I have medical insurance through my job. The job is quite physical. I have worked through a number of injuries since starting including:
- muscle strains
- minor bone fracture in one of my fingers
- bruised knee
- intermittent lower back pain
- jammed thumb
Now I generally take a "wait and see" approach with injuries. That is to say, I'll give the pain a few days to recede on its own before seeking any medical attention. About 99 percent of the time, it does just that.
I do get paid days off and while I am within my rights to use them to take a day or two off to heal, I understand that in a physical job like this, getting slightly banged up comes with the territory. I don't want to seem like a wuss or someone who can't handle a bit of pain and discomfort.
On the other hand though, I'm not sure I like this mentality we're expected to have of "work through any pain you can and only see the doctor if it's really serious". I know I'm not alone. I know a lot of other workers in America are working through injuries and chronic conditions because they either cannot get or cannot afford medical care.
I've even gone in with colds, bad nausea. It takes a LOT to make me stay home. But the truth is, it's like that with everyone I work with too. You get looked down on if you take too many days off due to injury or illness and, since this is an at-will state, they can fire you for doing so (I know they legally CAN'T, but they can make up some other bullshit reason as a CYA, we all know this).
Anyway, I'm curious how many fellow SCers are troopers like me who work through a lot (sometimes unnecessarily).
IMPORTANT: I know there are some aspects of this, particularly the health care angle, that could veer off into Fratching territory. Let's try to stay away from that.
- muscle strains
- minor bone fracture in one of my fingers
- bruised knee
- intermittent lower back pain
- jammed thumb
Now I generally take a "wait and see" approach with injuries. That is to say, I'll give the pain a few days to recede on its own before seeking any medical attention. About 99 percent of the time, it does just that.
I do get paid days off and while I am within my rights to use them to take a day or two off to heal, I understand that in a physical job like this, getting slightly banged up comes with the territory. I don't want to seem like a wuss or someone who can't handle a bit of pain and discomfort.
On the other hand though, I'm not sure I like this mentality we're expected to have of "work through any pain you can and only see the doctor if it's really serious". I know I'm not alone. I know a lot of other workers in America are working through injuries and chronic conditions because they either cannot get or cannot afford medical care.
I've even gone in with colds, bad nausea. It takes a LOT to make me stay home. But the truth is, it's like that with everyone I work with too. You get looked down on if you take too many days off due to injury or illness and, since this is an at-will state, they can fire you for doing so (I know they legally CAN'T, but they can make up some other bullshit reason as a CYA, we all know this).
Anyway, I'm curious how many fellow SCers are troopers like me who work through a lot (sometimes unnecessarily).
IMPORTANT: I know there are some aspects of this, particularly the health care angle, that could veer off into Fratching territory. Let's try to stay away from that.
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