Hi there everyone. FYI, I reside in the US but if I had the opportunity, I'd move to another country ASAP. Also, trigger warning if you don't like talk about bodily functions. TL;DR at the bottom
Kind of a short story, I hope you enjoy. The job was in behavioral health. (For those who don't know, I mentored clients on how to adult successfully so they could be integrated into society.) It was Easter Sunday and I had to call out sick. The client I was staffed with for the day is a major flight risk, so I had to have them in eye sight pretty much at all times. If they were in their bedroom, I had to check on them every 5 minutes. I call the on-call staff (who is always supposed to be one of our directors or a coordinator who manages the clients and their case file) to let them know I can't come in (sick) and let them know I'd already posted to the work chat asking for someone to pick it up. Policy is that if no one picks it up, the on-call staff has to do it.
See, the staff never picked up, so I left a voicemail. It was getting closer to the time I'd need to leave my house and I texted the staff. (Texting is acceptable in this company.) The staff said I couldn't call out because they were celebrating the holiday with their family and basically, they refused to cover my shift. My husband is seeing me crying my eyes out because I'm so stressed. I'm terrified something will happen to my student or happen to me because we can't afford fines or jail time. I'm the breadwinner and my husband is a stay at home dad. It was explained to me when I first got hired, if no one covers my shift, I'm still responsible to cover it and if anything happens to the client, it's my head on the silver platter. Both concerning my job, if I'll still have one and legally. I could and would be found liable if my client ran away, killed themselves, etc. And yes, the client in question is that volatile.
I explain, “I've had severe diarrhea since yesterday and am now bleeding out of my ass. I can't come in to work today. How am I supposed to do my job with a flight risk student if I'm on the toilet every 2 minutes?” All I got in response was an “Ok,” and I never heard back or got in trouble for it. Legally, I don't have had to reveal why I was calling out sick. It's against federal law for anyone to ask why. The call literally has to be “Oh you're calling out? Okay we'll handle it,” that's it.
I was pissed. That worker is known for not picking up the phone when things happen, not calling back when they say they would, etc. I ended up going to urgent care at the closest hospital and got a doctor's note. After explaining the situation, the doctor told me my business was most likely due to stress and was my body's reaction. His note got me the next three days off and I used what little sick days/paid time off I had.
Now I still work in behavioral health, but with kids instead of legal adults, I get paid $20 per hour, and it's closer to home which is great for my gas tank. The one thing I should've done was report it to the directors but I recently got news that person got fired anyway. Never not report this stuff. Don't take no for an answer when it concerns your health and wellbeing. Your time and energy is worth more than the bread crumbs we normally get. Keep your resume up to date. Ask for the raise. You are worth it.
TL;DR I call out sick, my superior refuses to cover, I have to explain why I'm calling out in detail. They get fired later for a lot of reasons. Meanwhile I'm in a new job that pays more and it's easier.