# Why is taking a day off work with a hangover unacceptable in society? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268 "2016-08-09T18:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/21 "2016-08-09T20:23:51Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > I said I was playing devil’s advocate. I’m just interested in peoples opinions. What if someone called in and said, “I just don’t feel responsible enough to show up for my job”, how is that any different that calling in with a hangover? I can drink a few beers after work and be fine for work the next day. The reason I call it quits after a few beers instead of closing the bar down and heading to an after party is my sense of responsibility. I realize the chance of me getting a hangover is much greater if I close the bar down and head to an after party, so I don’t. That’s my sense of judgement. If I walked out of the bar after three beers and got hit by a truck, that would be a reasonable excuse. Drinking to excess because you don’t give a shit about your responsibilities really doesn’t cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/22 "2016-08-09T20:34:51Z")
Well, I’ve never had a hangover. But if I woke up with a killer headache and nausea I would probaby call in sick, for whatever reason. I don’t think it’s unacceptable, but I could see, if it happened a lot–say, every Monday, like a coworker I used to have–that it could move over into that category. Fun fact: Once I got very ill with the flu, and it came on when I was at a New Year’s Eve party (which I left at 10:30 because I felt so awful). Of course I called in sick on Jan 2 (and I could barely talk) and my boss was so convinced it was a hangover (really, on January 2?) that he came over to my house to make sure I was really sick. He came really close to sending me to the hospital. But if it had been a hangover I’d still have been really sick, right? Probably no fever though. Having said that, it’s not untypical for me to feel shitty in the morning, so much so that I have not realized I was actually, you know, SICK, until I was already at work. And in that case I mostly decided to stick it out, because it’s more trouble to go home and I’m already there, except at least twice when I realized I just couldn’t. So, if a hangover is just a headache and a generally bluh feeling that’s normal, then I’d go in. I draw the line at gastrointestinal upsets. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/23 "2016-08-09T20:39:25Z")
Of course we’re going to rate a lapse in judgement as negative. It’s inherently a negative thing. You have done something that with better judgement you would not have done. A company can of course choose to let the incident pass without much noise based on a track record of otherwise sound judgement in the person, though. But I don’t see a benefit to being preemptively known as “The Company That Lets You Get Away With Anything”. You could draw a semi-parallel line between this and the general act of making mistakes at work, and maybe that’s why you thought of this idea. Some workplaces come down hard on any mistake, no matter how innocent. And others recognize that we’re all human and will eventually make a mistake by accident, and it’s more important to fix the problem and try to modify it so it won’t happen again. I’d imagine most people would like turning up to the second workplace more. So I could see how you might want to expand that sort of idea to hangovers. But with a hangover you’re allowing something outside of work to interfere with work, and furthermore it’s something you presumably have complete control over. It’s not exactly a complex process where if one thing gets dropped then the whole project goes to hell. So it’s not the same as making a work-related mistake on the job. And really, it’s called “sick days”. You’re sick, you call in sick. An extreme hangover is “sick”. I don’t see what’s so hard about simply saying “I feel too sick to come in today”. It’s the truth, and without details it passes for any other sickness such as a migraine. Then just slap yourself together and don’t let it become a regular thing. ---
**Author:** ![guitario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@guitario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guitario)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/24 "2016-08-09T21:00:01Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Why on earth would you? What’s wrong with just saying you’re staying home sick. I think taking a day off for a hangover is unacceptable simply because it’s so easy to not fucking tell anyone that’s the reason. > > As a manager, if someone did tell me I’d think “I’m judging this person negatively for not having the common sense to not tell me that they have a hangover.” > > Incidentally, one of my most hated parts about managing people is when they have an irrepressible need to tell me any details about their sick day. I trust the professionals who work for me to be honest and even if they’re not, telling me about their snot or diarrhea won’t solidify the legitimacy of their sick day in my mind. I actually am the opposite to this. As a guitar teacher, I prefer it when people postpone and cite their reason, even though I’m fully aware they have no need explain. In return, if I ever have to rearrange, especially if it’s short notice, I will tell them why (obviously keeping details relevant). It’s also dependent on the relationship between me and the student, or in the thread scenario, boss and employee. If you get on well, or are friends, then honesty goes a long way in my opinion. > [@Macca26](#): > > Of course we’re going to rate a lapse in judgement as negative. It’s inherently a negative thing. You have done something that with better judgement you would not have done. A company can of course choose to let the incident pass without much noise based on a track record of otherwise sound judgement in the person, though. But I don’t see a benefit to being preemptively known as “The Company That Lets You Get Away With Anything”. > > You could draw a semi-parallel line between this and the general act of making mistakes at work, and maybe that’s why you thought of this idea. Some workplaces come down hard on any mistake, no matter how innocent. And others recognize that we’re all human and will eventually make a mistake by accident, and it’s more important to fix the problem and try to modify it so it won’t happen again. I’d imagine most people would like turning up to the second workplace more. So I could see how you might want to expand that sort of idea to hangovers. But with a hangover you’re allowing something outside of work to interfere with work, and furthermore it’s something you presumably have complete control over. It’s not exactly a complex process where if one thing gets dropped then the whole project goes to hell. So it’s not the same as making a work-related mistake on the job. > > And really, it’s called “sick days”. You’re sick, you call in sick. An extreme hangover is “sick”. I don’t see what’s so hard about simply saying “I feel too sick to come in today”. It’s the truth, and without details it passes for any other sickness such as a migraine. Then just slap yourself together and don’t let it become a regular thing. I do agree, there is no need to explain exactly why… although I’ve had managers who love to play doctor. Me - ‘Hi, sorry, I’m unable to come to work today, I feel unwell’ Boss - ‘Ok, so what’s wrong?’ Me - ‘It’s just a stomach thing’ Boss - 'Food poisoning? A bug? Lost a sword fight? Me - ‘I… don’t know… just cramps’ Boss - 'Ok, so do you think you’ll be ok for this afternoon, how about tomorrow? Have you made an appointment for the doctor? Is this terminal? Me - ‘I have no idea… I’m just feeling unwell’ Boss - ‘Alright, so drink plenty of fluids, rest up, and let me know by 3pm if you can come in tomorrow…’ Me - ‘Please go…’ ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/25 "2016-08-09T21:09:59Z")
I find the best way to discourage inquiries as to the nature of my illness is to imply it’s something GI-related. Almost no one wants details of your bowel movements, so they will generally leave you alone. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/26 "2016-08-09T21:13:04Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > I said I was playing devil’s advocate. Sometimes the devil doesn’t have a leg to stand on, and it’s better to try to plead him out… ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/27 "2016-08-09T21:20:09Z")
> [@](#): > > I find the best way to discourage inquiries as to the nature of my illness is to imply it’s something GI-related. Almost no one wants details of your bowel movements, so they will generally leave you alone. It helps a lot if you actually end up puking while trying to call in sick. You can’t fake that noise and NO ONE wants a puker to come into work. Most of the time I agree a hangover on a work morning is bad judgement, but I once got a horrible one from drinking just one glass of red wine at dinner. Me and certain kinds of red wine do not get along. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/28 "2016-08-09T21:24:34Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > Thanks for the replies so far. Although I agree with most of what has been already been said, the consensus seems to be the person with the hangover is being negatively judged, or fears being judged, hence the made up excuse. I think you’re misreading the consensus. Most of us feel that the person is being held accountable for his own actions not negatively judged. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/29 "2016-08-09T21:27:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Almost no one wants details of your bowel movements, so they will generally leave you alone. At least, most people away from message boards. ---
**Author:** ![guitario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@guitario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guitario)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/30 "2016-08-09T21:31:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think you’re misreading the consensus. Most of us feel that the person is being held accountable for his own actions not negatively judged. Held accountable is judged. Or I read ‘judged’ as meaning ‘forming an opinion based upon facts’. Or maybe, potential judgement is a better way of thinking. But as I said earlier, every one of us makes mistakes on a daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/31 "2016-08-09T21:38:28Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > But as I said earlier, every one of us makes mistakes on a daily basis. Certainly so. However, the consensus you’re seeing here is that getting drunk enough to be seriously hung over on a work day (so hung over that you’re unable to work) is a “mistake” that’s somewhat bigger than an “oopsie” moment. It’s a sign of poor judgement, immaturity, and / or not taking your adult responsibilities seriously. (And, if it’s not a one-off event, it may also be a sign that the person has a drinking problem.) Now, certainly, there are “mistakes” that would be signs of even **poorer** judgement – like getting in your car and driving home after having those drinks. But, what you’re seeing is a consensus that it’s a non-trivial mistake. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/32 "2016-08-09T21:46:22Z")
I once had an employee call me at 6 am to call off. Fine. She should have called the manager, who deals with that kind of stuff (it’s what she’s paid to do), but oh well. She went on to explain to me that she couldn’t work because of an especially heavy menstrual flow. I heard a graphic, detailed description of her current difficulty, a synopsis of her previous menstrual problems, along with other related pathology (also of a gynecological nature). I had to reach down and lift my lower jaw back up into position. All this before coffee. Hungover? Cool. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/33 "2016-08-09T22:08:10Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > It helps a lot if you actually end up puking while trying to call in sick. You can’t fake that noise … Sure you can. Or I can. Plus everyone’s puke sound is different. I could even imitate my wife’s puke sound, and her friends’. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/34 "2016-08-09T22:20:46Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > Held accountable is judged. Or I read ‘judged’ as meaning ‘forming an opinion based upon facts’. Or maybe, potential judgement is a better way of thinking. > > But as I said earlier, every one of us makes mistakes on a daily basis. No it is not a “mistake” it is a choice. You made the choice to have a hangover when you started and kept drinking. A mistake is when something you didn’t intend to do happens. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/35 "2016-08-09T22:36:20Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > No it is not a “mistake” it is a choice. You made the choice to have a hangover when you started and kept drinking. A mistake is when something you didn’t intend to do happens. We’ve had friends drop by on ultrashort notice to tell us great news and celebrate a bit. Didn’t intend to get trashed, but couldn’t ignore a friend’s situation. I’ve never called off due to a hangover, but I’ve taken my coffee breaks kneeling in front of the porcelain goddess many a time. Still do my job, though. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/36 "2016-08-09T22:40:24Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > No it is not a “mistake” it is a choice. You made the choice to have a hangover when you started and kept drinking. A mistake is when something you didn’t intend to do happens. I’ve made many many MANY choices that happened to also be a mistake. The two terms aren’t mutually exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/37 "2016-08-10T00:17:57Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I don’t mind covering for you when you have unavoidable circumstances. I’d hope you’d do the same for me. But covering for your hangover is a little different. That’s you not just asking, but effectively forcing me to do you favor. It’s also enabling the person’s behavior. If he knows someone will cover for him, he’ll think nothing of skipping work the next time he gets drunk, too, and not accepting the responsibility for his choices. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/38 "2016-08-10T00:25:45Z")
> [@guitario](#): > > snip > > It’s a legitimate physical sickness. The headache can be incredibly acute and painful, there is often vomiting or… other exit procedures, and if it’s been a particularly good night out - the shakes (oh you 21st weekend, you). > > If this was due to a virus - they’d come and paint a red cross on your front door… but because it’s ‘self inflicted’ (don’t you hate it when they say that?), it’s thrown into the same category as plain old skiving. snip Because it’s not legitimate and it is “self inflicted” (which I don’t hate when “they” say that). I have had a few too many on a couple of occasions and I’ve gone to work the next day (or later that morning) and sucked it up. ---
**Author:** ![Gladys\_Overnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gladys\_Overnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gladys_Overnow)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/39 "2016-08-10T00:53:24Z")
If there’s the slightest chance you’re contagious, I don’t want you working around me so I don’t need much convincing that you need a day off. Even though hangovers aren’t catchy, why take the risk? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268/40 "2016-08-10T01:33:35Z")
It’s like shooting yourself in the foot then acting shocked when they don’t give you a medal. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-taking-a-day-off-work-with-a-hangover-unacceptable-in-society/762268.md?page=3)