I work at a small marketing agency with a rigid sick day policy—once you’re out, that’s it. After losing a family member, I used all my sick days to grieve and recover. When I returned, I expected some sympathy, but instead, my manager called me to HR, accusing me of disrupting the team because colleagues had to cover my work. It felt unfair to be treated like a criminal for taking needed time off.
A few weeks later, I missed some weekend calls because I was exhausted. Then, at payday, half my salary was missing, blamed on lost clients partly due to my absence. I was stunned—paid for resting? That was my breaking point. Feeling betrayed, I shared my experience in job-seeking groups, exposing the toxic work culture.
My manager was furious and demanded I delete the posts, threatening consequences. I simply told him I wasn’t working there anymore. It felt good to stand up for myself after being punished for self-care.
This experience taught me the importance of boundaries and self-respect, even in tough workplaces. Taking sick days is a right, not a weakness, and no job is worth sacrificing health for.