to take sick leave for this

[whatsay11]

I always feel so guilty taking sick leave. I’ve been unwell for a week with a really bad cold and cough. I lost my voice. But I pushed through work for this as they’re not a fan of sick leave. I’ve had several negative covid PCRs. For the past three nights, I’ve not been able to sleep as I keep waking up literally every 2 hours, not able to breathe and I’ll have to use my inhaler. During the day, by the afternoon, I still feel unwell but my breathing is okay enough to manage at work. AIBU to call in sick for this? The symptoms seem less valid as I’m only struggling at night.

My job is important in this context, I don’t want to say explicitly what I do lest I get into some kind of trouble…but I work in healthcare, long degree, in a hated profession i.e. the person you can’t ever get an appointment with. If I call in sick, it will disappoint 40 people a day and a tremendous amount of anger will fall on me by everyone including my bosses!

For goodness sake, just take a sick day.

The attitude to sick days in the UK is utterly appalling. If you are sick, stay at home. Please stop getting so anxious over this and rest.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

YANBU
Doesn't matter who you are if you are ill, struggling to get better and majorly sleep deprived you should not be working. Yes some people will be upset, but you could make yourself extremely ill if you don't prioritise your health and if you go to work and make a mistake you could be jeopardising your career and/or harming one of those 40 people anyway. I would take a day.

Will you potentially be passing this on to up to 40 vulnerable people every day?

@AlisonDonut

Will you potentially be passing this on to up to 40 vulnerable people every day?

I’ve made sure not to, which I’ve had to fight for

@AuntFlorence

YANBU Doesn't matter who you are if you are ill, struggling to get better and majorly sleep deprived you should not be working. Yes some people will be upset, but you could make yourself extremely ill if you don't prioritise your health and if you go to work and make a mistake you could be jeopardising your career and/or harming one of those 40 people anyway. I would take a day.

Exactly my thoughts and reasoning. Just wish my bosses could agree.

Take a sick day or two. This time next year it won't matter a jot. Stop overthinking it op.

I often find ir surprising when adults ask strangers on here whether they are sick & should take time off work.
Even more so when the person works in healthcare [shoxk]

@whatsay11

I once had a lovely boss who, if I had to ring in sick, would say don't rush back if you are unwell - take an extra day if you need to feel properly well when you come back. I was always grateful he took that attitude as I could then relax without having some sword of Damocles feeling over me. In your situation I'd really want to consider if feeling so unvalued in my workplace was right for me and whether I wouldn't do better elsewhere...

Hope you feel better soon, OP. 🌹

My friend works in the NHS and sometimes the harsh attitude to sickness towards employees from the organisation that is supposed to support the health and wellbeing of the nation shocks me.

@rc22

My friend works in the NHS and sometimes the harsh attitude to sickness towards employees from the organisation that is supposed to support the health and wellbeing of the nation shocks me.

It depends where you work in the NHS.....I’m community.....I’ve have had Almost 3 years sickness in the last 10 years .....over 3 different trusts and 6 different managers....they have all been nothing but supportive....we hear all the bad stories about working for the NHS ...but there’s lots of good NHS managers out there

@rc22

My friend works in the NHS and sometimes the harsh attitude to sickness towards employees from the organisation that is supposed to support the health and wellbeing of the nation shocks me.

Yep. (I'm an NHS employee .....)

I'm in the NHS and regardless of what my managers personal view is of sickness there are strict protocols they have to follow so it should be fair for all employees. You'll never get past some managers being judgemental dicks about sickness though. You just got to learn to rise above it.