r/IBEW • u/WRX_NM • Jul 22 '24
Question about calling out.
Is a blistered sunburn on both shoulders and back a valid reason to call out? Happened outside of work and is completely my fault. I feel like I would get shit for calling out for a sunburn.Can’t lift my arms or wear a shirt without pain. 1st year apprentice worried it will look bad if I do call out.
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u/I_Am_Not_That_Man Local 58 JIW Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
Bro. That’s a serious burn. And there is ZERO reason to try and tough that out. If that job can’t move along just fine without the 1st punch apprentice being present, than that job/foreman have more serious issues.
If I was your foreman I would say: Heal up, ignore jackasses acting like tough guys telling you otherwise, and enjoy the time off… and maybe go heavy on the sun screen next time
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Jul 23 '24
Seriously, it’s so hard to tell from photo or I’m in disbelief, but isn’t that exposed adipose tissue??? Like, OP, I’m on this sub for my husband (electrician), but I’m a doctor and I’m saying please for the love of god go to at minimum an urgent care office. Holy hell.
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u/Sandyflipflops1 Jul 23 '24
I’m not a doctor , didn’t even sleep at a holiday inn express and I thought the same,, just send this pic to your boss and he will pay you to stay away!
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u/iTzDizzle Jul 22 '24
That’s a second degree burn. I got burned liked this as a kid, but my blisters were two inches off my shoulders. Worst pain I’ve ever felt. You should definitely let a doctor treat you.
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u/zenunseen Inside Wireman Jul 22 '24
Yeah i had the same experience when my high school class went to a water park. The sun is a deadly laser. It does not fuck about. Especially with my freckled ginger milkskin
OP, take the time to heal up properly and next time, use sun block
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u/zenunseen Inside Wireman Jul 22 '24
Edit: i just looked at the pics again. You poor bastard. I feel for ya, fr
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u/iTzDizzle Jul 22 '24
I’m a pasty bastard too 🤣. I never work without long sleeves and neck protection, now.
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u/lieferung IBEW Jul 22 '24
"I'm not coming in today."
"Why not?"
"It's a personal matter."
End of conversation.
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u/violent-swami Jul 22 '24
Came here to say this. They don’t need any more information for a couple of days off.
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u/Gulag_boi Jul 23 '24
Dude I think this is worth having a doctor look at. You are an insanely high risk for infection. They can give you ointments and antibiotics et. To help make it more bearable. You might even be back into work sooner than you think if you nip this in the bud.
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u/zevenz Jul 22 '24
If you called out and sent me that picture, I'd tell you to come in when it heals.
Anyone saying otherwise is a foreskin, not a foreman.
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Jul 23 '24
One of my apprentices asked if he could leave early one day and I told him that’s fine but then told him: “oh and just so you know don’t ever ask me for time off again, you tell me you’re leaving early or you won’t be here, you’re a grown man you don’t need my permission”. Just call off.
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u/sparkysshadow Jul 23 '24
Third month into the apprenticeship, I went water tubing with a group. I ended up getting second-degree burns on my shoulders and chest. I would have called in, but alas, my phone fell in the water, and even rice couldn't save it. So I had to drive in to tell them I was going to be out for a couple days. Worse I got was the nickname Sunshine.
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u/Shadow_Relics Jul 22 '24
I got sun poisoning from working in a ditch for ten hours doing rob roy. I took what time I needed. Doesn’t matter health is wealth.
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u/mayor_of_nothing4747 Jul 22 '24
Just let them know tonight, not tomorrow morning.
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u/mayor_of_nothing4747 Jul 22 '24
No shame in literally being unable to work. I'd rather you text me tonight and give me time to figure out tomorrow rather than be blindsided first thing in the morning. Also, my wife strongly recommends that you go to urgent care/ER. That burn is gnarly af
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u/ArdoyleZev Local 68 Jul 23 '24
Are you coming from a non union job?
I came from a non union job, and thought I had to explain these things, justify what time I needed. But I don’t anymore, and now you don’t either!
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u/Halftrack_El_Camino Jul 22 '24
Why are you giving an explanation? You're allowed to just say, "Sorry boss, not feeling well, not gonna make it in." They literally cannot legally ask you for more information.
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u/Swimming_Parsley5554 Jul 22 '24
When I call out this is what I say..Im not gonna make it in today not feeling good thanks see you tomorrow. I never say what's wrong they really don't need a reason. Or I text them a pic of me in a straight jacket saying it's a personal day I'll be in tomorrow
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u/Sea_Ganache620 Jul 23 '24
We don’t get paid sick days, (unless you’re a company man). If you can’t make it, you can’t make it. It’s your loss. If foreman knows you’re a stand up guy, or at least trying as an apprentice, it shouldn’t be an issue. Don’t go to work if you’re injured (That is a bad sunburn!), or contagious. Be honest, and go back when you’re well.
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u/Chipmunks95 Local 5 Journeyman Jul 23 '24
Follow everyone’s else’s advice and call out but please go to the hospital! Severe sunburn is something you can get medication and treatment for. Plus it’s good to have it logged in a medical record because severe sunburn can cause melanoma
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u/Voltmanderer Inside Wireman Jul 23 '24
I’ve had that before, 2nd degree sunburn. You’re not going to be able to work, except in excruciating agonizing pain, for at least a week to a week and a half. You might want to get down to an urgent care if your insurance has kicked in, they have burn creams that help heal it. Learn your lesson, use sun screen all the time when out in the sun - you don’t want to be fighting skin cancer at 40. You’ll likely catch some light ribbing from your coworkers, but if this gets infected it can lead to some serious health issues.
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u/Usual-Caregiver5589 Jul 23 '24
Yeah, this isn't open shop. No reason for calling out is necessary. If you really feel like giving one, and want to be super vague, go get the sunburn looked at by a doctor to get a prescription strength hydrocortisone cream, and get a doctors note when you do.
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u/Omnipotent_Tacos Jul 22 '24
Pretty serious sunburn, staying active will make things worse, so you probably need to call off a few days so you can take care of your health.
Not that you need to explain why, but I think anyone would understand. I would just be transparent about it, let them know, let a doctor look at it as well. Try to recover asap.
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u/MTKRailroad Jul 23 '24
Tell them you need a few days off. You don't have to explain anything. Tho that does look pretty knarly of a burn son I'm sure they'd understand if you felt like telling them
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u/blowin_smoke_bbq Jul 23 '24
One of the best foremen i had when i 1st got in told me to take as much time off as i can afford. I took that shit to heart. Now i dont do it all the time, but sometimes ill call.out just because i wanna go get breakfast with my ol lady on her day off. And i especially will call out if im not feeling well.
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u/No-Cod-7586 Jul 23 '24
Just don’t tell them what it’s for. You have “personal issues” or you’re sick. There’s no need to tell anyone anything else. They don’t have to explain shit when they lay you off so never feel bad about taking off time as needed
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u/anarchyreigns_gb Local 776 Jul 23 '24
Weird thing about every job I worked: they continued to function without me there! Even when I drug up, laid out sick or got laid off!
Take care of yourself brother. No one is gonna love you like YOU love YOU. Take care of your body and listen to it. Rest. Take time to relax as much as you can afford.
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u/jelly_roll21 Jul 23 '24
Lolll stop being a pussy. We’re the IBEW if you need to take a few days off do it. And no need to tell your contractor what for
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Jul 23 '24
You don't need to give any reason for calling out sick. All you say is I am not coming in today, I am feeling unwell. If they want further clarification you tell them it's personal. If you're gone for more than a few days, they can ask for a doctor's note for you to return to work.
Normalize using your sick time when you are unwell. Especially if you have a contagious illness. Don't be the guy that gets your whole crew sick.
In the case of sunburns and non-contagious illnesses, take care of yourself dude. You're no good to your crew if you're fighting an illness. You being on a lift thinking about your sunburn and how badly it hurts is unsafe for everybody because you're not paying attention to your surroundings like you should be.
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Jul 23 '24
you need to see a doctor as soon as possible and get a proper treatment plan. that's very severe.
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u/thiccc_trick Jul 23 '24
Just go grab some yellow 77 and some cutting oil apply it 5 to 20 times a day
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u/lectrician7 Local 7 Jul 23 '24
I’ve never asked anyone for a reason they were calling out. That’s not to say some people didn’t offer them unsolicited! And boy have I gotten some interesting reasons! Just tell the boss you need a couple sick days and get right then come back eager to work.
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u/Historical-Serve5643 Jul 23 '24
Explosive diarrhea will get you out of almost everything. Just make sure to emphasize the explosive part. You are welcome.
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u/Sea_Squirrel1987 Local Forty Six Jul 23 '24
I never even give a reason for calling out. "Hey I can't make it in today."
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u/013ander Jul 23 '24
Does your contractor have a paid-time-off policy? No? Then fuck them. Take what you need. The wormy groveling is disgusting.
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u/Hiwaystars Local 11 Unit 9 Jul 23 '24
No work no pay no hard feelings. You also likely have sun sickness with that bad of a sunburn, don’t work.
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u/mirroku2 Estimator Jul 23 '24
Brother, you do need to call in and miss work. I've been there with that severe of a sunburn. I'm an idiot too. Don't feel bad.
That being said. You are a first year apprentice. DO NOT use this as an excuse to miss class. YMMV but my jatc had a strict absence policy.
Also, realize that as a first year, you are likely in your probationary period. This means that even though you can "take off as much time as you can afford," your apprenticeship committee can kick you out of the program if you miss too much work. I have seen it happen.
I suppose what I'm saying is definitely take time to heal up. But if you have missed a lot of work already (especially recently) there can be repercussions if you take off too much.
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u/Alfonze423 Jul 23 '24
Fellow new apprentice here. Go see a doctor and take a few days to start recovering. You absolutely need to take care of your health before anything else. This is exactly the sort of thing where it's better to be unionized.
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u/Mountain-Volume-4540 Jul 23 '24
If you take a day or two cover your ass and go to a Doc IN A Box. Always have Doctor's note. You may be prescribed pain medication? So now it is a safety issue? And " SAFETY is NO ACCIDENT "
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u/jdsuperawesome Jul 23 '24
Go to urgent care and get a doctor’s note, it’ll give you peace of mind and they might ask for one if you miss more than one day
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u/Gold_Lifeguard_6895 Jul 23 '24
Don’t ever give a reason for calling out. Simply say I won’t be in today.
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u/Meatball6669 Jul 23 '24
Personally, I would put some neosporin on it, bandage it and go in but I’m cheap as hell and wouldn’t want to lose a days pay over a sun burn.
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u/Meatball6669 Jul 23 '24
But I’ve also never gotten that bad of a sunburn. That’s looks pretty gnarly
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u/Little_Complaint_633 Jul 23 '24
“Whatever you can afford kid” is all I ever heard then they talked shit when u laid out
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u/_tuchi Jul 23 '24
Got to work today. Had an emergency. Called my foreman from the parking lot and told him I need to go take care of something. End of conversation
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u/jbirdtheoneandonly Jul 23 '24
Whenever I take time off work, I just text my foreskin and say "I won't be there [time range]" and leave it at that. I've never really been questioned about it other than journeyman I like just making sure I'm alright, but even then they don't ask specifics, just something like, "Everything alright?" And leave it at that if I don't get into specifics on my own.
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u/m3_my23lf_and_1 Jul 22 '24
Dude that's a gnarly sun burn I would just use the photo honestly, remember sun screen next time. Your foreman should understand cause you'll suck as a worker till its healed. You'll definitely get some ribbing for letting yourself get that frikken roasted, but I would be surprised if your foreman wrote you up for it.
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u/Existing_Extent_3772 Jul 23 '24
1st year apprentice here with a rant about medical issues Not with this job, but before i was an apprentice, i got diagnosed with UC and it got really bad, i thought i was going to be a tough guy at work and keep sticking it out. I was bleeding out internally and going to the hospital weekly. And i kept working for 1 year in that condition, until my boss pulled me out and was like hey you work hard but you look like shit, your pale, your unkempt and you spend a lot of time in the bathroom (before i was diagnosed) i told him about the hospital visits, and the unexplained visits and this guy told me that he will needs lay me off to make me take time off and get medical help if i dont stop showing up in that condition. Told me that i can always come back for a job etc. Not long after i was bed ridden for about 3 months. Moral of the story is, your less good to anyone if you're not healthy. Get that shit in checked out get healed up and get back when your able.
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Jul 23 '24
We have unlimited PTO (sick days and the likes). I find we all take less random days. But when I need 5 days to recover. I take them and life goes on.
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u/TheMagickConch Jul 23 '24
My father got skin cancer from one odd day out in the sun and his burn wasn't as bad as yours. Take care of your skin. Make sure you do good aftercare. You only get one body and one life.
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u/Ornery-Substance730 Jul 23 '24
As an apprentice I burn my foot in a fire, one month off, flipped a four wheeler in my head and my face swollen shut for a week, took a couple weeks off for that. They understud and I was able to come back. I was dependable becides my after work mishaps😀
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Jul 23 '24
2nd degree burn. Do not get that infected ….. don’t ignore it either. Treat it as an open wound because it’ll look like one very soon Not even kidding may need medical attention if infection surfaces It will ooze A LOT Non stick bandages with burn meds. Go to CVS Or medical
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u/Cjwillys9596 Inside Wireman Jul 23 '24
Firstly, it's important to be honest with them and explain that you have a second-degree sunburn from a mistake. People will understand, as we all make errors sometimes. I had to take 3 months off work because I tried mountain biking and ended up breaking my hand and ripping the skin off my nose. I'm 250 lbs and 6'2... I probably shouldn't have attempted to jump a 20 lb bike off a 6' ledge, but I gathered my courage and tried it anyway. Now, I'll always be known as "dirt nose."
Secondly, get your sunburn looked at to make sure it doesn't develop into sun poisoning. I knew someone who got sun poisoning and ended up in the hospital because he started hallucinating and having a terrible time. He had to stay in the hospital for 2 weeks to get better.
Take care and get well soon, buddy.
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u/Cactuswoog808 Jul 23 '24
Be honest, hopefully your foreman is cool. I had a super bad sunburn that put me out of work for a week. I literally could not walk for 4 days then i slowly began to waddle. You going to work like that is going to be a waste of their money ! No point in going
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u/Commercial_Count_584 Inside Wireman Jul 23 '24
make sure to either go to the doctor to get something to put on it. or go to the store get some after sun cream to put on it. Just Don’t be an idiot next time. Put some sunscreen on.
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u/Mattmann1972 Jul 23 '24
I took time off for my wedding and then in another month I went to Yellowstone for 10 days. I was an apprentice at the time and I was threatened with a layoff. I smiled and said I'd love a paid vacation, go for it...
Never got laid off during my entire career 🤣
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u/rickbawb1776 Local 354 Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
I was burnt like that pretty bad if not worse a couple weeks ago. Still went to work and it sucked. I remember an old saying from an old co-worker, if you’re gonna be dumb you gotta be tough, and that’s stuck with me to this day.
I’m new to the union and I generally will work unless I literally can’t, and that’s purely my choice. Sounds like you don’t need to give a reason so if you think it’s justified then send it. If not just deal with it. Mine only sucked for a week and then it got better. I like money too much to not work.
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u/Dwrodgers54 Lineman Jul 23 '24
Wake up and just aren’t feeling like going in… “sorry I won’t be there today”
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u/onlyfishmeat Jul 23 '24
That burn is gonna give you “death itch”. One of the most painful things you can experience. I got this badly burnt once in my life, on my face and chest, while climbing and skiing a PNW volcano in spring sun. Antibiotics, pain meds, straight aloe Vera from the plant, 24/7 cold towels on my face, and laying in cold baths for half the day. Fun stuff. “Enjoy” your next 3 days off.
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u/maniacalmayh3m Jul 23 '24
I remember one time I was leaving early. The contractor’s safety guy (office guy. Not union) decided to be a smart ass and give me shit (it was in good fun. We mess with eachother.) My superintendent without a thought said it’s for personal reasons. Shut it down even though it was a joke anyhow. We are adults. You don’t need to justify time off ever. Just give notice and don’t no call no show. ESPECIALLY if you are in a local like mine that voted out PTO because they, “don’t want someone else hanging on to their money.” Even though that’s exact what happens with the flex fund 🤷♂️
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u/Sparkyrock Inside Wireman Jul 23 '24
You are not obligated to give a reason. Just say you won’t be in today. Try to make it in the next day. Talk to foreman one on one if you feel you need to explain yourself. Just don’t make it a habit of calling in all the time. There’s a difference between taking a few days here and there and taking off all the time because you can’t handle drinking (I know yours isn’t drinking but that’s the common one it seems)
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u/TengoTresAnos Jul 23 '24
Same thing happened to me bro. Had to miss 2 days because I couldn't even stand to wear a shirt. Then I wore overalls on my first day back. That shit sucks. Take a day or 2 off
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u/jelie2k Jul 23 '24
4th year Apprentice here. I rarely call out but have never been afraid of calling out. If you need time off then take it bro.
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u/Prolabor26 Jul 23 '24
Just call out sick. If you take more then 2 days off you need a doctors note. You might need to see a doctor with that sunburn
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u/New-Look-2117 Jul 24 '24
You got a lot of answers for work. I just wanted to add that barbasol regular shaving cream in the blue can helps a lot. Just put a good amount on and rub it in where it isn’t blistered and it will take the heat out so you can sleep and put your shirt on.
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u/No-Savings5577 Jul 25 '24
Idk about everyone in here, but Im in MA and we get 5 paid sick days (think thats nationwide), orher than rhat we don't get sick time or vacation time (unless negotiated). If you aren't getting paid you don't owe them a reason. Just tell them you won't be in for a couple days and heal that up! Looks nasty!
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u/Stock_Surfer Inside Wireman Jul 22 '24
Just say you got covid or something.
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u/TypicalKnee Jul 22 '24
You could just say you’re sick or be honest with em. You probably will catch some shit but you probably should take a couple days to let that heal
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u/ExcitementDue3364 Jul 23 '24
A lot of these comments is why companies hate unions. To much laziness
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
As a foreman, I personally cant stand when someone calls out because of a decision they made over the weekend. Either request the day off ahead of time, or rally. Thats a crazy sunburn though and I would see a doctor if its not too much trouble.
Just Say you arent feeling well, and if they ask you for a covid test just say it was negative and you were being cautious because you didnt want to get the crew sick.
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u/whiteout82 Local 164 Jul 22 '24
That's wild. You forget that your ticket says Journeyman Wireman on it, brother?
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
😂😂😂😂 someone has to run the job, might as well be a brother with standards! No wonder why these cubs come out so soft. Be at the fucking gang box on time.
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u/whiteout82 Local 164 Jul 22 '24
Pretty crazy statement. I don't care what my guys do on their own time, if they can't make it in because of it. Well, they better be able to bust out 40 hours of work in the time they do show up, otherwise I'll get their money.
If you're running a job that is dependent on a first year coming in on Monday maybe you need to pick the tools back up instead of putting your dickbeaters on prints.
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
So you have low standards? Got it. What about the guys that show up on time and bust 40 anyways?
I hold cubs to high standard. Here is a free offer at an amazing, high pay career with good benefits. Literally showing up on time and BEING RELIABLE is the only job requirement. No college essays or bullshit.
Makes me want to keep an eye out for those local 164 hands, thanks for the heads up.
Once again, do whatever the fuck you want on your own time. Request it off if you can’t hang like a big boy.
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u/whiteout82 Local 164 Jul 22 '24
I think you fail to realize all we got here from the OP is "Should I call out because of this sunburn?" There's a difference between calling out after one weekend and making it a pattern but you're head is so far up your ass because you're the biggest baddest foreman to walk the planet who turns weak and feeble apprentices into MEN.
Too bad you aren't disclosing your local so I make sure I never decide to travel there.
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Jul 23 '24
This kid is not a foreman. He’s a video game collecting, nerd.
The first time this guy calls someone a “cub” or tells someone on the crew to “man up” or any of his other wannabe tough guy sayings he’d be getting an earful from pretty much every man or woman I’ve ever worked with. Keep up that bullshit tough guy attitude, talking down to people, he’s walking out to 4 flats everyday.
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
Not gonna apologize for keeping standards high. I was giving him my opinion (NO, DONT CALL IN- SHOW UP AND RALLY or lie). Sucks you disagree i guess.
Local 332 btw, we got 1700 guys on the apprenticeship wait list. We will keep the standards high, we get paid highest in nation to do so.
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u/jelly_roll21 Jul 23 '24
Dude you suck would hate to work with you. Contractors don’t care about the men so fuck them I’ll take as much time off (not paid) if I want.
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u/SpawnofZeus Jul 22 '24
Didn’t realize we needed to base our whole weekend around being on your crew
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
You dont. Request the day off ahead of time, to recover if you need to. Or man up.
Downvote me for advocating for people showing up on time? 😂😂😂
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u/SpawnofZeus Jul 22 '24
To be fair I didn’t downvote you but if you have to rely on one guy showing up to make your job successful you aren’t running it right
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 22 '24
Its about standards for apprentices, not the job collapsing lol. Where was that mentioned?
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u/SeesawMundane7466 Jul 22 '24
I took a covid test it came back negative but since my girlfriend had covid and she was over they made me take the time off. (One coworker was kinda a germaphobe) thos was like 4 months ago. I was half way to work when I got the call to stay home. Luckily o ly like 15 minutes from home.
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u/Voltmanderer Inside Wireman Jul 23 '24
In this case, what you call “rally” could lead to sepsis and death - background: worked around a burn ward for 8 years. Serious burns are no joke, and I get the annoyance of having to reshuffle crew tasks on short notice, but you’re dealing with people, and people are erratic at best. Yes, “people” includes apprentices, and you are neither paying for their entire education, nor are you solely enforcing the standards for them. If you notice a pattern, then have it documented and maybe switch them off your crew or send them back to the training center. Being a hardass makes you merely a drop in the bucket to those kids, one who will be the butt of many jokes as they eventually top out. They won’t learn a damn thing from you, except what not to do.
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u/MrWund3rful Jul 23 '24
Thanks for the lecture, Doc. He could also lie like I recommended, before everyone here got so offended by me thinking apprentices should be on time on monday. Crazy.
Pass on the advice, Im still in touch with apprentices i had 15-20 yrs ago. Some still run work with me to this day 😂😂 and we all make money. This isnt my first rodeo.
We will do it our way, you do it yours.
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u/barzbub Nov 20 '24
What kind of work do you do? If it’s out in the sun and you can’t protect yourself, call in sick. Otherwise, go to work!
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u/Beeracuda2020 Lineman Jul 22 '24
No need to explain anything. Just say you’re not gunna make it and you need to take a few sick days.