Aussie says workers shouldn’t feel guilty for calling in sick … even if they aren’t ill

A Gen Zers has lashed out at a “ridiculous” issue with Aussie workplaces, revealing the thing they should be able to say to their boss without feeling guilty.

A young Aussie is going viral for telling workers that they shouldn’t feel guilty for calling in sick, even when they aren’t actually ill.

Anthony Voulgaris has amassed almost 100,000 views by reminding young workers that sick leave is meant to be used.

Mr Voulgaris said he wasn’t sure who needed to hear this message but then surmised that probably everyone did.

“You don’t need to feel guilty for calling in sick,” he declared.

He said that in Melbourne, Australia, there’s a culture of people feeling bad for chucking a sickie, and Aussies feel like the “devil on earth” over just having to use their sick leave.

The young Aussie said this attitude makes no sense because the whole point of sick leave is for people to be able to use it.

“It is literally what sick leave is for; it is literally why we live in a good country, so when you get sick, you can still get paid,” he argued.

He claims that no one should feel guilty for calling in sick. Picture: TikTok/anthonyvoulgaris

Even if they aren’t sick. Picture: TikTok/anthonyvoulgaris

Mr Voulgaris added that he thought this kind of negative culture around sick leave was particularly heightened in the retail industry.

“In retail, if you call in sick, the manager acts like you’ve personally gone up to them and stabbed their entire family; it is so ridiculous,” he joked.

By sharing his relaxed attitude towards it, Mr Voulgaris enforced how important it was to use your sick leave.

“If I’m sick, I’m going to call in sick. If I’m not sick, I’m probably going to call in sick; that’s just how it is,” he proclaimed.

The comment section was filled with young people sharing how fed-up they were with the culture around sick leave.

“Saw this just after calling in sick and overthinking it all day,” one claimed.

Another shared they were sick of employers demanding a doctor’s certificate, considering going to a doctor is now so “expensive.”

You shouldn't feel guilty for calling in sick. Picture: news.com.au

One person shared that she got a massive guilt trip anytime she called in sick because of staff shortages, which meant she was now working with a back injury.

Meanwhile, one claimed that even as a casual employee, her boss always has a “hissy fit” when she calls in sick and her shifts are reduced in response.

Another shared that when she worked in retail, she was made to feel like the “worst” person when she was ill.

Another shared a story about how her manager told her she needed to find cover when she called in sick even though she was throwing up.

Someone else claimed they’d rather go to work sick, so their employers knew they were genuinely sick and get sent home.

“The anxiety of calling in sick was way worse than going to work unwell and hoping to be sent home.”

One argued that you don’t have to be too sick to take a sick day and instead, they should be used to focus on your overall wellbeing.

“Sometimes you just need a day off to sit in the sun or just rest, and that’s OK too,” she argued.

Gary Fahey says people should feel comfortable taking their sick leave. Picture: Supplied

Workplace expert Gary Fahey said that the issue of workers feeling guilty when calling in sick is a two-fold problem.

“Any worker that is unwell or a little bit off is going to be a lot less productive. So it can be detrimental to have people in that aren’t in a healthy state,” he pointed out.

However, Mr Fahey said he can see why bosses don’t always react well to people needing a day off because of their pressures.

“Initial reactions from bosses and workplaces are from their own stresses, the labour market is tight, money is tight, and performance pressures are high,” he pointed out.

Mr Fahey said that it needs to be on the employers or leadership team to make people comfortable calling in sick.

“I could see that an employee would feel vulnerable in those circumstances, and it’s a leadership responsibility to take what isn’t just necessary but a beneficial practical for the workplace,” he said.