Where I'm from we get paid sick days; first 4 weeks is payed out by the company (normal wage), if you are sick longer than that you get paid about 60% of your wage from social security. In that time you have to visit doctors etc that will evaluate your situation. Mind you, we obviously pay for this in our taxes.
I've been struggling with mental health issues for about 10 years now and working fulltime (I have to cause I'm alone) is really difficult for me. I have already had a burnout of 9 months and years later I still feel like I'm constantly on the verge of a burnout.
I've switched jobs since then, I'm going to therapy, but every struggle in life feels extra heavy on me.
The past two years of my current job I've been home sick for several weeks at a time whenever something bad happened like when my boyfriend unexpectedly broke up with me (3 weeks), a close friend tried to commit suicide and I took care of him and his pets (3 weeks), general feelings of stress, burnout and depression (3 weeks on two separate occasions) and my boss has recently sat me down to tell me I've been sick too often. I think last year I've been sick for about 8 weeks total.
Today is one of those days where my body and mind felt like I desperately needed a break again… I've been crying all morning about how shit I already feel, combined with feelings of anxiety, guilt and shame for staying home today. I'm afraid my colleagues will hate me cause I know it will be harder for them to manage the workload (I work in a veterinary practice). Whenever my colleagues are sick I also have to carry the workload myself and I know how stressful that is.
I keep telling myself my mental health is more important but I can just feel the anxiety for staying home taking over.