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Wellness Check 10/19/202

Wellness Check 10/19/202

Oct 19, 2021

I woke up feeling absolutely miserable this morning from allergies. My throat is sore, my nose is stuffy, and well I don't have a fever I am having hot flashes.

So realizing that I felt like shit I did the logical thing and took a sick day to rest up and take care of myself.

What bothers me isn't being sick it's the two hours I spent struggling to sending the email out to let the company know. I had to go through an entire arguement with myself that I didn't have to feel guilty for being sick and that rest was something I needed.

Now some people might be thinking "What's the big deal Wes? Being sick happens, that's why they have sick days."

But you see being sick is the antithesis of the American work place. It's drilled into is from early ages to not be late, not be sick. In schools, and at jobs, they give out awards and commendations for people who never call out sick. I've heard people bragging (or complaining) about going in with fevers at 102 (f) because the job is everything. The braggarts want to look superior, that they can take the pain and put the job above their health (you work in a call center Matt, this isn't life and death). Or they can't afford the day off and have to come on and suffer.

I'm lucky my company offer paid sick time. Alot of companies don't and you can see the strain it puts on people. Even if they can get the day off it's unpaid which for many Americans working jobs without paid sick leave means they are living pay check to pay check and that 80 dollars (or less) they missed can mean the difference for food. It won't be gas, they need that to get to work.

I didn't mean for this to become an rant about American Capitalism, but it is so closely intertwined here that even something as simple as taking a day to heal becomes complicated, it gets fought about in the government, state and federal, because some don't think you and I should have a chance to not be miserable because we have to work.

So next time your sick or just mentally at a breaking point, try not to feel guilty about taking a day off. If you aren't give paid sick time maybe ask yourself about your company values and if they value you.

Stay hydrated, keep dreaming.

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