[user104658]

If the company you work for can't staff adequately to cover sickness without forcing overtime / awkward shift patterns on the rest of the staff then that is a problem with the company and not the member of staff who is sick. Never forget that. Companies love to pass the buck and blame members of staff for anything they can blame them for. Don't let them.

If you and your colleagues job is more difficult because of a staff member who is absent, then the blame lies with the staffing, not the employee. How do they cover holidays? How would they cover maternity? They shouldn't be running a barebones staff.