To feel guilty for taking a sick day?

[pcofmushu]

Probably not AIBU but anyway
NHS worker here
Off sick today for the first time in 2 years. Rotten with Covid symptoms. Awaiting PCR results. Feel like I've been hit by a bus.
Why do I feel guilty for taking a sick day? Does anybody else ever feel like this? It annoys me but I just cannot shift the guilt.

Don’t feel guilty! We need to transition to a work culture that is all about stay home when unwell so you do not infect colleagues or patients/customers with your illness. I found the U.K. to be very much praising sick people going into work which is not a good cultural thing imho. It’s that cultural message that is making you feel guilty too, when you should feel no guilt but a decent and responsible adult for staying home when sick.

If you’re too sick to work, nothing to feel guilty about. And you would rightly feel guilty if you went in and infected someone else, so it’s the right thing to do.

And get well soon!

YANBU!! Don't beat yourself up about this - I'm currently feeling the same guilt (taking bereavement leave for a family member) and sat here feeling terrible. The thing is, you'd be no use to work the way you're feeling, concentrate on getting yourself feeling better! Be kind to yourself

Yup! I'm a carer and I always feel so guilty if I take a day off. Funnily enough I never did when I worked in an office or hotel. I think it has something to do with the roles we work and the added pressure that we know will be on our colleagues and also as my MIL says what's the worst that can happen 🙈

You would feel more guilty if you spread your virus to vulnerable patients.

Get well soon.

I know exactly what you mean.calm yourself by thinking of your colleagues,how they would feel if they caught what you have.
Snuggle down,rest,do not spend another second feeling guilty.💐

I’ve always felt guilty. Think it comes from my nursery nurse days where they really hated you being off even though they didn’t pay you!

Right now you are doing the right thing!!

Oh, I voted YABU to feel guilty....but I see others have voted YANBU to take sick day. If you could clarify which is which, I am happy to change my vote if I understood which is which wrongly.

Oh love, don’t give yourself more stress by feeling guilty on too if feeling crap. Make the most of a good rest and be kind to yourself. Your colleagues won’t want you within a million miles of them with COVID symptoms and will be glad you’re keeping away. feel better soon

I always feel like this. I've just had 7 days off due to testing positive, never in my life have I had this long off sick. Can't be helped though under the current circumstances.

Yanbu I get the same guilt. It’s the culture.
As a teen I had a Saturday job and I phoned in sick one day as I felt drained. The boss was a vile cow and she berated me so much I ended up going in. Obviously that wouldn’t happen now. But it sets a precedent. I also saw my mum acting like a martyr when ill and then there’s always the threat of sanctions at work and scorn towards anyone off sick

I used to, in toxic jobs where I was made to justify myself and treated badly for being sick.

Took a while to adjust after joining the NHS where it's actively encouraged that you take sick leave if you're not well. Now I just call up, let them know I'm unwell and that I won't be in, and enjoy recuperating.

If you're sick, you're sick. We're humans, not machines. We can't usually prevent it. You have to look after yourself first.

Thank you all so much for your lovely replies 💕 Looks like we all feel the same!
Not unreasonable to take the sick day, and unreasonable to feel guilty for it!
Definitely time to take some time out to focus on getting myself better.

Thanks all xxx