198: Why We Lie To Our Boss About Being Sick, And What It Says About Work Culture
Manage episode 520100039 series 3637588
We’ve all done it — called in “sick” when we just couldn’t face work. But is that really wrong? In this brutally honest chat, Roula and Rosie dive into the messy truth about taking time off when you’re not technically unwell.
Rosie confesses to pulling a couple of “sick” days for her own sanity, while Roula argues that sometimes the system just isn’t built to support honesty — so you’ve got to protect yourself. They unpack guilt, burnout, and whether workplaces should finally normalise mental health days. Things get heated, thoughtful, and a little too real as they debate if lying to your boss might actually be self-care.
Would you tell your boss the real reason you need a day off, or keep it to yourself?
Topics Covered:
- Is it ever okay to call in sick when you’re not really sick?
- The stigma around mental health days
- Why workplace culture breeds guilt and burnout
- How to spot when it’s time to quit or cut back
- What needs to change in work culture to support honesty
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221 episodes