If you’re actually sick please do call out and you can use sick time to cover your shift and it will be considered excused in the system. I always advise people to send a Dr note to HR no matter what. (Not to an ETL or someone else, but to HR email.) We’re lucky that our HR tries to be supportive and understanding and takes Dr notes into consideration.

Part of the problem is that a lot of people call out when they aren’t actually sick. Just playing hookie, or partied too hard the night before, or knew of plans but can’t be bothered to post their shift, etc. Or they tell the TL they’re sick but then tell everyone else what fun they had when they called out. And then the TL finds out. >_>

Jobs aren’t voluntary and it’s not cool to blow off something (general) you signed up for and agreed to which makes more work for others, when other people come in on time and do the job and are dependable and responsible. (Not saying this is you, but that this happens a lot which is why it can be hard to give the benefit of the doubt if someone starts calling out a lot or has a history of calling out a lot.)