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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take a sick day when I work from home?

91 replies

Livpool · 04/02/2026 07:12

I work from home full time and usually work through any illnesses. I have severe/brittle asthma and had an asthma attack last night - attended an and e at tea time and home in time for bed with steroids. Had a nebuliser twice while there.

I haven’t slept at all - been coughing and wheezing all night and I feel exhausted (anyone with asthma will understand that you can feel bone tired as you aren’t getting enough oxygen).

Would I be unreasonable to take today off? I wouldn’t usually second guess myself but a friend text me and I replied saying I won’t be online today, and why. Had a rant back about lazy people who wfh (she doesn’t). AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
Livpool · 04/02/2026 07:25

Thanks all! I was a bit shocked - she calls me ‘sickly’ because of my asthma, which annoys me too. I feel genuinely exhausted and I agree I wont be productive

OP posts:
FavouriteBlueMug · 04/02/2026 07:25

The calibration for a sick day when you WFH might be different but of course you can still be too ill to work.

Someone office based might take a sick day because they are too ill to drive, whereas a WFH colleague in the same condition might manage to drag themselves to their desk to log on.

But if you are too ill to sit at your desk and function properly then of course you put yourself to bed and take a sick day.

NotMeAtAll · 04/02/2026 07:24

You can't work today. It doesn't matter what your job is.

Diamondsareagirlsbestfrien · 04/02/2026 07:22

I don’t WFH but even I think if you’re too sick to work, you’re too sick to work! Don’t feel bad

LlynTegid · 04/02/2026 07:21

Depends on the illness, what you describe is something to be off sick for regardless.

BlueMum16 · 04/02/2026 07:21

Please take the time you need to get better, whether that's one day or a few

Too many people pretend to work when they are unwell. You are being genuine and honest which says more about her for doubting you.

MajesticWhine · 04/02/2026 07:21

Bad friend. Of course YANBU.

Frenchcremefraiche · 04/02/2026 07:18

We tell our staff who hybrid work that if you are ill we expect you to take the day off and recover.

If they are well enough to work but not be in the office eg they feel fine but have diarrhoea or a headache that means they need to work in the dark then if they can do they can work through the illness at home.

If you've been to A&E during the night you are not well enough to be at work anywhere.

I hope you feel better soon.

Elderlycatparent002 · 04/02/2026 07:18

Of course YANBU. WFH means often you can work through colds and what not but of course there are some illness where you just need to sleep!

Sirzy · 04/02/2026 07:18

I would take the rest of the week off!

DS is asthmatic and started a 5 day course of pred yesterday. He is in year 11 but I have told school he will hopefully be back on Monday. If he feels up to it he will do some bits of work in a few days but mainly he will be recovering.

Shoxfordian · 04/02/2026 07:18

Your friend sounds lovely 🙄

Take the day off, you're sick

Spinnertakesitall · 04/02/2026 07:17

Your friend is a good little worker bee isn't she. I judge people like her far more harshly than people who take a sick day. Of course you're too ill to work.

Taweofterror · 04/02/2026 07:15

Absolutely take a sick day and ditch the 'friend'.

WFH doesn't mean you are never too ill to work.

Danikm151 · 04/02/2026 07:14

If you are ill you aren’t going to be productive for work nor are you going to recover if your focus is on work.

Menopausio · 04/02/2026 07:13

You need time to rest and recover. And Id be re thinking that friendship!

Frenchcremefraiche · 04/02/2026 07:13

It doesnt matter where you work. If you need a sick day, you take a sick day.

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