To feel so embarrassed that I've had to take a sick day one week into my new job?

[NewGirlNerves]

I started my new job last week, and today I had to take a sick day due to having a stomach bug. I did try and work from home, but had to log off as it just wasn't possible to keep working through it. I feel really embarrassed like I've sabotaged my chance to make a good first impression? I'm not sure whether to force myself back tomorrow whilst still feeling unwell, or just take tomorrow off too to make sure that when I do go back I'm nearly at my full capacity?

I feel like they're gonna let me go for this.

Try telling your boss and colleagues how embarrassed you are.

"I'm so sorry everyone, I'm so embarrassed! It's not a great start is it" is what I might say.

Maybe they'll have had a similar thing happen to them.

You can't help being sick. If it was a weekly occurrence then eyebrows might be raised. These things do happen. Lots of illness goes around in winter.
Just get back to work when you're well and forget about it.
If a colleague had to pick up your work then just politely thank them and make sure they know you'd do the same if they were unwell.

If they do, they aren't worth working for. Why would going in to give a bug to your coworkers or delaying your recovery by wfh when you are not fit for work be a better answer?

Just be honest. 'I'm sad about the timing of this, but norovirus doesn't respect new jobs and I'm not fit for work right now. Thank you for bearing with me, and I hope it will be possible to adjust my induction schedule by for example xyz'

I had a false tooth fall out the night before I started a new job and needed to go and get it stuck back in. These things happen and nobody held it against me.

I had a new starter work for one day and then go down for a couple of weeks with pneumonia. It happens. She was mortified but I reassured her that I knew she was keen. It was all fine. Three months later no-one remembers.

I started a new job and a week later was offered a cancellation slot for the surgery I was on a long waiting list for. They encouraged me to have the surgery so I could just pause my training before we really got started, as it would have been harder to dip out after having been there for weeks/months.

Just keep them updated on your RTW and acknowledge that it might not be a great look, then focus on showing them why they hired you when you are back

It is in part due to being the most delightful time of year for bugs so you’ve just been a bit unlucky starting a new job at the time of year when you’re more likely to be sick.

this happened to me last year about 3 weeks after starting my job but luckily my manager was accommodating and didn’t make me log it as a sick day while wfh