At my work sick days and vacation days are one pool of 'paid time off'- so the more I call in sick the less vacation time I have. I not only feel guilty about taking off from work, but I feel guilty when I use them up and hubby and I can't take a vacation. I have to be really careful this year that I don't use all my days up early because my brother is getting married in New Orleans in October and I am so looking forward to that! Fortunately, any leave longer than 5 consecutive days kicks in our short-term disability insurance so this extended bout isn't costing me PTO, but I still miss being at work. I feel guilty because my first day out was a fellow team member's first day back after maternity leave- so not only did she get immediately dumped with her usual tasks that I had been covering, but also with my usual tasks. My boss has insisted that it's okay, I am a valued employee and they would rather have me better (of course now I get a diagnosis that never really gets cured). But then I found out another person on the team is out for neck surgery- so not only do I feel guilty but I'm a bit nervous about the state of our projects when I do get back. I have over 500 emails and that's with people knowing I was out. I'm not supposed to be checking email, but I have peeked a few times and today saw a notice that my expense report is delinquent. It was late when I left for the holidays but I figured a day or two is usually okay- then it turns into over a month. ugh.My biggest worry is that I was hoping to get a promotion this year and I missed the normal period for our reviews. I know we'll do it when I get back but by then all the budgets will be submitted and approved and I worry that I won't get the promotion because I wasn't there at the right time to fight for it.All this to say, Yes- I feel guilty calling in/taking off work when I'm sick.
