No Medical Cert, Sick Leave Denied

This issue is very common among BPO workers. One day, I woke up feeling extremely unwell. I had a fever, body aches, and could barely stand. But of course, the first thing that came to mind was my shift. I messaged my team leader and told them I wouldn’t be able to come in. I tried to explain that I had a fever and was just treating myself at home because honestly… I couldn’t afford to get a check-up just to obtain a medical certificate. Sometimes, the consultation costs more than the day’s pay I’d lose. I thought my team leader would understand. But the only response I got was: a medical certificate is required, it’s “policy”. I was relying on rest and home medication. I asked for advice, but got nothing. My team leader said something I didn’t expect… He told me my sick leave wouldn’t be approved if I couldn’t submit a medical certificate within the day. There I was, in the middle of a fever, shaking, worrying that I might be marked absent without valid proof. And that’s when I realized… it’s not just the illness people like me carry. Because the truth is, it’s not just the job that exhausts me, it’s the feeling that even when you’re sick, you still have to give a proof that you can't afford