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I Gained Nothing From My Perfect Attendance At Work
Leaders are giving lip service to self-care while upholding conditions that chip away at our mental health
Before yesterday, I had almost perfect attendance at work in my two and a half years of teaching. But I finally called out to get a COVID test after my fiancee tested positive for COVID.
Throughout the pandemic, I have been fortunate not to get sick. I show up for work every day and have been praised for it. I don’t make problems for people who have to cover my class. I am recognized as a team player who is willing to make sacrifices for the team.
When I interviewed at new schools after my first school closed down, the biggest selling point was “I show up for work every day and I get all my deliverables in on time.” Someone on the interviewing team, who I now work very closely with, said “what’s your address so we can hire you and get you to sign right now?”
Having perfect work attendance might seem like a baseline expectation.
But you’re not in my line of work as an educator. Educators, particularly in my school district, are extremely run down and overworked. Every year, it’s sad to see several people I work closely with quit. According to one story I heard, one person just said…
