My Column

Did you call into work on National Sickie Day? It could be time for a new career

  • Date: Monday 13th February 2017
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Were you off sick last week? Did your young apprentice fail to show for work?If the answer’s yes then chances are you weren’t alone.

The first Monday in February is officially known as National Sickie Day – the day when the highest number of people call in to insist they’re under the weather and incapable of a bit of graft.

Factoring in the end of Dry January, Super Bowl Sunday, the first payday since Christmas, and a Scotland victory to kick-off the Six Nations when a few too many pints were no doubt sunk, this year’s absences are expected to be higher than usual.

 

It’s estimated that approximately 350,000 people will have called in sick, costing the UK economy a whopping £45m.

 

While some put on their best ‘I feel sick’ voice and stuck to more plausible excuses – tummy bugs, man-flu, gout and more – others went all out in the creative department.

 

Apparently excuses some gave to incredulous UK employers included, “My only pair of work trousers is in the wash”, the highly dubious “It’s my dog’s birthday and I need to arrange a party for him,” not to mention the plain daft “My friend is on annual leave so I can’t get a lift”.

 

Taking a day off on National Sickie Day is tantamount to admitting you are hungover or hate your job – you may as well just admit it because, either way, it’s not going to go down well with the gaffer.

 

The bottom line with any of these excuses is that the employee in question probably isn’t enjoying their work.

 

So if it’s work apathy rather than illness that has you hiding under your duvet, instead of skipping through rush hour traffic on Monday morning with breezy anticipation, you may as well use the opportunity to search for new employment.

 

Everyone has made New Year resolutions, when people re-evaluate their lives and set new career and life goals.

 

Everything from getting beach-ready to finding a new job is on the cards.

 

My advice is quite simply this: if you’re not enjoying your work, get out there and do something about it. Make that resolution and stick to it.

 

The number of temporary workers is on the rise, and people are changing careers more often than they used to. Thanks to a relatively buoyant economy, there’s a wealth of options out there.

 

However, in order to stay ahead of the pack, learning and updating your skills is more important than ever.

 

One way to get knocking on the door of opportunity is to look at what your skillset is, and if it’s not leading you along a career path you enjoy, get back to basics.

 

Your working life should be a process of constant learning and development.

It’s no coincidence that online learning company ICS Learn has reported a spike in searches for its courses during the first months of the year.

 

While technology courses have seen an explosion in popularity in recent times, the Glasgow-based business offers a range of qualifications in everything from HR and Accounting, to A-levels and GCSEs – and with their range of fitness courses, the chance to get both healthier and simultaneously more skilled is even an option.

 

It’s a cliché - but life’s too short. If you’re calling in sick because you’re not enjoying your job, it’s time for a change.

 

My entrepreneurial spirit means I’m never standing still, waiting for the next opportunity to come. You have to go and grab it.

 

Scotland is built on enthusiasm, innovation and the forging of a new day – not duvet days, Netflix and pulling a sickie.

 

 

SIDE

Last week there was some food for thought for those of us planning big purchases in 2017.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors predicted a continuing upwards trend in Scottish house prices in the coming months. Cited as a key and contributing factor to this trend in the Institute’s UK Residential Market Survey was the lack of available housing.

And it looks like this is a trend that’s set to continue in the short-term too. If the latest forecasts from the Construction Industry Training Board are anything to go by, only modest growth can be expected in the public and private housing sectors over the next five years.

Better news for those selling up I’d say than for those looking to get on the property ladder.

And if moving plans aren’t on your agenda for 2017, maybe you’re looking to splash your cash on a lavish getaway this summer. We Scots are well-known for our pursuit of sunshine at the first opportunity.

However, I don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, but last week it was reported that this is getting dearer too. Thomas Cook announced the cost of an average getaway this summer will rise by a whopping nine per cent.

This has been explained away as a necessary evil following additional expense being slapped on to the tour operator from destinations which are seeing a resurgence of UK tourists.

Whatever the case, the bottom line is it’s going to cost you more to get away in 2017, and that’s before Brexit is triggered.

Better get saving then!

 

LAUGH

Aberdeen is of course known as ‘the windy city’ - but I didn’t realise that its inhabitants were taking the name to heart quite so much.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Glasgow-based management company Redefine|BDL Hotels conducted a nationwide survey on the key to a happy relationship.

No relationship is perfect though, and the survey found that Scottish couples put up with a whole host of disgusting habits in the name of love.

 

It was in this section that Aberdeen truly lived up to its reputation with a staggering 38 per cent stating they have to put up with their other half breaking wind.

 

My advice? Don’t look to anyone in that neck of the woods for Valentine’s action between the sheets – you may get more than you bargained for.

 

 

WEEP

Social media erupted last week when a London branch of Asda began refrigerating its tomato ketchup as well as storing it on the shelf – with people up and down the country engaged in a war of words over where is the best place to keep the condiment.

Who knew it could be such a contentious subject? I found myself almost crying with laugher at some of the impassioned outbursts on the matter.

A poll by the supermarket drew 2,600 votes and a narrow victory was declared for the cupboard at 54 per cent.

And considering that Heinz Tomato Ketchup has been around since 1876, it likely has a long history on the shelf. The jury is out though, as the bottle does suggest keeping it refrigerated once opened.

 

 

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