Guilt and the Work Place

[sathor]

It's pretty amazing really - any time I call off from work, regardless of how good of a reason I have, I feel guilty about it.

It is for this reason I wish that sick days were instead personal days in all cases. Honestly, I listen to my body. And if it tells me I shouldn't be working hard on a given day, I'm not going too.

Normally 5 1/2 hours of sleep is enough for me to run on pretty well. I guess today it just was not enough. My body was screaming for me to stay home, and I listened. Of course, I had to lie to my boss ("Well, I threw up this morning, it's killing me") but I do, indeed, feel like I've been put through the ringer.

That's not really any different than how I normally feel working at ITL, today was just enough for my body to say, "Take a break, you deserve it."

As far as I know, it's a paid sick day and because I'm still working tomorrow, I'll still get my holiday pay. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't complain.

As a temp if I missed there was no pay. Honestly, I find it surprising I get paid sick days now according to the handbook. I'd prefer it the other way. That way there's less pressure on needing an honest excuse (which I believe listening to your body is, however, most westerners don't, and I have to abide by social rules with regards to this shit, or I'll lose my job.)

Sometimes I wish America would just crumble as we know it, and reform as something a little more understanding and enlightened.

Comments

[noximist.livejournal.com]

There is no need for you to feel even remotely guilty about taking a day off when you're not feeling well; you don't even need to justify it, unless you're missing a particularly mission-critical workday. The U.S. has horrible standards for time off of all kinds (and no, Canada isn't that much better; European countries still make our policies look unforgiving), and given that you're working at such a physically demanding job, you're risking your future health and well-being by ignoring your body's cues.

Take a break, you deserve it! Also 5 1/2 hours of sleep almost certainly isn't enough for your body; it might just coincide with the typical end of a sleep cycle. (Cycles usually last 90-100 minutes, and it's easier to wake up at the end of one than during one, even if your body hasn't actually rested enough.) But hey, I don't sleep enough, either - it's part of being young and having better things to do. ;)

[sathor.livejournal.com]

I usually can't help sleeping less than 5-6 on daylight shift. For some reason I end up staying up until at least 11pm regardless of how hard I worked, and then I have to wake up at 4:50 (time to eat and commute, clock in at 6am) and do it all over again.

I feel better now that you've told me I deserve a break ;)

Although I can't say I truly have better things to do...it's not like my art has returned any of my time investment yet :(

[mystic-waves.livejournal.com]

I felt guilty about leaving after throwing up AT work this weekend. And I work with food, so it's illegal for me not to leave...but still felt guilty. I didn't get paid anyways =(

You shouldn't feel guilty, but I understand.