‘Manager seemed confused as to why I was still sick’: Boss refuses to accept employee's illness can last more than a day, then gets passive-aggressive when the unwell worker needs to leave mid-shift

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Etai Eshet • Editor
Feb 24, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Ever notice how workplace illnesses are expected to operate like a well-timed lunch special? Clock in, get sick, clock out, be cured—all within a convenient 24-hour window that doesn't disrupt the sacred staff schedule. Heaven forbid your body decides to violate corporate policy by extending its symptoms beyond management's approved timeframe.

Isn't it fascinating how managers develop medical degrees the moment an employee calls in sick? Suddenly they're all experts on exactly how long food poisoning should last, complete with confident declarations about "24-hour bugs" and helpful suggestions to just "wait it out." Because obviously, stomach issues will politely pause themselves if you just explain how short-staffed the shift is.

One cook recently had the audacity to experience food poisoning that didn't respect the "24 hours and done" rule their manager so confidently cited.

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  • "boss doesn't understand how you can be sick for multiple days"

    “She asked if i could wait it out and see if i feel better"
    via Towfiqu barbhuiya

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The situation reached peak idiocy when they had to literally be sick during their shift before management granted them permission to leave, though not without a passive-aggressive reminder about how inconvenient their bodily functions were to the lunch rush.

    Our poor guy should have known the only acceptable illness is one that fits neatly between inventory counts and prep time. Everything else is just poor planning on your part.

  • keep in mind i'm a cook at a restaurant. i came down with food poisoning (throwing up, whole 9 yards) this weekend and had to call out.
    via KindlyCombination685
  • threw up again that night and told my manager I probably wouldn't make it for next morning's shift either. she asked if i could wait it out and see if i feel better because "usually these
    via KindlyCombination685
  • things are 24 hrs and done." and complained about how the kitchen is super short staffed so they need me. i was firm and told her i wasn't comfortable with that.
    via KindlyCombination685
  • Cheezburger Image 10470457344
    via Juergen Sack

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • felt better yesterday, slogged through a closing shift alright. today, I thought I'd be fine, but halfway through lunch I started feeling nauseous and congested
    via KindlyCombination685
  • again. manager seemed confused as to why i was still sick. it took me throwing up again, ON MY SHIFT, for him to let me go.
    via KindlyCombination685
  • i asked him if he and the other cook could be fine handling the lunch rush without me and he made this snide comment like, "well we'll have no choice if you're leaving".
    via KindlyCombination685
  • i really am just wanting to quit
    via KindlyCombination685
  • justisme333 Cool, cool. So you don't want to show any empathy when I'm sick? Complaining about being short staffed?
    via justisme333
  • How bout I just leave then? See how you like that...? In all seriousness OP, fi d so.ewhere else and leave this one off the resume.
    via justisme333
  • Cheezburger Image 10470457088
    via gulobovy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Just say you had to take extended time to look after elderly parents and are now ready to work again.
    via justisme333
  • SmiggleDeBop Start looking for another job ASAP. If an interviewer asks why you're leaving your current job, explain that the boss has repeatedly asked you to cook while you're sick.
    via SmiggleDeBop
  • If the new employer would do the same, they likely won't hire you. If they won't do the same, that will be a feather in your cap and will only work in your favour because they now know that you'll put the customers safety first.
    via SmiggleDeBop
  • Bugglsland The restaurant industry is an irreparable nightmare. F your boss and your coworkers too if they can't sympathize.
    via Bugglsland
  • Just Getting_By_1 Managers problem, not yours, people get sick all the time and cannot be 'planned'. Their staffing issues are a them problem.
    via Just Getting_By_1
  • Personally if I went to a restuarant I really hope that the management does not have employees on shift who are throwing up. Food poisoning, or worse, Nova Virus should not be in food service then.
    via Just Getting_By_1
  • Megas XLRwasRad It really is phenomenal, we (supposedly, hopefully) only get one life to live, and of all the times to exist, of all the planets there are we could have existed on, and of all the
    via MegasXLRwasRad
  • forms of life one could be, we get to be human wage slaves. Chasing a fake currency backed by thin air to the day our mortal coil gives out from under us. Intelligent design my a
    via MegasXLRwasRad
  • neverenoughpur Sounds like it needs reported to the health department.
    via neverenoughpur
  • ¡Eugene72 Bosses are generally salary with so many perks that if THEY get sick they can either just "work" from home... or they just straight up go home and are NEVER docked sick time or anything.
    via ¡Eugene72
  • boredddawffff Imagine you're already feeling sick and now you have to endure your manager's guilt tripping on top. I'm sorry OP
    via boredddawffff

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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