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I hope I don’t cause an uprising in corporate America, but allow me provide you background on why I highly encourage in-house counsel to take the sick day, if they or their kids are really sick.
Part of it could be that it is my current lived experience. It is barely 2023, but starting on January 1, almost every member of my family has gotten sick – the-can’t-keep-liquids-in kind of sick. It was my 11-month-old (we went to the ER!), then my husband, then my 5-year-old. And yesterday, I got a fever, chills, and body aches but luckily can hold my liquid. The only one standing so far is my 7-year-old (fingers crossed!).
Amidst this chaos, I was very relieved that I could let my team know and use one of my 10 available sick days. That way I didn’t have to spend extra mental energy worrying about making calls and responding to emails. It helped with the “guilt” of not showing up as my best self. While my generous colleagues offered to back me up, I didn’t think I needed it — and instead relied on my trusty away message to let clients know that I was sick and that if it couldn’t wait a day, to call my cell. For what it’s worth, I had two calls.
Note, I am not a proponent of using sick days for anything other than a sick day, and I really only use them when I feel so bad that I can’t think or type. Last year, I only used one or two.
At the same time, I know too many people in corporate America, especially lawyers, who work even when they’re sick. And while it can be seen as admirable — to be so committed and engaged with work that you make it work even when you’re sick — that view can be short-sighted, especially if you make it a habit.
One reason is that physically and mentally, you need rest to get better. Working, even though you’re sick, can delay your recovery.
Another reason is that it can lead to burnout — and resentment, even if you initially choose to work while sick. Candidly, there may be seasons in our careers that we may feel undervalued, and “they didn’t appreciate me working while I was sick” is one we do to ourselves.
The big proponent for me is culture — and how each of us at our workplace has an active role in creating it. If we, as professionals and leaders, take sick days when we need it, it tells others that it is OK for them to do so too.
It is not a sign of weakness. It is not a sign of disengagement. It is not a sign of lack of commitment. It is a sign that we are human — and that we need rest.
So if you’re sick, take the sick day.
Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz is in-house at Toyota Motor North America. Her passions include mentoring, championing belonging, and a personal blog: TheMeybe.com. At home, you can find her doing her best to be a “fun” mom to a toddler and preschooler and chasing her best self on her Peloton. You can follow her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meybe/). And you knew this was coming: her opinions are hers alone.
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