I was off work for a week (3.5 days in fact) last week I was feeling unwell, but not seriously so. However this weekend, it has manifested into tonsilitis and I feel like shite. I feel a bit better than I did this morning, but worse than I did all week last week! I may be able to dose myself up enough to go to work tomorrow, but I would not usually go, I have two thoughts going through my head and I would like your opinions as MNers as to what you might do if you were me: -
- Tomorrow I am running the first session of a 22 session Cognitive Behaviour Programme, there are two sessions this week, the first being the most important as it sorts out problems with attendance, increases motivation, gets those on the group to meet the tutors, and enables those who are disruptive to be challenged and removed if necessary. This first session out of all of the sessions is probably the most crucial to attend, along with the last.
The following week I am on leave, so there will be a cover tutor. If I do not go in for the first two sessions, I will in fact miss the first 4 sessions, which will mean bonding is more difficult, respect from group/control etc will be harder to gain. And it is my second group, the first with this tutor, so its a big deal.
Part of the reason I took last week off was so that I could rest and recover and not make myself more ill, so that I would be well enough to come to work this week.
- On the other hand. I am going to working with around 20 people, plus the tutor, in close proximity, plus colleagues I will be bumping into in the morning/evening. We have air con at work, and the room we are in will not have windows open as it opens on to a busy road and we cannot hear a thing. It is a large building and there is about 100 people there, although probably not any more than 50 at any one time. Bugs spread like wildfire in our building and it would be potentially irresponsible to go into work knowing I have not a common cold but tonsilitis or similar which others might get much more severely than me (especially my clients, who are often less healthy in the first place, not intending to stereotype but those I work with do not always look after themselves well). On top of that, I will have to prep for my work, concentrate hard, and run a group/concentrate hard for 4 hours. I will potentially have to deal with argumentative people, aggression and general disgruntled people who would rather be elsewhere. The first session is tough and I am not sure I feel well enough to cope. I can dose myself up, but if I start to wain halfway through I could lose the group.
So, what shall I do?