WHy do people do this?

[dakcp2001]

If you are sick, STAY HOME! Do not go to work, and then complain all day about how sick you are. No one at work wants to get whatever it is that you have, and people will figure things out if you are missing for a day. I know you have important meetings all day, and that you feel bad missing them, but people REALLY do not want to get sick!

 

[bettymae1121]

I totally agree...but only as long as the company said sick worker is employed at offers paid sick leave. Some people don't get paid leave and can't afford to stay home.

 

[just4today]

This same topic has come up about once a week it seems for the past few months, and the answers are always the same. Not everybody has the ability to stay home when he or she is sick. Really, how many people wouldn't prefer to stay home when they are sick? If they are at work I assume it's because they were not able to stay home for whatever reason, whether it is due to loss of income or a boss who isn't sympathetic.

 

[SC Minnie]

Some people who do have paid sick days end of having to take all those days off to be with sick children. When the employee is sick they either don't have any sick days left or have been out recently with a sick child. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[Mermaid02]

It begs another question.... if you can't afford to take ONE day off without pay- are you living above your means? Or is the job situation so desperate people are taking lower paying jobs than they are qualified for?

Things are bad for a lot of folks....

 

[Jenvenza]

I am NOT one of those people. I am always looking for a reason to not go to work!

 

[dakcp2001]

I just think it is so inconsiderate to come infect everyone else. I don't care what your reasons are, there are a lot of people in the office that do not want to get what you have. It is not appropriate to come in and be the outbreak monkey at the office.

 

[just4today]

Considering that URVs are most contagious before symptoms appear, and the fact that in the course of a normal day, you touch millions of bacteria and germs, IMO it is much more practical to worry about what you're doing to avoid being infected than to complain about other people exposing you to germs.

 

[NYPDwife]

If I'm REALLY sick, ie: fever, hacking cough, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., I won't go in. I don't think it's fair to the people around me b/c it becomes a VICIOUS cycle and you just wind up getting other people sick. Again, it's not fair. Same for my children. If it's just a slight cough, they go to school, but if it's anything more severe, I know that I have to stay home with them. Since I'm a temp worker, I don't get paid for sick leave, but I'll try to make my hours up somehow or I just have to suck it up to a loss. I hate when co-workers who DO get paid for sick leave come in really sick and that sucks for the rest of us who in turn get their germs and have to stay home without pay.

 

[Tina]

It's a ficious cycle.

It's a what?

 

[Boo'sMom]

this same topic has come up about once a week it seems for the past few months, and the answers are always the same. Not everybody has the ability to stay home when he or she is sick. Really, how many people wouldn't prefer to stay home when they are sick? If they are at work i assume it's because they were not able to stay home for whatever reason, whether it is due to loss of income or a boss who isn't sympathetic.

mte

 

[NYPDwife]

Considering that URVs are most contagious before symptoms appear, and the fact that in the course of a normal day, you touch millions of bacteria and germs, IMO it is much more practical to worry about what you're doing to avoid being infected than to complain about other people exposing you to germs.

I work for the Health Dept. I'm AMAZED at how many people come in with flu, stomach virus, etc. There are sanitizer dispensers in the hallways and I use them regularly along with washing my hands for at least 20 seconds, not touching my nose or eyes and I STILL get sick here! The people here are disgusting!

 

[SC Minnie]

It's a what?

I meant vicious. No spell check on here.

 

[MichelleVW]

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

 

[Tina]

I meant vicious. No spell check on here.

Yes, there is a spellcheck. Its on the top right of the screen when you are typing your post (above the Smilies).

 

[just4today]

I work for the Health Dept. I'm AMAZED at how many people come in with flu, stomach virus, etc. There are sanitizer dispensers in the hallways and I use them regularly along with washing my hands for at least 20 seconds, not touching my nose or eyes and I STILL get sick here! The people here are disgusting!

Right - my point is that you can't avoid the germs. They are everywhere. You're just as likely to pick up somebody's cold germs on a door handle while you're out at Starbucks at lunch or pumping gas as you are because somebody in the office sneezed. And then when you come down with the cold a few days later, you'll blame it on the person in the office with obvious cold symptoms when it might not have been that person at all. The virus is most contagious BEFORE symptoms appear. So, using the logic here, people are supposed to know they're contagious before symptoms appear?

Since I know that people are going to continue spreading germs, instead of wasting my time being resentful and complaining about it, I just try to make an effort to get plenty of rest, eat well, wash my hands, and avoid putting my hands near my eyes/nose/mouth. It's really all you can do.

 

[Jenvenza]

Yes, there is a spellcheck. Its on the top right of the screen when you are typing your post (above the Smilies).

Maybe she meant she didnt download it. I know I cannot download the spellcheck on here while I am at work.

 

[puffkin]

It begs another question.... if you can't afford to take ONE day off without pay- are you living above your means? Or is the job situation so desperate people are taking lower paying jobs than they are qualified for?

Things are bad for a lot of folks....

In my case I was laid off and am now working a temp job. So I don't get paid if I am not here. Yes, it is a HUGE blow to our budget if I miss even one day of work (for instance I didn't get paid for 5 days in Nov-Dec due to the holidays). This job just is enough to pay the bills....it is a significant cut from my previous job.

I am currently trying to find something permanent a little more money (being realistic that I won't make what I did before but it should be more than the temp job). However, for the time being I need to come to work sick or not.

And I agree, who really wants to come to work sick? But some of us don't have a choice.

 

[Pakey]

I'm sure that all of those people who are feeling miserable but still going to work wish they had the option to stay home.

 

[Muffin]

It begs another question.... if you can't afford to take ONE day off without pay- are you living above your means? Or is the job situation so desperate people are taking lower paying jobs than they are qualified for?

Things are bad for a lot of folks....

For some some people, it might not be financial at all. It may be that they have a very demanding boss and will be let go for missing too much time.