When you are self-employed and you are sick...

[lav]

Yes he's all clear now has been for about 12 months. He has another full scan coming up this month but we are absolutely certain there wont be any "black dots"

[vangogh]

Good to hear. I had a feeling things were ok based on the way you just dropped the info into a post, but wanted to ask anyway. Understandable why that would be the week you took time off.

[billbenson]

Got run over by a boat once. Leg broken by the prop. Missed a closing of a $1M or so deal the next day. Still got the deal (and the scars).

I've also been highly sick and entertained clients at a trade show. Client probably wondered why all the frequent bathroom runs.

In some jobs, even not self employed, you gotta work.

A friend got called for jury duty this week. I was thinking if that happened to me it could put me out of business.

[orion_joel]

Bill, I am not sure about the states, but in Australia if you are a sole operator you are able to be excluded from jury duty. You need to apply based on your business grounds each time though. There may be something similar if you are an essential part of the business, or such in the states.

Knowing there is the potential it can be worth looking into if it is possible to be excluded, and if not try and create some plan now you can put in action if you ever do get called up.

[vangogh]

Being the sole operator of a business is not an excuse to miss jury duty here, which is ridiculous to me. I'm with Bill. All I'd be thinking about was my business going down the drain.

[Blessed]

Oh, I don't even want to think about Jury duty - not only would I be loosing business, I'd have to spend money on childcare too...

[Mozzy]

That is a tough situation to sort out. Here we have other people to pick up the slack. The unfortunate reality is that if you doing it all alone all you can do is, as others here already stated, is let your client base know. Most should be understanding but you may lose a few frusturated clients., Those who stick with you, make sure you give them something extra for being so supportive, they'll likely tell others about how satisfied they are with your service.

[Evan]

Originally Posted by Blessed

Oh, I don't even want to think about Jury duty - not only would I be loosing business, I'd have to spend money on childcare too...

There are exceptions to serving. You'd probably be able to meet one of these exceptions.

Though speaking of jury duty -- I always feel bad for those that end up on the "big" cases like O.J. Simpson. I'm sure they were not only surprised with what they ended up with, but how long the case took! So much for hoping for a quick case.

[KristineS]

The one time I've been called for jury duty since I lived here, they settled the case that morning after we'd arrived for jury selection. I was glad about that.

I feel sorry for people who get the big cases too. I can't imagine being sequestered for weeks.

[Vivid Color Zack]

Originally Posted by vangogh

Being the sole operator of a business is not an excuse to miss jury duty here, which is ridiculous to me. I'm with Bill. All I'd be thinking about was my business going down the drain.

It isn't directly, but if you're in a position where your employer does not pay you for your jury duty days that is taken into consideration and most of the people who used that excuse last time I was called were let off. I was called as unlucky 13... only to come back the next day and be let off. Always say you have a bias in one way or another. I mentioned the fact that my grandfather was a cop and I've always looked up to him, that made the defense lawyer unhappy and I was free to go home

More on topic though - I was sick two weeks ago, more sick than i've been in years. Having to try to be in a phone meeting where you have to mute your phone every 5 minutes to puke was terrible. I was lucky to have a partner (business, not the other kind) that could run some deliveries that day for me because I was completely unable to drive. Would have had to try to get customers to pick up some things form my house or maybe rush a dhl shipment to them if I didn't have another person with me.