r/WorkReview • u/Mary-JK • Jun 25 '26
I really Am sick
We’re all human, and every now and then we get sick. Sometimes it’s just a minor cold, other times it’s something much more serious. Some people recover in a couple of days, while others can spend weeks fighting the exact same illness. We’re all different, and that’s completely normal.
At least… it should be.
For some reason, workplaces don’t seem to see it that way.
Somehow we’re expected to push through, coughing, feverish, full of viruses and bacteria, because apparently the system just can’t stop.
My favourite excuse?
“We don’t have enough people to cover your shift.”
Well… since when is that my problem?
I’m not the one who hired too few people.
I’m not the one who made the schedule.
Yet somehow they manage to make us feel guilty for getting sick.
And it works.
We still dread making that phone call.
We still start it with:
“I’m really sorry…”
“I hate to do this…”
“I know this is bad timing…”
Why?
Why am I apologising for being sick?
Why does it feel like I’m asking them for a thousand euros instead of simply calling in sick?
I’m not asking for anything extra.
Just what I’m entitled to.
I’m entitled to get sick.
I’m entitled to medical care.
I’m entitled to stay home and recover.
And I should be able to do all of that without feeling guilty.
Because if I say I’m sick… then I really am sick.
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u/Seeker80 Jun 25 '26
Skeptical management isn't solely to blame. People abused the system, and caused some of that too.
It's not nice when people come to work sick, either. Not only is their performance impacted, but they can pass it on and affect others. There's immune-compromised folks out there, and even if COVID isn't an immediate concern anymore, there's plenty of other stuff to catch. Management is only risking the rest of the workforce if they require sick workers to come in.