A woman’s decision to report for work despite being issued medical leave has sparked a sobering reminder about putting health before work, after a netizen recalled a former head of department who died while sitting in an office chair.
The woman shared a photograph of her medical certificate (MC) on social media, joking about her decision to head to the office instead of taking time off to recover.
“Who’s the fool who got an MC but still went to work? Yes, that’s me,” she wrote.
Her post caught the attention of another user, who encouraged her to make use of her medical leave, while acknowledging that she might have had her own reasons for going to work.
The commenter then shared a distressing experience involving their former head of department (HOD), who reportedly died while seated in an office chair.
They said they witnessed the incident from its beginning until the deceased’s body was covered with a white cloth.
“This situation reminds me of my former HOD. They passed away in their chair at the office,” the user recalled.
According to the commenter, the late HOD had struggled to stay away from work, even when given time to rest.
On one occasion, the HOD reportedly chose not to take a full week of medical leave. Even while on annual leave, they continued carrying out work from home.
The commenter did not disclose the cause of the HOD’s death.
Drawing from the experience, they urged workers not to neglect their wellbeing for the sake of their jobs.
“Love yourself. Your company can find a replacement for you at any time, but your health cannot be replaced,” they wrote.
Other netizens echoed the sentiment, reminding workers not to allow their professional responsibilities to take priority over their physical and mental health.
What started as a lighthearted post about working despite having an MC ultimately became a reminder that taking time off to recover should never be something to feel guilty about.
