To take the rest of the week off sick?

[Emiliex1o]

So I’m that person who hates calling in sick, I will work sick, I get anxiety if I have to be off sick.

Yesterday I was sent home because they thought I had Covid; I don’t, I took a test. However I’m feeling grotty and have a weird tightness in my chest, cold symptoms etc.

I still feel grim this evening, so will likely be off tomorrow too which I’ve made my manager aware of. She's very chill about this and has said to not return until I am fully well again but why do I feel so anxious about it?!

I’m freaking out about the whole, what if I’m not even well by Friday?

I haven’t had a day off for sickness in 10 months and I almost feel like punishing myself for it - wild I know! Anyone else get these feelings?

If you're ill, you probably won't be functioning well enough to do your job properly. Think about it like that and relax.

If you get sick leave just take the time off until you're better. The job would replace you within a month if you left, us workers aren't as important as we think.

@theunbreakablecleopatrajones got in one! I’m already receiving therapy for anxiety and taking meds, but thank you for your, not so needed comment 😘

@UnwantedOpinionBelow yeah this is actually true!

If you feel guilty think of all the people just about to go on holiday who don't want it ruined by being ill. Stay home, rest, get well and don't worry.

My colleague came to work with a streaming cold and didn't test - turns out it was Covid which she gave to me.
A year later I am living with the nightmare that is long covid .
Take the week off OP.

@Greedybilly oh I am so sorry to hear this - it’s genuinely so sh*tty isn’t it 😭

I’ve struggled with Long Covid and then CFS as a result of Mono, hence why I think I now get sick a lot.

But you’re right and I really hope you overcome this soon!

If you were sent home then take the opportunity to rest OP. The place won't fall down without you.

As a manager I’m constantly telling people that if they are ill, their body is telling them they need to rest. so take the time off sick. It’s not school, you don’t get 100% attendance certificates at the end of term. I’d honestly rather people didn’t come in and spread their germs. 🦠

out of interest. Do you also take your holiday allowance or do you think people get annoyed with that as well?

Glad you’re seeing someone for the anxiety - hope they help you realise that people aren’t annoyed with you being off sick but you’ll end up more sick if you don’t look after yourself and will annoy others whose immune systems aren’t as strong if you pass your illness on.

If you’re my colleague please stay off and rest. I don’t want to catch what you’ve got with my compromised immune system. I will happily do a bit of extra work youve left behind rather than catch that bug. Plenty fluids. Feel better soon.

Oh and back in 2020 my pal tested negative on a home test and positive on a pcr done the same day. Lateral flow tests are notoriously unreliable and im sure some strains of Covid dont show up at all.

@UghFletcher my anxiety isn’t actually related to this but thanks ☺️

There’s a thread on here at the minute from a woman who’s just had a second trimester miscarriage after catching a horrible virus from someone who came into work visibly sick and she now blames the coworker and hates her. Obviously it may well be nothing to do with that coworker…. But you’ve been told to take time off, nobody wants to catch your virus! Stay home and take care of yourself and your coworkers. I understand the anxiety but remind yourself that nobody wants to catch your bug, they are being genuine telling you to stay home.

For one extra day you get a fully rejuvenating break, rule out the risk of infecting your colleagues, and give yourself a day for quiet strategic professional reflection.

We’re not hamsters.

@ToKittyornottoKittyyes - iit's very hard not to feel very resentful in this kind of situation . Really ill because of someone's lack of common sense/selfishness:(

My best friend’s dad always used to say “no one’s indispensable… even the most important people. When the American president was shot in the head they’d still replaced him by tea time”. Often think of this when I’m feeling guilty about being off ill from work!