Top Image: Zachary Tang / RICE File Photo
Recently, the crusade against MC taking has picked up speed.
Specifically, the Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a circular considering cracking down on the “excessive issuance” of MCs, citing workers “abusing medical leave privileges”. The general narrative is that workers who take MCs willy-nilly affect productivity and our healthcare system. Strangely enough, the health of our judicial system(?) too.
Companies and the government alike have been trying to redefine our sick leave policy for a while now. And during the pandemic, it looked like we were tending towards trust, with some firms providing rest days without the need for a doctor’s certification.
But recent news coverage seems to suggest we’re back to suspiciously eyeing our coworkers and employees. Maybe we’re even judging our own behaviour, careful not to appear like the office malingerer.
But are we really all lazy workers who chao geng (or malinger) given the chance? While that might be true for some, for others, there’s an undeniable anxiety surrounding taking an MC beyond just being sick. The question is this: Why do some of us feel so afraid to report being down for the day?
You’re constantly thinking about how your absence is affecting your deadlines, other people’s workloads, or even your bonuses. Just sending that morning text to your boss that you’re ill requires a tremendous amount of decision-making and consideration; an anxiety crucially obscured by broad generalisations about our workforce.
So for every single boss sceptical about your employee’s cough, back pain, and migraine, here’s what we consider before we send you that MC.
– My deadlines: how soon are they?
– Will my deadlines pile up?
– Did anyone else take MC today?
– Am I screwed tomorrow for taking today off?
– How will the rest of the team cope?
– Can they pick up the slack?
– Will they get mad at me for this?
– Or would they be madder if I coughed on them?
– How many days of sick leave do I have left?
– Shit, how have I already used half of my sick leave?
– Do I really need a doctor to check on me?
– Am I going to end up working anyway?
– Or should I just ask to work from home today?
– Can I just suffer through the pain?
– Is my boss in a good mood today?
– How has my boss reacted in the past to me taking MC?
– Will they give me the look when I come back tomorrow?
– Does my boss trust me enough to believe I’m sick?
– Will my parents/spouse scold me for not going to work today?
– Or should I send the work chat a picture of my phlegm?
– How long is the queue at the clinic?
– Is the wait even worth it?
– Will my bonus get affected?
– Or my performance review?
– Do I deserve to take an MC?
– I’m not that sick, right? Or am I?
– Is this even going to be an effective break if I’m going to be anxious about this all day?
– God, maybe I should just suck it up and go to work.
