I’ve been at this job for 6 months and i was in probation period. Every new employee has to go through this probation period. I hardly called in sick and only took emergency leave back in May when my grandma passed away. Since then I’ve been consistently on time at work.
My job is stressful. I felt like I was pushing myself too much mentally and needed a break before I broke. I guess it’s true that mental health if not taken care of can affect physical health. I woke up with a stomach ache today. So today I decided to call in sick. It was my first time ever calling in sick at this job.
Their policy is call supervisor half an hour before shirt starts. If they don’t answer then text. I did. I texted them saying I don’t feel well and will need to take a sick day. No further explanation.
An hour later I get a response to call my supervisor at 8:30 to let them know what I’m feeling and what symptoms… I had broken sleep from having to wait to call in sick to now having to call back again to explain what I’m feeling? I called and said I have a stomach ache so I must’ve ate something bad. I emphasized I don’t have a cold or flu or anything in case they think it’s COVID then I’d be forced to stay home and use my sick time.
But I felt like this was beyond necessary to be questioned why I’m not coming into work and calling in sick. Shouldn’t it have been enough to say I’m not feeling well? I don’t know why I was questioned which caused broken sleep and what not. What if I couldn’t wake up to make the second call to explain why I’m sick? I think next time If I get super sick I’d have to provide details to be left alone:
At my old job I never needed to provide an explanation. I just called in sick and that’s it. Unless I felt like it was COVID.
I don’t know if I was questioned because of COVID or because it’s unusual of me to call in sick. Was this even okay? Now I feel like guilty and nervous to ever call in sick again.