I laughed (to myself) when I heard that one of my fellow employees at the ol' radio ranch called in today saying they couldn't work because they were too hungover.
I tried that once during my 23 year radio career and learned a valuable lesson.
I will preface by saying that I have rarely ever called in sick. Probably a total of a week's worth of sick days in 23 years. If I have a cold or a little flu I still come to work. I did take two days off last year as sick days when I had my wisdom teeth pulled and I realized afterward I could have come into work the next day. I still feel a little bit guilty about that.
Some people just get tired of working and call in sick when they're not. I have only called in faking it once. That was in California back in the late 1990's. I still feel guilt about that and no one ever knew (until now). Is my dedication to my career a little over the top? That could probably be debated.
I attempted to call in after getting a little too carried away with having cocktails one time. I was supposed to do a live broadcast at a Family Dollar store in California and I couldn't stop throwing up the morning after going to a party. I called my Program Director and was honest about the situation. He told me: "If its self caused, I'm not excusing you. You're going to have to suffer."
I suffered. I went. I could hardly function. I powered my way through and I learned a valuable lesson. I occasionally have had a little too much a night before I was supposed to work. But I've always felt after that experience in California that its my responsibility to tough it out. Because I caused it.
Never call in hungover even if you are. You'll be a better employee than most if you don't.
