Really worried about my attendance at work

[reallyworrieddd]

Earlier this year I had to have a couple of months off due to mental health. This was supported by a doctor's note, and I went to occupational health and had regular meetings with my manager and HR. I never got given a warning about attendance or anything, attendance was never brought up.

In the months leading up to me being signed off I had the odd day off here and there where I just got overwhelmed.

I've been back at work for a few months and told myself I would not have any more time off, no matter what, as I was so worried about my attendance. I even worked through COVID (I WFH). However, today I've had a sick bug and could not work with it. I contemplated bringing my laptop into the bathroom and working from there, but I had meetings and knew I wouldn't be able to sit through the meetings without needing to use the bathroom, so I felt like I had no choice but to call in sick.

I'm now really worried about my attendance. The sickness bug is still awful, and I expect I'll still be up half the night being ill, and probably not well enough to work tomorrow, but I'm worried about taking any additional days off. I'm on annual leave on Wednesday so think I should just power through tomorrow?

I'm worrying about my attendance, and wondering if I should ask my GP for a note to show that it is a genuine illness.

Sickness policies are about sickness. Not about being "genuine". The assumption is that they are genuine. If the assumption is that they aren't, that's a disciplinary matter. The GP won't provide a stick note until the second week anyway. The employer cannot immediately dismiss for sickness - they must have a policy and must set targets to improve attendance. If you've triggered it today, tomorrow is irrelevant! Get well. Don't risk making yourself worse. Deal with the rest later.

Look, try not to panic, some years at work are just like this. I had many years with nothing but a sniffle or a rough cold and then one year a divorce and a serious injury. It's life. If they are a good workplace any meetings or monitoring is to see how they can support you.