This week, I reached a point where I was so burned out and exhausted that my body forced me to take a break. I got strep throat! I left work on Monday afternoon to rest and when I told my boss I needed to take a sick day on Tuesday, it was not received well. Flash forward, get diagnosis on Tuesday afternoon and doctor's orders to stay home Wednesday, as well, while the antibiotics do their work. When I tell my boss and team, boss has no response.
Then, Wednesday morning – I get a text message from a team member asking for information about something I was working on and am told the request comes from my boss. It is not phrased as a request. This is not the first time that I have been asked to “take a quick second” while using personal or sick time.
My entire office has issues with work/life balance and bulldoze over any boundaries I try to set. I'm so exhausted with having to try and advocate constantly for what should be the bare minimum.