WHy do people do this?

[FireDancer]

I meant vicious. No spell check on here.

I suggest Firefox it has built in spell check. If it didn't I would have many many more errors.

I think when people are sick they should stay home. Maybe not a little cold but anything worse, definitely. It also depends a lot on what you do. I can just stay in my office most of the day and not even talk to anyone. What really annoys me are the people who work with the public and come to work sick. I don't want your sickly hands handling my credit card, food, or anything else I am purchasing. It isn't my problem that you can't manage your PTO and don't have any left. It is my problem when you put your sick hands over my stuff.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I have this issue right now. I have a horrendous cough and all that goes with it. I did take 3 days off but before I was hired at this new job, they knew about it and was given the okay. Came home Tuesday was up at 430am and into work by noon when my flight arrived. Worked all day THEN went to a company function and didn't get home until 1am.

Worked straight no lunch or breaks the rest of the week. On Thursday I had no voice and sounded horrible. Yesterday was the worst, I felt bad for the people that came in and had to talk with me.

I did not sleep at all last night and I am exhausted but I am going in anyway. I would prefer to stay home, because I fear it will turn into something worse but we might be short staffed today. So now if I go in and make mistakes it will be my fault as well. Taking every medication that I can to kick this but what I really need is rest.

 

[KramBerries]

I work at a company with tons of sick time. I find that it isn't simple. I'm not either 100% well or 100% sick. There are days when I feel run down, stopped up, or have other minor ailments. I don't go into work if I'm running a fever or feel extremely sick, but on other days it can be a judgment call.

 

[just4today]

This isn't a typical sniffle. She comes in very sick. One year it turned into pneumonia and she then had to take off over a week. If she would have taken care of herself in the first place it probably would not have got that bad. She is in her early 60's and takes public transportation (because she does not drive in the winter) so she wears herself down when she's sick to the point where she can hardly function. My point was she has a ton of PTO days, take a couple. She would not be penalized as far as her work record. She just might not be able to take every single Friday off from May to September.

OK - you win. Yes, your coworker is a selfish you-know-what and she is totally wrong to expose you to her germs when she has the option to stay home. I still believe that for most of these types of situations, the sick person is there because he or she does not have a choice to stay home. There are always going to be exceptions.

I also believe it smacks of an entitlement attitude to think that somebody should risk losing his or her job just so that you aren't exposed to that person's germs. Really? You not being exposed to cold germs is more important than someone's job? (not directed at DebbieB; speaking to the people who say they don't care what someone's excuse is for being at work when she is sick)

 

[MushyMushy]

Many people will lose their job if they take sick days....and in this economy I wouldn't risk it.

Yup. That was me. At one job we were given 5 sick days. I took 2 1/2 one January with the flu. They called me into the office and asked me what I was going to do the rest of the year. I only had 2 1/2 days left. I told them I guess I just wouldn't get paid. I was fine with staying home - they were not.

Yep. Same here. My job gave me 5 PTO days and I took 3 with strep back in December. That left me with 2 until next September, and I was not allowed to take unpaid time off.

Now apparently, one trick for this company was to go into work on death's door and have coworkers complain to supervisors, who would then have to send you home. That was company policy. Ridiculous, if you ask me.

Anyway, I just put in my 2 weeks notice and now have another job that is a whole lot more reasonable! I know not everybody is that fortunate. Instead of blaming the employee for having to work sick, maybe people should start putting the blame right on the inflexible companies.

 

[DebbieB]

My company came out with a statement a few months ago after the H1N1 scare started that if you were exhibiting flu symptoms, you must leave the company premises immediately. We haven't had anyone sick yet in my area but it would be interesting to see if they have enforced it elsewhere (I work for a large company with 35,000+ employees countrywide).

To give my company credit, they provide free flu shots each fall on premises, plus next week we are getting the H1N1 shots.

 

[dakcp2001]

OK - you win. Yes, your coworker is a selfish you-know-what and she is totally wrong to expose you to her germs when she has the option to stay home. I still believe that for most of these types of situations, the sick person is there because he or she does not have a choice to stay home. There are always going to be exceptions.

I also believe it smacks of an entitlement attitude to think that somebody should risk losing his or her job just so that you aren't exposed to that person's germs. Really? You not being exposed to cold germs is more important than someone's job? (not directed at DebbieB; speaking to the people who say they don't care what someone's excuse is for being at work when she is sick)

But see, I work here too, so I know his job is not in danger. I know he is coming in sick so he can buy back his sick days at the end of the year, not because he has any risk of losing his job, or mean boss. You know how I know? He brags about it constantly. I promise, he is a jerk. I hated him before he came in sick, it was just the straw the broke the camels back yesterday.

 

[just4today]

But see, I work here too, so I know his job is not in danger. I know he is coming in sick so he can buy back his sick days at the end of the year, not because he has any risk of losing his job, or mean boss. You know how I know? He brags about it constantly. I promise, he is a jerk. I hated him before he came in sick, it was just the straw the broke the camels back yesterday.

Please note where I said "there are always exceptions" and "I still believe that for most of these types of situations, the sick person is there because he or she does not have a choice to stay home," with emphasis on most. I'm sure there will be a bunch of people who come forward now to offer up their own examples of exceptions to the rule.

Bottom line is - what are you going to do about it? You say it's the straw that broke the camel's back. What does that mean? Are you quitting? Gonna tell him off? Do you think that will keep you from catching somebody else's germs? Nobody seems to understand that even if this particular guy stops doing what he's doing, eventually you will touch a door knob, coffee pot handle, toilet flush lever, or a paper towel dispenser - whatever - that has somebody's germs on it. You cannot stop from touching germs! They are everywhere.

 

[dakcp2001]

Bottom line is - what are you going to do about it? You say it's the straw that broke the camel's back. What does that mean? Are you quitting? Gonna tell him off? Do you think that will keep you from catching somebody else's germs? Nobody seems to understand that even if this particular guy stops doing what he's doing, eventually you will touch a door knob, coffee pot handle, toilet flush lever, or a paper towel dispenser - whatever - that has somebody's germs on it. You cannot stop from touching germs! They are everywhere.

I am going to complain about him in an online forum, OBVIOUSLY. lol.

 

[just4today]

I am going to complain about him in an online forum, OBVIOUSLY. lol.

Good luck! I hope it works.