People who go to work sick

[EngTeach]

Why are there always martyrs in the workplace who insist on coming to work sick? They cough and moan all over and brag about never being out and then I use the phone they just hacked all over and catch it.

I was out of school yesterday with a bad cold. Felt horrible and saw doctor. She told me I was right to stay home a day or so. I rested, took meds, and felt much better today. Others come in with strep throat, stomach viruses etc.

Does this annoy you too?

[helliebobs]

You can't do it at our place, all you get is "urrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh lurgy, stay away from me!" and literally no one in the office will come near you and they all ******* you for being so selfish and passing your germs on, so it's not worth the hassle of going in, you get no thanks for it!

[Abdulmajid]

It does annoy me to a degree. But at the same time the way many institutions have Bradford scores for sickness and statutory sick pay not being paid til (in some cases) after 6 months employment or for the first 3 days, I can see why people still turn up for work.

A classic example of how dishonest work-shy scroungers have effected the decent honest brigade who, God forbid, occassionally do get genuinely ill.

[meglet]

I'm still getting over the second cold I have had in a month (due to having to get on the tube with the great unwashed no doubt). Seeing as I've been in a new job 5 weeks I doubt it would go down well to have time off. Plus I'm in sales and get pushed hard so you are considered to be a complete wimp if you take time off. Of course I gave it to the guy opposite me who wasn't too impressed!

[Buenchico]

All of the research shows that people going into work with bugs does not increase the risk of others catching it. (If the bug's already in the air, or on surfaces in the office, people will catch it anyway)

I've only had a couple of days off in the past 40 years and I still feel guilty about those. In my last job, one of my colleagues had his first day off in 22 years. On his return, he was given a formal interview and advised that he'd be watched very carefully for his absences in future (with a broad hint that another day off within the next few years might lead to his dismissal). I thought that was perfectly correct and so did he! If a few more employers took the same attitude we might have a more productive workforce.

Chris

[Abdulmajid]

Dear Chris,

May I respecfully ask what you do for a living?

[dabees]

When you're self employed, or employed by the hour, you go to work when sometimes you shouldn't.

I have often wished to phone in sick, but can't afford to.

[daffy654]

What may be a mild cold to most people could hospitalise others. I don't think you should take time off work for a cold but please keep your germs to yourself.If you cough or sneeze cover your mouth and nose,then clean your hands before touching anything or anyone.

[EngTeach]

OK, Now i feel like a lazy American.

I had a day off before Christmas as my household was struck with a stomach thing, Luckily it was at its worst over a weekend. And then yesterady was my seond sick day. I used personal time for mother's funeral and had an emergency oil line replacement that caused me to be home. We get 10 days per year regardless of years of service. 3 of those can be personal days. Is this excessive?

[~max~]

All respect due to you Chris, that is a very noble attitude to have, as long as it's your choice and you are not being forced into it.
Personally, if those employers had told me off and threatened me when I have had ONE day off sick in 22 years, I'd have wanted to tell them to shove their job where the sun never shines. There's a difference between maintaining a stable workplace/ workforce and using people's loyalty to inforce slave-driving rules. I'd have been seething.

[col craddock]

My company rewards personel for good attendance. A month ago a workmate of mine was given a �25 argos gift voucher for not having a day of work in the past 15 years. Jees how generous is that??????

[Buenchico]

Abdul,

I've done lots of jobs including 15 years secondary teaching, antique dealing, journalism, running a railway station, working as a 'trade plater', managing bars and supervising traffic surveys.

[meglet]

I use antibacterial gel constantly, to the point where I think my colleagues think I'm a bit obsessive. Yes, I'm sure colds are worse for some than others, a guy behind me has emphysemia (SP?), but I try to employ a bit of common sense around those more at risk.

[daffy654]

I have emphysema and have to be very careful of catching colds and flu. I would have been very pleased to see you use the antibacterial gel meglet and i'm sure the emphysema sufferer in your workplace was too.

[Abdulmajid]

Very interesting plethora of employment there.

More fingers in pies than a cheeker baker!!!!

[EngTeach]

I too use the anti bacterial gel a lot. I buy it in bulk because the kids use it too. Thankfully. I aslo use clorox bleach wipes on the student desks frequently as over 200 students use my classroom in the course of a day. God knows what grows on the bathroom pass.

[wiggal]

Where I work, if you are off more then 3 times in a rollng year, it goes to disciplinary, goes up levels each time and if you are off 7 times your saced!
So alot of people where I work feel they have to go in!
The only way out of it is if you have an ongoing long standing illness. I have a wheat intollerance plus other intollerances which I dont know what they are, but doctors wont test me :( So most afternoons I end up disapearing for 20 minutes either with an upset stomach or being sick, but because my dr wont test me for anything, I cant get a drs letter to say it would be an ongoing cause! So I have n choice!

I dont complain or whinge though, no one I work with knows what happens each afternoon! I disapear for a bit, and then I come back and carry on!

[dabees]

Eng Teach, i think your last post says it all.

I was sick sometimes as a child, but my immune system built up a defence against the bugs.

We molly cuddle our kids too much these days, they need to come in contact with the odd germ to build a defence mechanism, there is too much anti-bacterial use in my opinion.

[daffy654]

dabees its not just the children who are at risk or not here though is it.People with my condition and many others are at serious risk of illness and even death from something as mild as the common cold virus.I agree that we shouldn't molly coddle our children but in some cases we have to.

[EngTeach]

I too have built up an immunity. Much like a mom who has sickness all around but never catches it. I was so sick as a new teacher and feel horrible for the new ones each year who have illness after illness but feel pressured into coming in.

I worry about the overuse of antibacterial products. Are we creating "Super-bugs" that become resistant to medicine and other products?