Why do people come to work when they are on death's door?

[Kim&Chris]

I'm about to get up and leave for the day.

Not to be gross (sorry) but there's a guy in an office next to mine, who sounds like he occasionally throws up in his trash can. Again, sorry for the gross factor.

In the cubicle next to me is a man who has been coughing and gagging, non-stop, since 8am. He missed a few days earlier in the week, and for some reason, decided he's well enough to come to work today. NOT.

What really makes me furious is that I work in a huge office with lots of Directors and VP's...and not one of them has addressed this, and yes, they all hear it.

Vent over. Thanks.

 

[MichelleVW]

Mostly because they don't want to get fired.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that it's often due to Management's attitude about absentiism.

Until recently people at my company were literally punished for taking sick days. You would receive demerits of a sort and those were taken into account at review time. If you got too many you were fired and it didn't matter if you were in the hospital or had a doctor's note or so on. They've lightened up on the demerit bit but they still give you a hard time and you have very few sick days.

 

[Kim&Chris]

These people will not get fired for being sick. And all of them have the capability of working from home.

 

[Robinrs]

 

[Pakey]

Whether it's a management attitude or not, many people cannot afford to take a day off.

 

[swald91]

If you're THAT sick you should stay home. I have a friend whose brother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer-he's been going for chemo & radiation & working full time on top of it...just wondering, could this person be more than just "stomach" sickness or something more?

 

[PatsMom]

In the cubicle next to me is a man who has been coughing and gagging, non-stop, since 8am. He missed a few days earlier in the week, and for some reason, decided he's well enough to come to work today. NOT.

Be glad you only have the gagging for a day or two while he is sick. I have a co-worker who is constantly gagging. Mucousy throat clearing and coughing up a lung goes on constantly. It has been very good for my weight though. Some of my office days I am so nauseated by lunch that I don't dare to eat.
The ability to work at home doesn't necessarily mean that you can do it whenever you want. I have my scheduled at home days and my scheduled office days. I had better be dead to not show up on the scheduled office days. The company likes to get its "face time".

 

[Mrs. Charming]

That's awful. and gross. Seriously. The higher ups should be ashamed of themselves, and the sickies should be able to stay home without real or implied penalty.

 

[diznygirl]

Management has a thing about wanting you in the office, dead or alive. Doesn't matter if you have the ability to work from home. They will just assume you are goofing off. Been there, done that. Finally quit.

Tell the bosses you are going home and why. Let us know what they say.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Mostly because they don't want to get fired.

Bingo!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Why do poeple do it? Because they are rude and inconsiderate!!

This is a big pet peeve - if you are that sick stay home.

Why is your job more important than the health of the rest of us?

 

[amyy]

We have plenty of sick time where I work. I think those that come to work think that we won't be able to manage without them. I know I am just a small peon and the world will still rotate without me and thus I use my sick days. Plus I think it is respectful to stay home when you are sick instead of spreading your germs.

 

[wvjules]

If I heard someone puking in their garbage can, I'd be puking in mine! I cannot stand that sound. I can't stand the sound of someone spitting either. Just thinking about it makes me nauseous!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Because they don't care if they make others sick and they have to take off. They just don't want to get into trouble.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I have held many jobs in which being sick was not an option. Sure, you could call in sick, but it was going to hurt your career...

 

[LilyWDW]

Just a note... the guy who was still coughing may not be contagious any longer. I actually just got over something about a month ago and I still have a residual cough from it. Before that I had something in Oct and had a cough hang on through Thanksgiving.

 

[FireDancer]

I hate it when people who work with the public don't stay home. It isn't quite as bad in an office environment if you can close your office door and isolate yourself from the office. if you can't, stay home.

I don't buy the "they'll fire me" or "can't afford to stay home" argument. If you manage your PTO you will have plenty and no one is going to keep you from using the time off you have earned. Don't live so close to the edge that you are a day's pay away from bankruptcy, this is what a savings account is for.

If you need more PTO (or sick days) negotiate for it when you are negotiating your compensation package.

It really shouldn't be that hard for an adult to do these things.

 

[dzneprincess]

Because i get no sick time. When I call out I do get paid however I will have some sort of disciplinary action when I come back. Seriously. 1st time out gets an informal talk. 2nd time actual entry in my record. 3rd time letter in leiu of suspension 4th time termination. That's it. Finito. Over. I have not called out in many years because if this policy. If I'm not dead I'm coming to work.

 

[tinkntraining]

I hate it when people who work with the public don't stay home. It isn't quite as bad in an office environment if you can close your office door and isolate yourself from the office. if you can't, stay home.

I don't buy the "they'll fire me" or "can't afford to stay home" argument. If you manage your PTO you will have plenty and no one is going to keep you from using the time off you have earned. Don't live so close to the edge that you are a day's pay away from bankruptcy, this is what a savings account is for.

If you need more PTO (or sick days) negotiate for it when you are negotiating your compensation package.
It really shouldn't be that hard for an adult to do these things.

You are assuming that every working adult gets PTO/sick days. Not so.