SINGAPORE: An intern was shocked by how her firm reacted when she took medical depart.
She shared on-line that when she returned to work after taking a medical depart (MC), one of many HR workers at her firm “stored rolling her eyes and observing her,” as if she had achieved one thing significantly fallacious. It made her really feel like taking day off to recuperate was some type of offence.
She added that she had already sensed this HR workers member disliked her and sometimes considered interns as “lazy” and “untrustworthy.” Nevertheless, she didn’t anticipate such a powerful response to one thing as regular as taking medical depart.
Issues obtained worse when she fell sick once more, which she believes was because of being overworked.
“I went to work tremendous sick and was actually shivering as a result of the aircon was so chilly, and I actually already appeared like I used to be dying,” she defined. “Solely my different intern good friend was involved for me and stored checking on my temperature and holding my hand to maintain me heat.”
When she requested if she may go house early, the HR workers member allegedly “obtained mad” at her and denied her request.
“This firm simply stresses me a lot that my interval began turning into irregular, and I began having insomnia. With the dearth of sleep and loopy work hours, I don’t know if I’ll even survive until the top of the internship. Is that this what I’ve to step on sooner or later? Is that this how Singapore workforce actually is?” she questioned.
Taking medical depart
For one thing that’s fully regular, taking medical depart nonetheless feels surprisingly uncomfortable in lots of workplaces. In Singapore and in lots of different nations, there’s this quiet expectation amongst workers to endure and present up no matter their well being situations.
In 2025, a Office Well being and Wellbeing Survey revealed why so many individuals maintain again from taking medical depart. Analysing 280 workplaces, the researchers discovered that 22% of workers really feel their managers anticipate them to maintain working even once they’re sick, and 14% really feel that very same stress from coworkers.
Sixty-six per cent additionally admitted that they place stress on themselves to push by their situation. In the meantime, 26% stated they fear about being judged, particularly if they’ve lately taken a sick day.
Figuring out your rights
Regardless of the prevailing stigma, the Ministry of Manpower states that workers are entitled to paid sick depart and paid hospitalisation depart if they’re coated beneath the Employment Act, have served their employer for no less than three months, and inform or try to tell their employer inside 48 hours of their absence.
Learn additionally: ‘I don’t assume I can deal with it for lengthy’: New rent says fixed unpaid time beyond regulation is already taking a toll
