… I’m shooting for four hours of work, more or less. But if I had to drive to work I wouldn’t even attempt it. I can just see an office manager’s expression as about every 30 minutes I lie face down on the floor to do a series of mild stretches. I wouldn’t go to an office tomorrow either, although I may be able to do the laundry – we’ll see.
That means, at a minimum, I’d have taken 5 full days of sick leave. As I recall it’s about at this point that the HR department wants to see a note from a doctor. Well, this time I haven’t been to a doctor… and I always found the idea I had to get permission to be sick somehow offensive.
The truth is, if I had an office job, I’d probably be out most of next week too, or at least working half days.
Instead, as a freelancer, I’m getting back to work, albeit slowly, at a fairly rapid rate. Of course, I don’t get sick pay, but my income hasn’t stopped; I’ve slipped some deadlines.
I find this a much better way to live and work than any other, except maybe inherited wealth.
Write well and often,
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Ann..
I have been thinking about ya!
“Inherited wealth?” Who are you kidding!
:)
All that money wouldn’t be so fun if we didn’t earn it!
;)
keep on gettn’ better!
truly,
Sylvia C.
This post is so timely, since my whole family has been sick these last two weeks. When we had to take my toddler to the ER last Tuesday, I was thankful that I didn’t have to call in like my husband did, I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone…I could just go be Mom. I had to reschedule a few things, but that really didn’t matter much to me. Hooray for freelancing! And I hope you feel better soon.
Anne, you bring new meaning to “A woman of Means”.
Just keep doing those stretches. This is just one of the downsides of being your own boss but in reality YOU are in control whether you feel like it or not right now.
Well wishes,
Karma
thanks, both of you… am feeling better every day, and yes, I’m keeping up with stretches… looking forward to being able to do some yoga… maybe tomorrow?
Yes, because goddess forbid we actually have a health care system in this country. It’s all about not giving us enough care until it’s too late.
and then not paying enough… oops… I’m slipping into politics again… awfully hard not to these days.
I wrote about this too at http://mamarant.blogs.com/amnichols/2007/02/contingency_pla.html.
I was able to work for a few hours a day when I had whooping cough for a month, but I had to take a lot of breaks too. Lord knows what I would have done if I had a “real job.”
Interesting theme have mentioned. With pleasure I shall support.
And in general, good blog