My story is currently happending. As of February 27 I've had the Flu. It wasn't too bad, as most illnesses start, sore throat, no voice really, ect... And I went to work anyways. Around March 2, it started to get really bad, getting very weak, tired, dizzy, sore, coughing, and running nose. Eveyone was telling me with the Flu the way it is it'd be a good idea to go to the doctor and get it checked out. My next off day still 3 days away, I figured, I can make it. Bought some TheraFlu and when I got off at 4pm took it and went to bed. I didn't wake up until 8am the next morning.
March 3, Barely able to move from the soreness and feeling like I was on fire, I got up anyways and tried to start my day. Not 3 feet away from the bed I fall. I felt like I couldn't move at all like my limbs were stuck in sand and I was so dizzy I couldn't focus on anything. Still I tried to at least make it to the sink to get some water, my mouth was really dry. I didn't have to be in until 11:00am and spent the morning trying to figure out if I had enough energy to make it to work. I couldn't walk more than a few feet without getting so tired I had to sit back down, took my tempature and it being 102.9, I knew there was no way. I called up Wal-Mart to let them know I was going to get someone to take me to the doctor (too dizzy to drive) and that I wouldn't be able to make it.
Assistant Manager Mike Powers answered and very rudely argued with me about calling in. I told him of my situation and he knew because everyone at that Wal-Mart has had the Flu and have taken at least a week off. Ignoring that fact, He told me that if he were me he would come in, that he doesn't take sick days. That if I'm going to take a sick day I have to know 3 weeks in advance before they put the schedule up. He then said either come in or I'll be written up and it's one more step toward my termination, and hangs up on me.
Far too dizzy to be behind the the wheel and with a choice of my health or my job in front of me I head to work. Alot of this bothers me because with 102.9 tempature not only does he not care about my safety he cares not for the safety of customers or other assoiates because I would be considered highly contagious. I arrive at work, barely able to stand. Walk into the ad office and let him know I'm there and he says, you're in pets today. I start my way to the back room to load up a cart and start coughing so much I can't get in any breath. I cough until I gag and get to the bathroom as fast as I can. I was only at work for an hour that day and I vomited at least 7 times. With nothing on your stomach it hurts alot.
I told him I just couldn't make it and needed to leave and he said it'll count against you, then stated some of us have to work we have bills to pay and walked out. I don't even get to my car and collapse and vomit again. I get back home, sat down on the couch, and picked up the phone to see if I could find someone to take me to the doctor (I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere and any hospital/Doctor is a drive away). With the phone in hand and in my uniform, I fainted/passed out. I awoke about 2 hours later and felt like I was on fire, my entire body soaked in sweat I grabbed the thermometer. This time it read 103.1. Not really knowing what to do with a fever that high I stripped down to boxers, turned on every fan in my bedroom, and laid down... Again I passed out. 3 hours later I awoke this time, still covered with sweat but now shivering. I take medicine and try to eat... I manage to get one bowl of cereal down between coughing and gagging. The medicine kicks in and I'm out again.
I wake up on the morning of March 4 still feeling the same I figure I wouldn't waste my time trying to call in sick and head on to work. I get there and I get a break, I work papergoods, not too bad, light stuff... And other than having to sit down, blow my nose, and vomit every 5 minutes it's really not too bad. That and climbing a ladder while dizzy. Every once in a while Mike would walk by and laugh but I didn't think much of it. I barely make it through the first 4 hours and take my lunch. I try to eat some subway, veggie delight and head back in. I get back and Mike Powers pages me to GM receiving. I walk back there feeling slightly better and he tells me I have to help unload the truck. He laughs and walks off.
I do as I'm told and we start. Our 2 hour marker reaches it's point and I think alright I get to drink something. About to collapse into the floor, and my chest hurting so bad from getting too hot/coughing/asthma I'm informed we will not be getting our 15 minute break because the truck isn't done yet. No one really knowing what to do they just keep going. At about 7:45 we finish the truck and my chest hurting so bad I can't do anything but hold it and stagger to the break room to get something to drink with tears in my eyes. As soon as I got some orange juice down I threw everything including lunch back up. I get off work, buy more medicine ect. And head home.
March 5 my off day, I think I'll get some rest and feel better, HA!!! After what happend on the 4th I feel like I'm going to die. I've tried everything I can to feel better and feel worse every second. With no choice left I call the doctor and ask them when's the earliest they can see me, they reply tomarrow at 11. I ask if there is anything today because I have to work tomarrow 7-4 and that I really couldn't miss any days. They said it's ok we'll write you an excuse and it'll be ok just come in and let us see if you're ok.
So now I'm faced with the dreadded task again of having to call in. Thinking maybe they'll understand... It's a doctor's excuse... I call them up. This time either Assistant Manager Valencia or LaRhonda answers, they sound alot alike. I say I have to call in the doctor wants to see me tomarrow ect, and she says "well it's going to count against you". I asked how? And explained that I would be bringing in an excuse from a doctor. She replied "it's still going to be unexcused, but I'll let them know." and hung up on me.
That's it. That was alot longer to explain than I thought it would be but I just wanted everyone to know the whole story. So... I have to go to the doctor tomarrow, I feel like I'm dying. Who knows how long the excuse will be for or anything really, I'll have to find out tomarrow. But I'm faced with termination because I have the Flu. I just don't see how I can help it. I didn't know 3 weeks ago I was going to be this sick. I didn't know yetersday I was going to be this sick. Everyone has been saying that I should tell someone about all this and get something done because it's not right for them to let other assosiates off for weeks at a time without any problems and for them to fire me over a doctor's excused day. It shouldn't even count against me let alone get me fired.
So any help would be appreciated, although you might want to wait until I get over the Flu so I don't get anyone sick. So far my tempatures have been: 102.9,103.1,101.8,100.8, and 101. Something. I took pictures with my cell of a few of the temps incase no one believed me. Living on a check by check budget, just moving in to my house finally, and my Wal-Mart insurance still not here... Well after my 90 days. I can't really afford to get fired. So yeah, any help?
Charles
Dora, Alabama
U.S.A.
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