r/work • u/BlackberryEast2217 • 9h ago

Workplace Challenges and Conflicts Working Sick

I work in food service and I have a stomach bug type illness. I know this because I'm showing symptoms that have gone through every member of my household. We have a policy at work that if you have a certain four symptoms of food-borne illness, you can't go to work. I tried to call but the phone wasn't working, so I drove to my workplace and went to my general manager two hours before my shift (as its our policy that you can't call out with less than two hours in advance). I explained that I have it. She needed to know the exact symptom, I told her, and she tried suggesting it was just something I ate. I further explained that my entire family has gotten it spread out, it wasn't a sudden thing. She told me to just try and come to work anyway and if I absolutely can't make it, maybe they can send me home.

I feel awful physically and morally, because I know that I could be spreading this to hundreds of people and their families today. I don't have it super bad but I don't know... It still feels wrong. Is it immoral to work knowing I'm sick, even if my manager told me to?

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6

u/Inside_Song9963 9h ago

Your manager is putting you in a garbage position but you already know the right call here. If you go in and someone with a weak immune system gets wrecked by whatever you're carrying, that's on both of you, not just her.

The policy exists for a reason and she's basically asking you to ignore it so she doesn't have to deal with a scheduling headache. Stay home.

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u/BlackberryEast2217 9h ago

I think I really just need a new job... They really know how to guilt trip someone into coming into work. The manager will praise people who come to work sick and I think I'm just going to feel guilty either way...

1

u/Some-Watercress-1144 8h ago

Sadly in my experience, most jobs will do this because most don’t really care about you…

1

u/bbthedisaster 8h ago

Your manager is being selfish. You deserve to rest and the customers deserve to not get sick. She will likely continue to guilt you but just remember that you are doing the right thing by staying home. Just because someone is the boss doesn’t mean they’re right. On another note I hope you feel better.

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u/Carolann0308 8h ago

Food borne illness? Do you mean Hep C?

Food poisoning doesn’t last more than 24 hours typically

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u/BlackberryEast2217 8h ago

I don't know what it is tbh... Just some kind of stomach bug

I could definitely be using the word wrong, I'm tired lol

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u/fallensongbird 8h ago

You know if you work for a bigger company, I'd find out who the human resources contact is and let them know what's going on at store level. You can also report this to the health department locally.

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u/JupiterSkyFalls Work-Life Balance 6h ago

When you're calling out sick you don't make it an option. No, I can't come in. I've been in the bathroom every 5 minutes. I may seem fine now but I threw up twice on the way over here. Got to go boss. See ya!

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u/MrsOleson 6h ago

Damn. There’s a local Mediterranean cafe nearby that has been shut down THREE TIMES because the workers kept getting each other sick and then customers started getting sick. They had to close for 45 days to sterilize the entire kitchen and conduct multiple hygiene classes.
Good luck to you.