Feeling guilty about calling out sick
Hi! I’m looking for some advice (and maybe reassurance) because I’m honestly feeling really anxious.
I just started as a preschool teacher last week after over 25 years in childcare (nannying, home daycare, etc.), but this is my first time working in a daycare center setting.
I’ve been extremely sick since early this morning (Monday). It started with nonstop vomiting, and throughout the day I developed a fever, body aches, a pretty severe cough, dizziness, and weakness. At this point I can barely walk around without feeling like the room is spinning. I genuinely have not been this sick in a very long time. I called out as early as possible today (5:30am) because there was absolutely no way I could work.
What’s making me spiral a little is that I never received any response at all from either the director or assistant director. No acknowledgment, no “feel better,” nothing. And now I’m worried that if I’m still sick tomorrow and have to call out again, it’s going to look terrible because I’m brand new.
Realistically, if I still have a fever/body aches/cough tomorrow, I don’t even know how I’d safely make it through a day in a classroom with more than a dozen 2.5-3 year olds. But I also know staffing is hard in childcare centers, and I don’t know if there’s an expectation that people are basically supposed to come in even when they’re really sick.
Is this normal in daycare/preschool settings? Would you stay home with these symptoms? I think I just need perspective from people who understand the field.