Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take the rest of the week off sick?

40 replies

Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 19:21

So I’m that person who hates calling in sick, I will work sick, I get anxiety if I have to be off sick.

Yesterday I was sent home because they thought I had Covid; I don’t, I took a test. However I’m feeling grotty and have a weird tightness in my chest, cold symptoms etc.

I still feel grim this evening, so will likely be off tomorrow too which I’ve made my manager aware of. She's very chill about this and has said to not return until I am fully well again but why do I feel so anxious about it?!

I’m freaking out about the whole, what if I’m not even well by Friday?

I haven’t had a day off for sickness in 10 months and I almost feel like punishing myself for it - wild I know! Anyone else get these feelings?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa · 17/07/2025 18:50

UnwantedOpinionBelow · 16/07/2025 20:43

If you get sick leave just take the time off until you're better. The job would replace you within a month if you left, us workers aren't as important as we think.

My best friend’s dad always used to say “no one’s indispensable… even the most important people. When the American president was shot in the head they’d still replaced him by tea time”. Often think of this when I’m feeling guilty about being off ill from work!

Greedybilly · 17/07/2025 09:49

@ToKittyornottoKittyyes - iit's very hard not to feel very resentful in this kind of situation . Really ill because of someone's lack of common sense/selfishness:(

Nachoinseachthu · 16/07/2025 23:19

Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 19:27

@Nachoinseachthu ehy? Because I enjoy my work and feel guilty letting people down? Oops, sorry.

For one extra day you get a fully rejuvenating break, rule out the risk of infecting your colleagues, and give yourself a day for quiet strategic professional reflection.

We’re not hamsters.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 16/07/2025 22:11

There’s a thread on here at the minute from a woman who’s just had a second trimester miscarriage after catching a horrible virus from someone who came into work visibly sick and she now blames the coworker and hates her. Obviously it may well be nothing to do with that coworker…. But you’ve been told to take time off, nobody wants to catch your virus! Stay home and take care of yourself and your coworkers. I understand the anxiety but remind yourself that nobody wants to catch your bug, they are being genuine telling you to stay home.

Original poster
Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 21:17

@UghFletcher my anxiety isn’t actually related to this but thanks ☺️

OP posts:
RentalWoesNotFun · 16/07/2025 21:09

If you’re my colleague please stay off and rest. I don’t want to catch what you’ve got with my compromised immune system. I will happily do a bit of extra work youve left behind rather than catch that bug. Plenty fluids. Feel better soon.

Oh and back in 2020 my pal tested negative on a home test and positive on a pcr done the same day. Lateral flow tests are notoriously unreliable and im sure some strains of Covid dont show up at all.

UghFletcher · 16/07/2025 21:03

As a manager I’m constantly telling people that if they are ill, their body is telling them they need to rest. so take the time off sick. It’s not school, you don’t get 100% attendance certificates at the end of term. I’d honestly rather people didn’t come in and spread their germs. 🦠

out of interest. Do you also take your holiday allowance or do you think people get annoyed with that as well?

Glad you’re seeing someone for the anxiety - hope they help you realise that people aren’t annoyed with you being off sick but you’ll end up more sick if you don’t look after yourself and will annoy others whose immune systems aren’t as strong if you pass your illness on.

gamerchick · 16/07/2025 20:54

If you were sent home then take the opportunity to rest OP. The place won't fall down without you.

Original poster
Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 20:53

@Greedybilly oh I am so sorry to hear this - it’s genuinely so sh*tty isn’t it 😭

I’ve struggled with Long Covid and then CFS as a result of Mono, hence why I think I now get sick a lot.

But you’re right and I really hope you overcome this soon!

OP posts:
Greedybilly · 16/07/2025 20:49

My colleague came to work with a streaming cold and didn't test - turns out it was Covid which she gave to me.
A year later I am living with the nightmare that is long covid .
Take the week off OP.

Michele09 · 16/07/2025 20:48

If you feel guilty think of all the people just about to go on holiday who don't want it ruined by being ill. Stay home, rest, get well and don't worry.

Original poster
Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 20:45

@UnwantedOpinionBelow yeah this is actually true!

OP posts:
Original poster
Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 20:45

@theunbreakablecleopatrajones got in one! I’m already receiving therapy for anxiety and taking meds, but thank you for your, not so needed comment 😘

OP posts:
UnwantedOpinionBelow · 16/07/2025 20:43

If you get sick leave just take the time off until you're better. The job would replace you within a month if you left, us workers aren't as important as we think.

AgnesX · 16/07/2025 20:38

If you're ill, you probably won't be functioning well enough to do your job properly. Think about it like that and relax.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 16/07/2025 20:35

Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 19:27

@Nachoinseachthu ehy? Because I enjoy my work and feel guilty letting people down? Oops, sorry.

Your reaction is much stronger than this though, so you need to work on that anxiety because it will be impacting on other bits of your life.

whatswithalltheslugs · 16/07/2025 20:34

DonnaBanana · 16/07/2025 19:56

Divert your guilt and anxiety into guilt and anxiety about possibly making your coworkers ill when there is no need to.

This! Think of it as not making your colleagues less efficient, of ruining their plans. Also by taking the time to recover, you’ll feel better sooner, rather than doing a half-arsed job for a longer period. Hope you feel better soon whatever it is and thank you for testing.

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 16/07/2025 20:16

Givenupshopping · 16/07/2025 20:04

You do realise that these tests go out of date, don't you 'DustlandFairytaleBeginning'?

Show quote history

Yeah but we are only taking them for curiosity, it's not serious.

Ohmygodthepain · 16/07/2025 20:08

Having battled through some pretty serious physical health stuff over the past few months ( fortunately able to WFH) I took a few days off recently for mental health reasons. Drugs are managing the physical stuff but I'm not coping with the emotional fall-out.

If you're not well enough to be in work, take the time off to recover.

Notashamed13 · 16/07/2025 20:07

I'm exactly the same as you OP, I always think that they will think I'm "faking it", even more so now I work from home the majority of the time, but if you are too sick to work then you are too sick to work! It will all be forgotten about in a week x

Givenupshopping · 16/07/2025 20:04

DustlandFairytaleBeginning · 16/07/2025 19:38

Because we have about twenty tests left in the cupboard and we are sometimes curious. My husband had to take a daily test for work so we had quite a lot in when testing was no longer needed. None of the tests have shown Covid when we test our illnesses though for years, i do wonder if the tests can even identify the new strains.

Show quote history

You do realise that these tests go out of date, don't you 'DustlandFairytaleBeginning'?

DonnaBanana · 16/07/2025 19:56

Divert your guilt and anxiety into guilt and anxiety about possibly making your coworkers ill when there is no need to.

Original poster
Emiliex1o · 16/07/2025 19:54

@NewsdeskJC oh great 😭

OP posts:
Cabinqueen · 16/07/2025 19:53

So you enjoy your work, great! But you have vulnerable people in your office...🤷🏼‍♀️

If we worked together, vulnerable or not, I for one would be appreciative of you keeping your (non COVID or otherwise) germs to yourself. The boss even said so!

The angst probably comes from being a hardworking working mum, but also a hardworking employee...

Hope you're well soon 🥰 💐

NewsdeskJC · 16/07/2025 19:51

I agree with pp. Several people I work with only tested positive days after getting covid symptoms.
For that reason alone, stay home.