Even when it’s serious, it’s just a shitty situation. I know everybody has to take care of themselves and that’s why I try not to go to work when sick but most often that’s what I’d like to do.
Like I’m a socialist and all but I hate the situation of talking to my boss and telling them I can’t come in :(
You should not feel bad. When they don’t staff adequately, they should feel the consequences of that. Production should go down.
And/or you should feel even worse about the prospect of infecting colleagues if you do go to work, both because you like them, and (if that motivates you or your boss or your feeling of guilt) because the productivity loss is multiplied then.