I offered to work from home yesterday because I have bronchitis and no voice, so I told my manager it was that or I go off sick and stay there until I deem I feel better, that half a loaf was better than none, and she said "well I don't want to set a precedent", so I told her that I was sick then and won't be back until I feel better. I'm the only one who can do my job, so she's right fucked. She's like an alien wearing a skin suit trying to pretend to human.
"I don't want anyone to realize they can work just as effectively from home. Sure it saves them gas and commute time, but it just doesn't pump my ego if I cannot micromanage in person."
The manager doesn't get to make the decision. She's probably going to have to go argue with her manager that also likely has no control. Stand your ground, they don't want to fight on this hill. -source, a people manager of hybrid teams at a company that insisted on on-site.
Some directors (or whatever manager managers are called in your pyramid) like to pretend to be the good guy to individuals and force their intermediaries to look like the assholes. Middle management sucks.
I've had a personal policy of not working from home when I'm sick, even before the pan. I want solid recovery time because experience has taught me that doing anything else just keeps me sick longer. Take all the time you need, even if you only need it a little bit but could otherwise power through. She put herself and you in this situation. Reap all the recovery time needed to return at 100%.
She has understaffed us to a criminal degree all because she gets a bonus if she comes in under budget. You are correct, I will take all the time I need. I had to go to urgent care last night for a nebulizer so I'm definitely still not well, it's actually resolving pneumonia it turns out.