Had a job when I was in my early 20s which I hated and took a couple of sick days when I wasn't. Now, as I look back, I regret doing so, even if I wasn't with the company for a long term stint. Should have quit sooner or just bit the bullet and went to work. Now, the office job I have today, we have personal days, floating holidays and vacation days. We schedule vacation days or floating holidays with the supervisors, but personal days are what replaced sick days. You can take them when you wish by calling in, for either illness or for personal reasons, like a family emergency. I've heard a lot of companies in the US are going towards this format of personal days, as it might allow for flexibility for employees. And by the way, the office job I hold today is much better than the job I hated as a younger man.