Self-employed and sick?

[Mom]

See, that pisses me off. I have a kid who ends up in hospital when he gets a cold. I know it's fashionable not to give a fuck about anyone else, but still.....

Employers that take a hard line on a father or a mother that has a really sick child need 10 bullets of their own shit, fired at them at dawn. Wankers!

[hospitalfood]

ACC is for accidents only...

thanks, was not really sure about it.

i often have back issues which are definitely work related and easy to claim on, but it is just to much of a hassle to get any money from ACC because most of the time I cannot survive without payment for 6 weeks, which I understand is how long it takes to get money from ACC

[p.dath]

I used to do the same, go to work no matter what. I guess one day I just realised that was wrong.

I have work organised these days so I can take sick and holiday leave like everyone else.

If you work for yourself like that they you have "bought" yourself a job, not an investment in a busness.

[slofox]

I have an insurance policy that pays out big time if I end up in horsepiddle at all. Thought when I got the bike I ought to be prepared...not that I ever fall off of course...

[spookytooth]

ACC is for accidents only...

No acc is a fund selfemployed pay into so others can collect

[Virago]

lol I have been seriously ill and self employed for 4 years. No one gives a shit.

Steve

It's good that someone is amused by the situation. I'm pleased for you.

What do you do when you are self employed and you get sick?

I found out this week. You just go to work anyway, 'cause there are still bills to be paid this month and without trading no money comes in to pay 'em...

First time in four years in here that I have been seriously unwell. Nine hour days are reallllly long when you feel like crap.

And no bloody bike riding either,. just to cap it all off....

I can sympathise with you - been there, done that. Had my own business for six years, the first year on my own, now employing four others.

The reality is though, if you can't afford (financially) to get sick - or just as importantly, take holidays - then you're not charging enough or budgeting well. It has to be part of your overhead structure. If you have employees, you have no choice except find the money for their sick leave / bereavement leave / annual leave. So why not yourself?

Like others have mentioned, I have insurance that will cover me for the serious stuff. It's tax deductable. Not had to use it yet - touch wood...

A more difficult problem to address is not being able to afford the time to be sick, due to contractual obligations. For small businesses, that's a bloody hard one to solve.

[johan]

There must be health insurance for this kind of scenario available?

[Gareth51]

Self empolyed don't get sick,at least that's what I've been telling myself for the last 38 yrs .

[tri boy]

I have a wine shop.

You sell booze, and you don't know the cure for ALL illness
Sigh. Best I give you the recipe:

Equal parts Brandy, Stones Green Ginger, Tawny Port, and an acid trip.
All illness/sickness disappears in a frenzy of flying pigs and hallucinations.
(unless it's bad acid, then you just hurl n hurl n hurl)

[wickle]

Self empolyed don't get sick,at least that's what I've been telling myself for the last 38 yrs .

been down that track,self employed retail sucks! was self employed, bascially cost me marriagres, (cos i worked too much), now work for fortnightly pay, get holiday pay, sick leave so much sick pay (that i can cliam too be sick when i don't feel like going to work)

[ynot slow]

See, that pisses me off. I have a kid who ends up in hospital when he gets a cold. I know it's fashionable not to give a fuck about anyone else, but still.....

My old boss was good though,just that I never took time off if sick(i.e minor cold or cough).Was ok when I really did need time off though,had something like 6 weeks from unused annual leave,and sick leave,then on sickness till I was able to continue work,so it went both ways re give and take.I had no problem getting time off for my kids when in hospital,and when mum had a heart attack on a Monday,rang my boss at 8.00pm,he asked if we were going up that night,I said no will go after work tommorrow,was politely told go in morning or now,as long as back on Thursday.

My first job as an apprentice(in rag trade)meant any day you had off required a medical certificate,due to women abusing the system.I got used to working if I had a cold,as did most of our department,but the mentality of anybody taking a day off was throwing a sickey also ensured those who should stay at home came to work,with a main workroom with about 75 women virus' would spread quick.

Worked with a guy who would take every 3 or 4th Monday off,the boss' even offered him $500 if he went 3 months without a Monday off.Some days he was sick,other times maybe hungover.He managed to lose his license dic so I would take him to work for 9 months,the company offered to pay for his work license on condition he would stay bonded for 18months-2 years,but he decided not to get license,joys of shortage of floor preperation guys in flooring industry,and he was bloody good too.

[slofox]

You sell booze, and you don't know the cure for ALL illness
Sigh. Best I give you the recipe:

Equal parts Brandy, Stones Green Ginger, Tawny Port, and an acid trip.
All illness/sickness disappears in a frenzy of flying pigs and hallucinations.
(unless it's bad acid, then you just hurl n hurl n hurl)

Not when you are a Primary Schlerozing Cholangitis patient.....

[The Stranger:Me]

lol I have been seriously ill and self employed for 4 years. No one gives a shit.

For fuck sake. Now I've heard everything.
With child obesitiy being what it is did you really think anyone would give a shit?

[Quasievil]

I will put in some hours mate, no charge.

[paddy]

I AM my boss...

I think that was his point. (Unless I've interpreted a joke where there wasn't one.)

Seriously though - I did that for three years. I didn't take public holidays, annual leave, sick days. It wears you down. The trick is to manage those things out of your hourly rate (which I know is hard if you not getting much work)....