Was it a genuine bout of sickness or was it a organisational error dressed up sickness in a
PR campaign?
I will happy accept the odd ATC delay if it means those boys and girls are getting the down time they need to function safely and happily.
The point is though that you shouldn't have to. When you look at the fees being paid for a ATC service they can at least staff it properly, and that includes some sort of standby system.