First day back after mat leave and I’m ill

I'd call them today and warn them. This happened to me, it is not ideal but couldn't be helped. I think I took a couple of days extra holiday. The first few days back are generally just catching up anyway so hopefully you won't be missing much

I personally would suck it up but I have already been through the ill baby/toddler years and if I hadn't, I would have never been at work.

Saying that, you are an adult woman with your own decision making capabilities. Only you can decide if you are too unwell for work and surely don't need strangers on the internet to validate your decisions?

I think honestly if I were you I'd suck it up and do what you can. Sounds awful but the majority of places I'd work this would raise an eyebrow or worse with managers who would assume this was setting a precedent of you now being 'unreliable' post-baby, especially if you mentioned you'd caught it from them. I don't think that's right but I do think that's how it'd be seen - and croaking your way unsuccessfully through a teams call with your manager and then saying you'll get reading through your emails/handover notes/whatever you can do lying down would seem 'better' than calling in sick.

It's unfortunate and shit and unfair, but - in my opinion - probably not worth the bad impression.

(As a manager, I personally would be understanding if not a bit miffed. Do you know your manager well? How sympathetic are they likely to be? That could change things!)

It is unfortunate but return after mat leave is hard as it is and if you can't function because of your illness there is no need to add to the stress. They have coped without you for 10 months they can surely back up for a day or two. People get ill and often at inconvenient times, it just happens. Get rest!

Call your manager today to give them a heads up and so they can hear that you’re actually ill (if you have enough voice to do that!)

If you're managing to post on MN it seems like you're capable of sitting on a computer. What I would do is call your boss today and let them know you're ill, and arrange to take another day's leave (sick, AL, special leave, whatever they can accommodate) in advance. I think it would look really bad to call in sick on your first day back, especially as it's a Tuesday and they're presumably at work today.

It's different because you're not risking making anyone else ill by logging in.

My first day back was just trawling through new IT updates and just getting to grips with stuff. Tbf that went on for like a week so could you do that from home?

I think I’m going to be doing team and client introductions as I’m not going back into my old role and I have retained IT access

Could you send an email or speak to your manager today to ask to rearrange agenda for first day back? I'm surprised about IT access as security should mean your access is revoked in extended absence.

Be proactive as you can be as that suggests good intention. If I heard from a team member in your situation the day before I would be positive towards the employees absence.

I would have a Teams call with my boss and say I'm not very well and can barely speak. Then go back to bed, and take paracetamol every few hours and gargle with salt water.

WFH is working, the clue is in the “W” part. There are some bits of work you can do from home when ill but sometimes you’re just too poorly – sounds like the OP needs to sleep and rest, not be on camera faking it til she makes it. MN is really the worst place to ask work questions, so many here love the feel of the boot on their neck.

OP, I’d far rather someone coming back came back well and consistently than did a day while sick and unable to focus, made themselves worse, tried to stumble through the next day, then had to eventually call in sick anyway. Just recover, then start work.

I think you need to at least log on and show your face if you're WFH!

Wfh is real work. Don't listen to these miserable ghouls - let your boss know you're ill and get back to bed.

I wouldn’t considering you WFH.

It’s not about you though is it? Op said her baby had a bug and in the middle of winter, that’s a much more likely scenario. Most people without PTSD would not find going back to work after mat leave a high stress situation. A little nerve wracking maybe

Is your first day back planned as WFH, or as coming in anf WFH would be a kind of backup?

Would it make sense to call in sick, but express you are willing to join one hour online so the most important part is over and doesn't need postponing?

However, with fever muddling through isn't a good idea. If there is any interaction, you would sound dumb.

Oh my god just be off sick. They won't have anything important planned for your first day. I say this as both a manager and somebody who returned from maternity leave last year. It's just bad timing and you can't help being ill.

Log on and battle through the day.

If you're sick, you're sick. An illness doesn't time itself around your return to work. It's awful timing, but if you're poorly you can't go in.

I once had a new starter call in sick on their first day. They were absolutely mortified, but can't be helped and tbh if they weren't really really ill they would not be calling in sick on their first day!

Just explain, work will understand if you have been there years and don't usually take the piss.
They won't want you there spreading to everyone else anyway!

Speak to your manager tomorrow as you may feel slightly better by then.

What was the plan for return to work? Most of the day is usually getting your IT restored so no need for high levels of interactions. Don't just phone in sick or send an email as that's not professional.

Rest up today and dose yourself up tomorrow. You almost always feel worse in the morning. Get some day and night nurse from the chemist.