To WFH due to a headache?

[Paperplace]

I didn’t sleep well last night. Fell asleep at 11:30, woke up at 1:30am and have been awake since. Got up with a banging headache, called my boss and asked to WFH as it is supposed to be an office day. He said yes that’s fine.

I got a message from one of my colleagues on my team saying it’s making our team look bad because I’m not actually unwell and could’ve just taken some paracetamol and come in, as it is important that all of the team is together in office days for our meetings etc. I said yes but I don’t feel well. She said it’s only a headache and it’s not an illness that I can spread and so I should just take some tablets and get on with it.

This woman is in her 60s and has been at the company for 20 years. So she isn’t afraid to say whatever she wants to people. I am in my late 20s and have only been there 6 months so I think she’s trying to act like she can tell me what to do. At the end of the day, my manager said it was fine. AIBU?

I think you are either too ill to work, in which case you take a sick day, or not, in which case you go in. Unless it’s something contagious but no real symptoms, when you wfh for everyone else’s benefit.

Why don’t you get paid for sick days? I think that’s illegal.

Sorry, I don’t get paid for sick days yet because I’ve only been there 6 months. You only get paid for them after you’ve been there 12 months. But you only get two paid sick days. Anything after that is unpaid so most people WFH if they are feeling a bit under the weather

@bridgetreilly not necessarily if you WFH you can avoid the commute, work in a quieter environment and spread out breaks during the day. If you don't have a client facing role and not on calls all day it's far easier to manage your day and energy levels at home. Obviously not all roles lend themselves to that but plenty do.

Hi Colleague,

Thanks for checking in on me, but I have cleared this with line manager so no need for you to be concerned.

Thank you,

Paperplace.

I would also let your line manager know as they should be aware that this colleague is trying to flex muscle over their peers. I'm a manager and I'd want to know.

Just ignore her. If you respond to her along the lines suggested here there is the danger it will escalate and things will become unpleasant. As you say that mostly she is fine, it's probably a case of least said soonest mended. By not responding, you take the wind out of her sails.

I have had a lot less time off sick with migraines since WFH was an option.
The constant tapping of other peoples keyboard, whirls of their computer fans, rustle of wrappers and then the noise of the train often sent a low level migraine that I can work with if I have taken some painkillers to a bed bound migraine.
Being able to stay at home and take breaks through out the day with the time saved not commuting means I can do a days work between 8 and 6 rather than 8.30 and 4.30 when i am in the office and don't end up hiding in a dark silent room for 2 days.

See it as lesson learnt and don't share this information with her again and raise her comments with your boss.

My company has the policy that we can work from home if we are well enough to work but the commute to work would tip you into not being able to work. Or if you feel ok in the morning but the trajectory of the illness means there's a chance you won't be well enough in the afternoon.

Ignore her.

No acknowledgement, no quibble.

She's nuts querying you so don't give crazy oxygen/validation.

Tbh after reading this update I would have just took tablets and gone to work so YABU for that. A headache and feeling tired isn’t really a great reason to not go into the office. If it was a migraine or where you can’t work then that would be different. However I don’t think your colleague has any right to say anything to you so she is being unreasonable also. You cleared it with your manager so just ignore colleague and anything she has to say

Wow. It's none of her business and she is absolutely overstepping. This has been agreed by your manager. I would tell her to do one.

I also completely disagree with the comment that your post was ageist.

I think a senior/ well established member of staff saying this to a junior colleague is actually an exploitation of power and I don't think it was wrong of you to mention her age and seniority - it actually makes it worse.

If anything, she is potentially being ageist and I wonder if she would have said this to someone older than you.

Don't let her have this power dynamic over you - you need to stand up to her and tell her to butt out.

I would also let your line manager know as they should be aware that this colleague is trying to flex muscle over their peers. I'm a manager and I'd want to know.

Also this. Definitely mention to your manager. It's completely inappropriate behaviour.

You can still get statutory sick pay even if your employer doesn't pay.

What on earth is ageist about this?

This woman is in her 60s and has been at the company for 20 years. So she isn’t afraid to say whatever she wants to people. I am in my late 20s and have only been there 6 months so I think she’s trying to act like she can tell me what to do.

The OP is simply trying to rationalise why this person feels the need to go over their manager's head and tell off the OP. This notion that age is always irrelevant is bizarre.

You could argue that the colleague is ageist by treating the much younger OP like a child.

You could argue that the colleague is ageist by treating the much younger OP like a child

And I would. Not acceptable either way - as I've said.