Freelance Writers and Sick Leave
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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POSTED IN: Business of Freelance Writing, Musings From A Freelance Writer
10 opinions for Freelance Writers and Sick Leave
Sylvia C.
Feb 22, 2007 at 2:25 pm
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.
Courtney
Feb 22, 2007 at 2:51 pm
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.
Carma Dutra
Feb 22, 2007 at 9:43 pm
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
Anne Wayman
Feb 23, 2007 at 10:02 am
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?
Contract Worker - Working on Your Terms
Feb 23, 2007 at 11:55 pm
[...] Leave it a freelance writer like Anne Wayman to articulate what’s great about freelancing: 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. [...]
Devon Ellington
Feb 24, 2007 at 8:05 pm
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.
Anne Wayman
Feb 25, 2007 at 2:45 pm
and then not paying enough… oops… I’m slipping into politics again… awfully hard not to these days.
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource » Freelance Writers and Sick Leave - 2
Mar 2, 2007 at 10:49 am
[...] Last week I wrote about freelance writers and sick leave. It was sparked by me pulling my back and being in major pain. But it seems like illness can come in bunches. Although my back is close to healed, yesterday I broke out in what can only be described as a major cold. [...]
Anne-Marie
Mar 8, 2007 at 10:35 am
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.”
Georgiy
Mar 13, 2007 at 3:38 am
Interesting theme have mentioned. With pleasure I shall support.
And in general, good blog
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