Dispatch Dispatcher
Physiological - Other; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Company Policy; Staffing; Weather; Human Factors
Prior to reaching top of climb; while reviewing my flights in the air; I realized that I had missed an alternate on this flight. The TAF had changed after dispatch; but prior to departure. I advised the crew via ACARS; and ran numbers with the current projected fuel at his next fix (CA stated 6000 lbs; FL290). I was unable to add ZZZ as an alternate until I ran numbers with the actual payload of 9300 lbs (rounded up 200 lbs for any margin of error) I sent ZZZ weather via ACARS and amended the flight prior to top of climb.The reason this was missed by me was that I was becoming increasingly ill with a stomach virus since the late evening hours. I was actually feeling very nauseous and was trying my best to complete my shift. I have heard that we receive a negative attendance hit for leaving early due to 'failure to complete shift;' and I did not want to risk receiving this.
Air carrier Dispatcher reported missing an alternate airport requirement; attributing the error to being ill and not wanting to leave due to a company 'negative attendance' policy.