Feel guilty for being ill

[Emeraldrings]

Does anyone else feel this incredible guilt when they phone in sick? Do you also dread return to work?
I have been off today and I doubt I'll be in tomorrow but I feel bad as they are short staffed and busy with very few qualified staff. Manager puts so much pressure on staff to show up but even if we turn up half dead she won't let us go home early. I have dragged myself to work feeling really rough so many times that but I just couldn't today. I've got viral tonsillitis and an ear infection so I am ill but still feel guilty and will feel even worse when I go back and get a lecture about how much I've let the team down.

Yes, I always feel guilty, but no doubt the work got done without you.

Oh I know the work will get done but management act like the place barely survived without you (they do it to everyone). It's not true but it still makes me feel guilty.

I’m sorry you really need to think of yourself. Will they accept a poor or lesser performance due to illness, disablement or sickness - come on.

I needed time off in January (my last time of sick on a note was back in the year of 2008 beside last year when I needed a tooth pulled and doubly paid for it with my job lost I’d really not long started in so is very understandable now) but in January it would have been very irresponsible of me to drive a considerable distance into work with neck and spine issues with not being treated and would have ended up with much more spinal shock if I delayed getting medical attention.

I didn’t receive a get well soon card and couldn’t quite believe the email received from boss when coming round from some pretty unpleasant examinations when first arrived in hospital - but I did get a leaving card, after nearly being thrown the caring take any break you need during your shift at one point, which simply resulted in an informal PIP.

The whole team as I knew it, all bar one went whilst in hospital and in recovery as the employer will always do what is right for them. Sorry if that sounds harsh but you have to do what’s right for you. Take the time you need to get better x