Working when sick

CrazyRabbit

I had an engineer from UP out the other day and he spent about 90 mins (finally) fixing my broadband. He had a really bad cold and I think he's now passed it on to me.
I imagine he might also pass it on to other customers or his work colleagues.

For people who work in jobs where they are in contact with customers, do you think they should be banned from working when they have a contagious illness (cold, flu etc)?

Or what about people who don't interact directly with customers, but who do have contact with their colleagues in an office etc?

If you have a cold/flu, and were 'quarantined' at home for the duration of the illness, it would drastically slow the spread & reduce overall infections....right?

starbelgrade

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

For people who work in jobs where they are in contact with customers, do you think they should be banned from working when they have a contagious illness (cold, flu etc)?

Some people should be banned from working, full stop.

cena

Well I wasn't sick at work but injured. Was told by my now former boss too lock up the store room and night club after I cut my hand open with blood all over the place, while waiting too be brought to the hospitial. He was just an ass.

hondasam

Majority of people don't get paid sick pay, no choice but work.

Hasmunch

What if you work on a casual basis, or are a contractor and dont get paid to work when you are sick.
If you are sick but are willing to work should you lose out financially?
Or shouls your employer supply you with a mask so you dont breath your germs on other people and a bell to ring, going around shouting, UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN :pac:

Ben Moore

In todays market some people simply cannot afford to be sick. They will drag themselves into work until they drop.

I have met many workers who have such a good work ethic that a few snuffles will not put them off.

This is not a generalisation as yes there are other who take as many liberties as possible.

But at least the sick ones who do work for whatever reason should warn you when they introduce themselves.

don ramo

yeah but when you get over it and are feeling a lot better your still contagious for an few more days, some say your more contagious when your better,

x in the city

hondasam wrote: »

Majority of people don't get paid sick pay, no choice but work.

i have 20 sick days left and not used any up

hondasam

x in the city wrote: »

i have 20 sick days left and not used any up

20 sick days, that's some job. I get sick pay but never use it.

Son Of A Vidic

Fair play to the guy for working, there are too many nancy fúcks in this country ringing in sick with any little excuse. We are not talking about the Ebola virus here, but merely the common cold.

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Depends on the job. If you have a job where work piles up, even when you are on holidays, you may feel better off just to go in and get it done regardless of how bad you feel
You should relish the chance to catch a cold anyway, strenghtens the aul immune system :pac:

Pompey Magnus

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

He had a really bad cold

You sure it wasn't a bad case of hayfever he had?

ShooterSF

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Fair play to the guy for working, there are too many nancy fúcks in this country ringing in sick with any little excuse. We are not talking about the Ebola virus here, but merely the common cold.

It' not about being a nancy it's about having some decency to fellow workers or customers. I don't want to be sneezing for the next week and if it means putting in a bit more work for a few days while you sit at home and recover I'm quite happy to do so.

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Well regarding the spreading of germs, I work in a pretty big company, around 2,500, all under the same roof where there are hand santizers everywhere and signs up about how to disinfect yi=our area and not to sneeze all over everything etc etc
But I, and my workmates, would be of the opinion that whilst you always wash your hands you can't hide away from a few feckin germs for your whole life. If you do you become a weakling. There's always someone coughiing or sneezing in the office, if it terrified you we'd never get anything done.
If the colds going around it's going around, unless you're unlucky it shouldn't give you too much grief

Hate to sound macho but TAKE A TEASPOON OF CONCRETE AND HARDEN THE FUCK UP

Son Of A Vidic

ShooterSF wrote: »

It' not about being a nancy it's about having some decency to fellow workers or customers.

That's why these were invented, you keep your bugs to yourself and it keeps everyone happy.

Mike 1972

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

he spent about 90 mins (finally) fixing my broadband.

Maybe the reason it took so long to fix your broadband was because his coworkers were taking so much sick time off ?

CrazyRabbit

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Maybe the reason it took so long to fix your broadband was because his coworkers were taking so much sick time off ?

I didn't mean to imply the guy was slow. Only that the broadband issue had been ongoing for months.

Despite getting a cold out of this, I'm glad that this was the engineer that came out. He's the first one that really knew what he was doing, and he fixed the issue.

I'm not too bothered about the cold. I can work from home, so no biggie for me.

AgileMyth

I've never been sick, ever. Is that normal or am I some sort of freak who should be experimented on?

epgc3fyqirnbsx

AgileMyth wrote: »

I've never been sick, ever. Is that normal or am I some sort of freak who should be experimented on?

Chances are you have everything, every diesease going, but they are all balancing each other out. Should you ever take one remedy you will destroy their natural balance and they will consume you. Kepp going as you are. And never have sex.

Jesus Wept

don ramo wrote: »

yeah but when you get over it and are feeling a lot better your still contagious for an few more days, some say your more contagious when your better,

Some may say it but they are probably talking sh1te.

AgileMyth

Johanna Uptight Table wrote: »

And never have sex.

Yeah thats why I haven't been having any..

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citizen_p

I would stilll go in, if it dosn't effect my ability to function I'll still go in.

I hate when I hear somone is "in bed all day with a cold"... get the feck up ya lazy piece a sh... maybe I'm being harsh but cold/flus have never had that sevre effect on me apart from a runny nose.

BostonB

AgileMyth wrote: »

I've never been sick, ever. Is that normal or am I some sort of freak who should be experimented on?

Count how many immortals you meet.

Das Kitty

I never used to get sick until I had a kid. Maybe once every 2 years I'd get a cold bad enough to consider taking a day off, but I rarely did. Since my son started creche I have never been so sick, virus after virus after virus, loads of secondary infections and tummy bugs.

I felt so guilty at work for missing time that two weeks ago I came in, in spite of hardly being able to stand up or talk. Yeah, I won't be doing that again, what good am I to my employers if I can't function?

ShooterSF

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

That's why these were invented, you keep your bugs to yourself and it keeps everyone happy.

If you're one of the few who actually do use them and washes their hands regularly with a cold then fair play. I know many that aren't so considerate. I'm not by any means phobic of germs or colds I just wouldn't like been given one so I do my best to return the favour, which may mean staying quarantined at home.

Mousey- wrote: »

I would stilll go in, if it dosn't effect my ability to function I'll still go in.

I hate when I hear somone is "in bed all day with a cold"... get the feck up ya lazy piece a sh... maybe I'm being harsh but cold/flus have never had that sevre effect on me apart from a runny nose.

Then you've never had a flu. One thing I do hate (and my gender are plenty guilty of it) is people calling a cold the flu. You get the flu and you WILL be in bed all day (unless it's vomit flavoured).

Das Kitty

ShooterSF wrote: »

If you're one of the few who actually do use them and washes their hands regularly with a cold then fair play. I know many that aren't so considerate. I'm not by any means phobic of germs or colds I just wouldn't like been given one so I do my best to return the favour, which may mean staying quarantined at home.



Then you've never had a flu. One thing I do hate (and my gender are plenty guilty of it) is people calling a cold the flu. You get the flu and you WILL be in bed all day (unless it's vomit flavoured).

The difference is, if someone told you there was a €50 note outside the front door you wouldn't get up to get it if you have the flu.

barbiegirl

I'm in work today with a cold, it's stuck in my sinus' and I'm currently sipping a lemsip. In my last job we got 3 months sick leave per year at full pay, and whilst there I had two miscarriages, for each I took 3 days to cover the op.
One I could work from home a lot.
Two I work in sales so if I'm not in work I'm not selling.
Three I'd just be bored.
In this job I get 3 days per annum sick leave I need to find another multi-national.

LisaLee

I don't get paid sick days. My employers would rather I came in and worked when ill as opposed to finding someone to cover me. Any time I have called in sick it has been punctuated with: *sigh* "Really? OK, well how sick are you? Are you sure you can't some in?" *tut* *sigh* "FINE!" *They hang up*

So then I'm expected to lie in bed sick and now guilty? :mad:

Orando Broom

When you get a culture of knobheads ringing in with hangovers it leads to people coming in with colds because they don't want to be lumped in with the hangover brigade.

Sick leave is seven uncertified (correct me if wrong, it may be five), anyways take four of those days away and replace them with two 'duvet days'. Two sick days that can be used for hangovers/unforeseen emergency/a.n other complaint where no questions are asked. I guarantee you absenteeism would be cut significantly.

Lollipops23

I had that dose that was doing the rounds recently and worked through it. Used hand sanitizer and tried not to cough anywhere near anyone, ie did my best to be hygenic about it. But I'll be damned if I'm taking unpaid time off despite feeling well enough to work. I'd be laughed out of it if I rang in sick with a sniffle.
You'd probably be exposed to more germs on the bus/train on a day to day basis anyway.

Calibos

I'm glad someone else made the point about the Flu because I was going to pull the OP up on the fact that he used the term Cold/Flu like as if they were in anyway comparable. Theres a very good reason why Cold epidemics don't make the news but Flu epidemics do. One can give ye a bit of a headache, blocked/runny nose, sore throat and make you feel a bit under the weather. The other puts you in bed with Pounding Headaches, Fever, Nausea, every joint/muscle and fibre of your being aching and makes you feel.....like you want to die!!

Seems like the engineer couldn't win. Go to work with his cold and have customers moaning about him spreading germs. Take a sick day and have his Co-Workers/Bosses calling him a dosser for taking time off for a poxy little cold.

roast

Calibos wrote: »

Seems like the engineer couldn't win. Go to work with his cold and have customers moaning about him spreading germs. Take a sick day and have his Co-Workers/Bosses calling him a dosser for taking time off for a poxy little cold.

+1 on this. Dude's gonna get stick either way, may as well go to work and get paid for the luxury.

kingtut

OP I'm sure you would be moaning even more had the UP guy rang saying "sorry I can't come out I am sick but I'll fix your broadband in a few days when I am better"

So just be happy that he fixed your broadband and let that be the end of it :cool:

Mr. Presentable

Maybe that'll put you from shagging the tradesmen in future........

Azureus

I've a tummybug and working today...wish the OP was my customers telling me to go home

BostonB

Azureus wrote: »

I've a tummybug and working today...wish the OP was my customers telling me to go home

I hope you're not a cook.

Malari

I get sick pay (haven't a clue how many days) but I always manage to coincide getting sick with being on holidays or a long weekend anyway! :rolleyes: I've taken about 2.5 sick days in the last 8 years.

CrazyRabbit

kingtut wrote: »

OP I'm sure you would be moaning even more had the UP guy rang saying "sorry I can't come out I am sick but I'll fix your broadband in a few days when I am better"

So just be happy that he fixed your broadband and let that be the end of it :cool:

Who says I was moaning? I just gave an example, and I said that I'm glad he came out and fixed the issue.

Neyite

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

For people who work in jobs where they are in contact with customers, do you think they should be banned from working when they have a contagious illness (cold, flu etc)?

Jaysis. Our resident Office Hypochondriac would go to the Union if they brought in that rule.

It would kill her to stay at home when 'Sick' - No-one to bend the ear of how awful her hayfever/headache/tummy bug /blah blah blah:rolleyes:

Blazer

Constantly bitching at people who arrive into our workplace sick.
All of us have the option of working from home if need be and indeed it's HR policy for someone who's under the weather to actually stay out sick rather than infect their whole dept.
Last time in our group someone arrived in sick being the bloody hero and took most of the dept out for a few days...absolutely ridiculous if you've the option of working from home.

mathie

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

You sure it wasn't a bad case of hayfever he had?

Or a fever for more cowbell?

Lord TSC

I had a bad flu about 18 months ago, right round the time Swine Flu was doing the rounds. I was doing my teaching degree at the time and requested time off since I was pretty much dead on my feet; barely able to talk, looking like death and no energy. I also knew it was the last thing the school would want and my doctor even told me to go home and rest for two weeks without doing any work.

When I requested the time off from the college though, I was told I'd be punished heavily if I missed time. It was right at the start of a two week block teaching period so I would have missed 40 hours of my teaching practice, which granted is a huge chunk. School wasn't impressed that I was in contact with students, the doctor was freaking cause I was in a high-stress position, but the college refused to let me take even a single day off

Destroyed me for the rest of the term as well.

The House Of Wolves

I have a cold at the minute and have barricaded myself in my room. Don't want to be getting other decent hardworking people sick.

Krieg

9 years of working and ive never once taken a sick day,
God knows how many I have infected.

BostonB

We had a boss who used to come in sick. Took out most of the office with a tummy bug the last time. But the boss kept their perfect sick leave record.

Corvus Maximus

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Fair play to the guy for working, there are too many nancy fúcks in this country ringing in sick with any little excuse. We are not talking about the Ebola virus here, but merely the common cold.

Rhinovirus affects people's ability to think clearly and work effectively, and it is very contagious. Additionally, listening to someone cough, sneeze and sniffle all day in an office is distracting. It is in everyone's best interests that anyone who is sick should stay out of work until they have recovered.

--LOS--

hmm I don't think you shouldn't work just because of the risk of infecting other people, I think you shouldn't work if your illness is going to significantly affect your work. In which case you would be better off resting up and improving your chances for a quicker recovery.

The Saint

Managed to catch a cold over the last few days in 30 degree heat. How the hell does that happen? I think having a cold in hot weather rather than during the winter is actually worse.

Anyway, went to work yesterday feeling like ****. Had an important meeting this morning so came in to that and then buggered away home. Fcuked if I'm going to hang around the office and be miserable and useless for the day. I did what I needed to do. Wouldn't have gone to work today if I didn't have important stuff on. Think I'll manage to make it in tomorrow though.

Toby Take a Bow

My boss refused a co-worker to go home sick, even though she was vomiting all morning. And it was clearly not hangover related. Ended up in hospital that day and had to undergo a fairly serious operation. Never really understand why they make people who can't empathise with other people managers and the like. The UPC guy was probably under the same pressure, an idea cemented by the whole 'you're lucky to have a job' type mantra.

Deleted User wrote: »

Rhinovirus

Rhinovirus is one of my most favourite words.

hondasam

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

My boss refused a co-worker to go home sick, even though she was vomiting all morning. And it was clearly not hangover related. Ended up in hospital that day and had to undergo a fairly serious operation. Never really understand why they make people who can't empathise with other people managers and the like. The UPC guy was probably under the same pressure, an idea cemented by the whole 'you're lucky to have a job' type mantra.

Why would you she need approval to leave, it's not a prison. He has no right to make her stay at work if she sick.

ashblag

hondasam wrote: »

Why would you she need approval to leave, it's not a prison. He has no right to make her stay at work if she sick.

Too right if I am really sick and feel I cant do my job,I tell my boss i'm going home rather than asking! Your health is worth more than your job.

I've a few health issues that I made the company aware of on the application form. From time to time I cannot work.

It does affect me when it comes to yearly reviews but with the highest wage increase this year being 1% I wont loose any sleep over it:rolleyes: