I work evenings/nights at an express for a supermarket chain, and we’re severely understaffed, but we’re getting 3 new people in a few weeks. So, since we’re understaffed people being sick is a massive issue. (We’re not even understaffed theoretically, my manager just doesn’t mess with the day staff) Before I get into it all I want to say, I have issues with my mental health that’s had a big negative impact on my physical health in terms of sickness, I regularly get gastrointestinal issues.
Because of this I’ve called out of work in the past and have apologised every time. I haven’t taken a sick day in two months even though I’ve been sick in that time, and worked through my shift yesterday, on which I did overtime he asked me to, despite the fact I had to keep asking my colleague to watch the tills for me for 5 minutes so I could go throw up not in-front of people. I was visibly unwell enough that my colleague, and people I served were concerned, but I worked anyway.
Today I’ve been having severe gastrointestinal issues, combined with a fever, and stomach cramps, and so I called out sick, But the shop phone wasn’t able to connect me, so I had to message my manager directly.
I gave 5 and a half hours notice, and I would’ve given more if I wasn’t trying to suck it up and just go anyway. So I tell him Im sorry and I’m not well, so he tells me the shop is gonna have nobody to keep it open at the start of my (more overtime I agreed to do pre shift before I got sick) shift, effectively telling me it’s my fault and I shouldn’t call out sick. Then he went in the group chat to ask someone to cover my shift, but had to finish it off with some aimed but indirected passive agressivity at me because he’s got food poisoning but still worked today.
And I actually feel bad about it, like I was genuinely considering saying Ykw I’ll just come in anyway, sorry. I understand he’s stressed and upset and our shop is a shithole, but how is it my fault I’m sick.
If anyone has anything to say about this it’d be really appreciated.
(Side note, I’m sorry the post is kinda uncoordinated and the paragraphs are placed haphazardly)