I tested positive on Thursday around 3AM with a severe headache, high fever, body aches, sore throat, and congestion. Obviously I wasn't going into work the next day so I let my co-workers know. I was basically bedridden and out of it from Thursday-Sunday with the high fever until it finally went away on Sunday night. Monday I wake up to a ton of messages from work asking how I'm doing and what my plan is for work this week. I guess they somehow expected me to be better already? Like I JUST got rid of the fever. So then I test again on Monday night. Still a big fat positive. Tuesday my boss tells me I only have a few hours of PTO left since I've been out sick.
What kind of bullshit is it that I have to use paid time off for being sick? Like what the fuck? It's a small company so there's no FMLA. I literally haven't gotten to even enjoy a vacation because I've been sick every time I was gone for a while. Now I have less than 4 days left for the year.
They want me to at least come in and get my computer so I can work from home, but said that if I get a negative test tonight “even better” because they literally won't let us work from home unless it's an emergency or you're sick.
I shouldn't lose PTO or even be bothered by co-workers, much less work, when I'm sick. Full stop.
I hate living in the United States.
And yes, I've been trying to find a new job for months with no luck. I have a degree and military service but apparently that's not enough.