An Open Letter to Tradies About "Sickies"

Hey tradies,

It's time we had an honest conversation about sick days.

I recently met an apprentice who had lost two jobs because they took a sick day while unwell. Now, even when they're nearly bedridden with gastro, they're too scared to miss work to avoid risking their job. This is an extreme example, but it's a sign that our culture of commenting on people's sick days has passed the point of a joke. It's no longer funny (if it ever was), and it's time to stop. The problem is that these casual jokes have turned into harmful beliefs, where we can't recognise the harm this is doing to our culture and the individuals who feel guilty for being unwell.

Enough is enough.

I remember my own experience as an apprentice. The first time I took a sick day, my supervisor commented, " Oh, the arvo shift is finally here." I shrugged it off initially. However, another colleague commented when I took another sick day months later, and I couldn't shrug the comment off as easily.

This culture of joking about sick days has the flow-on impact of promoting the idea that any time off work is selfish. It creates an environment where people feel like they have to push through illness to avoid the shame of being seen as taking advantage. The negative impact on workplace culture and individual wellbeing will likely create more time off in the long run.

In our industries, the work never ends. It's tough, especially for leaders, who often have to adjust the plan and take on extra responsibilities when someone calls in sick. But we always figure it out. We always get the job done, one way or another. Improving our attitude and conversation around sick days isn't about encouraging people to take advantage of them. It's about making it safe for people to rest when unwell. If we have to manage unplanned absenteeism, we can at least do it respectfully.

Of course, there are instances of misused sick days, and that needs to be addressed. But when we create a culture of guilt for being away from work while unwell, we make it harder for people doing the right thing to take the necessary time.

Let's stop the jokes and the guilt. If someone is genuinely sick, they deserve the space to recover without feeling like they're letting anyone down. It's time to change the culture and let each other feel safe to look after our health.

We're all in this together. We can take care of one another by changing the narrative around sick days and stop joking about them.

Written by Ashley Belteky