A Gen Z employee called out over a sunburn, then warned her boss she might miss the next day too because peeling skin could feel ‘overstimulating’

A TikTok manager has shared a conversation in which her employee called out of work over a bad sunburn, then warned she might miss the next day too because peeling skin could feel “overstimulating.” The video has sparked a debate about workplace expectations and what counts as a legitimate sick day.

Jamie, who posts as @simplyy.jamieee, regularly shares videos about her experiences as a Millennial manager leading Gen Z employees. As detailed by The Daily Dot, her conversation with an employee named Abby drew tens of thousands of views and a wave of comments.

In the video, Jamie calls Abby to find out where she is and learns she isn’t planning to come in that day. When asked whether she is sick, Abby responds, “Kind of,” before explaining that she is calling out because of a bad sunburn.

The excuse for the next day is what really caught viewers off guard

Jamie appeared frustrated but still gave Abby a chance to explain. Abby decided to take a personal day, but she struggled to remember how to log it in the company’s system.

The conversation took another turn when Abby admitted she wasn’t sure she could come in the next day either. Her concern was that the sensation of her skin peeling might be “overstimulating.”

Some viewers shared their own experiences with severe sunburns, saying they can make everyday activities difficult. One woman said she was once sent home from work after a sunburn caused her feet to swell, writing, “I’ve had bad enough sunburn that I had edema in my feet.” She added that her boss objected to her UGG boots, which were the only shoes she could fit over her swollen feet.

Another commenter agreed that sunburns shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as a minor inconvenience. “Well, sunburn can be very serious, though,” they wrote.

Other viewers focused on Abby’s reported history of absences. One viewer asked why Abby wasn’t fired after missing her first day when her mom reportedly couldn’t give her a ride. Another told Jamie, “You give Abby way too many chances.”

Many viewers were also surprised by Jamie’s patience, with one commenting, “My patience could never.” A Gen X viewer related to the video, writing, “I also work with Gen-Zs so yeah.. I know!”

Attack of the Fanboy was unable to independently verify Abby’s side of the story, as the account comes solely from Jamie’s TikTok video.