Feeling ill and feeling guilty!?

Question

I've just phoned my boss to tell him I am ill - got a throat infection and feel dizzy and sick with it. He has now got to come over and run my office for me - 2 others are off ill with it. I feel really guilty now and its taking me all my time not to drag my suit on and get into work. I've been here 6 years and not had a days sick. What shall I do?

Answer 1

STAY in bed and get better,
you are not functioning properly if you are sick.
you have an excellent sickness record, so the boss will know that you are not "swing the lead" just to get time off.

Answer 2

Hello there sorry to hear you are felling under the weather.

Your first priority is to get better and not feel guilty about being ill. From what you say you are not the only one afflicted by this virus/bug call it what you will so your boss will understand. I am sure he would sooner you get well rather than drag yourself into work and have to have time off later on as well because you were not fully before going back to work.

On the long term you need to assess your own insecurities about work. Why do you feel guilty when you are away from work are you worried that someone will take over your job or bring out the long knives. If you can answer yes to either of these question then you need to ask your self why you feel insecure and deal with it now. No one is indispensable remember, but by the same token you are doing a good job other wise your boss would not have retained you for 6 years. Get a grip and stop worrying and concentrate on getting better.

Life is too short to worry!


Own Experience

Answer 3

I think you should pat yourself on the back for never having a day off sick and that your ollegues and manager will know from your past attendance that you are genuinely sick or would not have taken this time off.

You do not say if you have been pressured into feelig this way by being told that other your boss is having to run your office for you, I really hope not as that would be unfair.

I really think you should stay off work until you are feeling better and worry about yourself, you sound like a very caring individual and my advice to you is to not be so hard on yourself. Take the time off that you need and then you can go back and excell with a clear mind and healthy body as you have done the 6 years previous.

You know that your illness is genuine and your boss is getting paid more than yourself to cover in situations such as this one so don't dwell on it. Just get well and concentrate on you.

Hope you are feeling better soon

Best wishes Sharon and daughter Latitia

Answer 4

If you're sick, take time off sick! I feel guilty when I'm ill as well, because it's a small office and it means people have to work harder as a result. But people get ill - if it's infectious, you should be at home rather than spreading germs. Besides, if you've not had a sick day in 6 years then it's about time you did! Loads of people "chuck a sickie" as an excuse for extra paid holiday; at least your case is genuine. Hope you feel better soon, but DON'T go back until you do!

Answer 5

In 6 years you've never had a day off? Wow thats amazing. Your Boss should feel lucky to have you as in employee. Dont feel guilty if you have this one day of because you feel like you do then I dont blame you and neither should you. I always feel guilty but then I realise how many other people at specially at school have days off for the slightest little pain or cold so having it off for your symptoms is very right.
Dont worry about feeling guilty at the moment you should concentrate on getting better. Show to your Boss that you feel bad and apologise for not coming in, however think how your Boss is because he might take it as though you have a guilty concience for pulling a sicky.

Just take it easy and good Luck.
Hope you get better soon :) :)

Answer 6

I ran a section of 6 girls, who used to drag themselves in with streaming colds. The result was that most of the section went sick. I instilled in them that if you are not well, your mind is not on the job. Stay at home and come back when you are better.
I had major back surgery and was signed off for 6 months. I went back after 6 weeks, just answering the phone for a few hours, and building up again.
Nobody ever said thank you.
Forget the guilt - if you are ill then stop at home and let the boss worry. That's what he is paid extra for.

Answer 7

I am just like you, I always feel guilty when I am off from work with illness. But I've learned that there is no point in going in to work when I'm ill as people can't function properly when they're ill plus you might pass the sickness on to your colleagues.

My advice is stay in your bed and get better soon and that way you'll be back at work fit and healthy.

Get well soon!#

Answer 8

At the end of the day if you are ill therse is nothing you can do and you are entitled to time off sick,especially if you have not had a day off in 6 years,what kind of person is your boss!
I have been ill for 2 weeks now and am just getting back to feeling O.K,I physically couldnt have gone into work if I'd have had to,I was bed ridden for a few days.You almost feel like dragging yourself off your poorly bed and going into work ill just to show them.Just rise above it and get yourself better.

Answer 9

I am in exactly the same situation with the same illness, was off from friday, however my sickness record not as clean as i was also off a fortnight ago with bad stomach pains (ongoing- gallstones). Its horrible having to feel guilty on top of feeling ill but i'm just the same even though my boss has been so nice about it and there's another girl off with the same. don't worry, everyone will have forgotten about it once you've been back a day or so. Guilts horrible though isn't it? Especially as sometimes i feel ok then i stand up and feel like i'm gonna fall over spinning! hope we both get well soon!

Answer 10

Try not to feel guilty although I know it's easier said that done your boss might be a bit fed up but I'm sure he knows these things can't be helped.
Anyway If he's running your office he's probably using your phone and touching your desk therefore he's probably catching your germs. You can help him next week.

Cheer up a day off sick is not the end of the world.

As I write, I am recovering from a stomach bug and thanking my lucky stars that it was over the weekend and my day off so I didn't have to take time off. So you're not the only one who feels that way.

Answer 11

Stay in bed and get well. The sooner you are well the sooner you are back at work. I am sure your boss will cope and he knows that you would not be taking time off unless you were really ill. There are loads of bugs going the rounds and you have to be careful. I have been ill since the New Year and because I got up and about too quickly it turned into Bronchitis so stay warm, drink lots of water and take your medicine.