People coming into work when they're ill

Goya · 19-01-2017 2:24pm

eoinzy2000 wrote: »

Let me guess.. public service? Where you clearly feel it doesnt matter if sick days are taken for an auld sniffle?
If this is the case, you can probably go to your union to get some direction on the matter. That should kill a couple of weeks....

Jeez, either on a wind-up, barely read the post you quoted, or worst comprehension skills ever!

lawred2 · 19-01-2017 2:26pm

Riddle101 wrote: »

Not as easy as it seems. I know one of workplace that looked down on the idea of taking work off due to being sick. They seemed to imply that unless you were practically dead or in hospital, then taking time off for something like a cough, cold, or vomiting bug would't be tolerated.

lol

I'd love to see someone in the office with a vomiting bug...

ger vallely · 19-01-2017 2:26pm

I work in preschool. Since coming back after the break we've had kids being sent in and within an hour of them arriving they've wilted. Fever and general unwellness. When the parents come to collect them the say 'yeah, well she had a fever earlier but I thought she'd be fine.' That kind of thing. Having a few children come in like this means that virus will spread like wildfire. I am now out all this week with a lung and sinus infection, fever, pains, shallow breathing. This was all avoidable. People who are contagiously ill should stay home away from the public. Common sense. I mean it's basic knowledge, containing a virus. As for going into work while suffering with a vomiting/stomach bug, well that's hugely irresponsible, no excuse. A co worker could bring that home to an elderly sick relative or a young baby. Very bad form.

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 19-01-2017 2:32pm

eoinzy2000 wrote: »

Let me guess.. public service? Where you clearly feel it doesnt matter if sick days are taken for an auld sniffle?
If this is the case, you can probably go to your union to get some direction on the matter. That should kill a couple of weeks....

Let me guess. Private sector begrudger, always looking for an excuse to bash the public sector, even if it means completely distorting posts to try and make your invalid point?

19-01-2017 2:33pm

I hate calling in sick, even when I'm in and the manager is like wtf, go home
There's so many people who boast about never having taken a sick day and then you just feel like a total loser

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 19-01-2017 2:35pm

jester77 wrote: »

I can't remember the last time I was sick, but I know if I was, then I would be better able to recover in the office than at home where the kids would be running around and demanding things and not giving me a break. At least in the office I would have some peace.

Yes, but what about the other people in the office? Don't they deserve consideration?

infogiver · 19-01-2017 2:36pm

Kashton Hundreds Laborer wrote: »

Someone has been in work doing the dying swan all over the place for the past couple of days. Their area is not particularly busy, she will be paid if she stays off work, there will be no issue made of it. But no, she insisted on coming in, coughing and sneezing all over the place, looking all pale and miserable, and telling us all how awful she felt.

She is now out and on antibiotics, but a couple of other people who work in the same room as her are starting to feel shivery and one girl is getting a scratchy throat and generally people are annoyed that this woman didn't just stay at home out of people's way.

I understand that sometimes it can be difficult to stay at home when you're sick (won't be paid, unreasonable employer or somesuch). But in circumstances such as the above, why can't people use common sense and stay at home and not spread their germs all over the place?

The employers need to make their position clear on this via notices on the workplace notice board and in the contract of employment
Why did her superior not come and tell her to leave?

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 19-01-2017 2:45pm

infogiver wrote: »

The employers need to make their position clear on this via notices on the workplace notice board and in the contract of employment
Why did her superior not come and tell her to leave?

That never happens around here. People might say 'God you don't look well. You should go home'. But you would never get an official instruction to go home.
A couple of years ago someone in here was working her final week before going into hospital for major surgery. She also had a close relative in hospital with pneumonia, who she was visiting in the evenings. Some dolt who shared a room with her decided to come in with a bad cold, and cough and sneeze all over the place. If ever any one should have been told to go home it was her. We wouldn't have minded, but normally she's the type who rings in sick over anything. That particular week, she chose to be a martyr!

jester77 · 19-01-2017 2:46pm

Kashton Hundreds Laborer wrote: »

Yes, but what about the other people in the office? Don't they deserve consideration?

Of course, but it's not as black and white as people are making out here. Some people might not have optimal situations for recovering at home.

allthedoyles · 19-01-2017 2:46pm

Was sick recently . caredoc was 60e . prescription 37e . stay out of work lose paydays . illness benefit you get nothing for first 6 days .
For me it was a financial decision to stay working .

c68zapdsm5i1ru · 19-01-2017 2:50pm

jester77 wrote: »

Of course, but it's not as black and white as people are making out here. Some people might not have optimal situations for recovering at home.

That doesn't excuse going into work with something really contagious and passing it on to everyone else.

Steve F · 19-01-2017 2:55pm

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I had strep throat a couple of years ago and was out of work for about a week. Bad infection, could barely stand up or walk, it was really horrible. I ignored it for a couple of days as I didn't want to pay a GP, but by the time I got to a doctor they said I was close to being hospitalised. When I lived in England you can see a GP for free whenever you want, there's been times where I'm hard up for cash here so I don't go to a doctor, or I ignore things that I should probably get checked out. Then people on the dole get doctors for free... Not really fair is it?

Yes ,indeed.Tell me about it.When I moved here first I walked out a couple of times without paying...only to get the bill a a couple of days later

check_six · 19-01-2017 3:17pm

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Yup. Happens in my mates job. You're given a certain amount of days and then told to use them. IIRC, it's a set number of days given over two years in his job.

But your not ordered to take them! You're just told how many you have left and better to use them as you will lose them.

Wouldn't say corrosive tradition at all (don't know where you got that from) it's just people have days they are entitled too and they should use them up.

I just don't understand this way of doing things. If you are sick, you take sick days and never mind a limit. If you have a quota of potential sick days and you are told you could lose them if they are not taken, do you go and get sick by getting someone to sneeze on you? Do you hurl yourself down some steps to ensure you can be sick on specific days? It just seems a bit premeditated to me.

To my mind it encourages you to claim you're sick when you are fine. Maybe someone can explain how it is supposed to work in real life, because the scenario I'm imagining right now seems wrong.

Graces7 · 19-01-2017 3:22pm

Steve F wrote: »

Yes ,indeed.Tell me about it.When I moved here first I walked out a couple of times without paying...only to get the bill a a couple of days later

You are in the UK? Sorry; confused. I lived there until 15 years ago and am English and never a bill.

whoopsadoodles · 19-01-2017 3:35pm

Graces7 wrote: »

You are in the UK? Sorry; confused. I lived there until 15 years ago and am English and never a bill.

I think Steve means he moved to Ireland, and forgot he didn't have free healthcare!

wherearemykeys · 19-01-2017 4:04pm

We get three paid sick days per year. If you are sick for longer than that, you dont get paid.
Saying that, I am in the lucky position where I can work from home if I am unwell so not the end of the world. Also, I have my own office so i dont let anyone who is in any way complainging of an illness into my office. We online message!!

Dont get me started on parents who continue to send their children into creches when they are very unwell, thus infecting every other child who comes into contact with them.

check_six · 19-01-2017 4:38pm

wherearemykeys wrote: »

We get three paid sick days per year. If you are sick for longer than that, you dont get paid.
Saying that, I am in the lucky position where I can work from home if I am unwell so not the end of the world. Also, I have my own office so i dont let anyone who is in any way complainging of an illness into my office. We online message!!

Dont get me started on parents who continue to send their children into creches when they are very unwell, thus infecting every other child who comes into contact with them.

Seems to be two takes on the three day thing. Some places seem to require a note if you are out for more than three days in one go. Other places just have the three days allowed in total which seems a bit inhumane.

The parents thing is tricky. Your kid is sick, not you. How is this classified in work? Is it a holiday? Or a sick day?

Little CuChulainn · 19-01-2017 4:53pm

check_six wrote: »

Seems to be two takes on the three day thing. Some places seem to require a note if you are out for more than three days in one go. Other places just have the three days allowed in total which seems a bit inhumane.

The parents thing is tricky. Your kid is sick, not you. How is this classified in work? Is it a holiday? Or a sick day?

Force majeure?

jester77 · 19-01-2017 5:01pm

check_six wrote: »

Seems to be two takes on the three day thing. Some places seem to require a note if you are out for more than three days in one go. Other places just have the three days allowed in total which seems a bit inhumane.

The parents thing is tricky. Your kid is sick, not you. How is this classified in work? Is it a holiday? Or a sick day?

Don't know how it works in Ireland but where I am the parents get 10 days each per child per year and it gets classified as a child sick day.

Steve F · 19-01-2017 5:08pm

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

I think Steve means he moved to Ireland, and forgot he didn't have free healthcare!

Correct..sorry for confusion

SB_Part2 · 19-01-2017 5:36pm

LexieOnRale wrote: »

We work on appointments and 80% of clients will only want to go to a specific staff member. So, of course if someone is unwell then they can't help that and once they call in well re organise their day, call clients to re schedule with original sick staff member or move them to another column. It was harder for me to do that because there was nobody I could ring, I was the one people would ring. You would need someone there if there was an issue.

Do you not think you're being very unfair on your clients by continuing to work on them knowing you're sick? There's no way you are working at peak efficiency and you're risking passing on what you have to them as well.

We've a small team in work and if you're sick you're told to stay at home. One being sick is bad enough, two is extremely hard to manage.

red ears · 19-01-2017 5:47pm

Stay at home for goodness sake, what is the big deal with everyone so work obsessed. Whats it all for really in the end.

Lux23 · 19-01-2017 5:49pm

Happened to me before Christmas, a girl on my team came in with a really bad cold and I ended up sick for almost three weeks because it got deep into my lungs. Its just stupid.

Winterlong · 19-01-2017 5:50pm

I think someone who is self employed or runs their own business is a hell of a lot less likely to take a day off sick.
It is more than just a job for them. That's not necessarily a good thing but very understandable.

infogiver · 19-01-2017 6:25pm

jester77 wrote: »

Don't know how it works in Ireland but where I am the parents get 10 days each per child per year and it gets classified as a child sick day.

Good Lord
Nothing like that here.
Force majeur leave if your "prescence" cannot be done without
3 days in a 12 month period or 5 days in 36 months
Plus you have to initially go without pay and then write to your employer when you return to work "requesting " the force majeure
It feels like begging
Then there's parental leave which is confined to children under 8 and more importantly, unpaid with no entitlement to SW
There's no legislation either to cover compassionate leave, or even sick leave/pay
A lot of people presume there is

19-01-2017 6:27pm

SB_Part2 wrote: »

Do you not think you're being very unfair on your clients by continuing to work on them knowing you're sick? There's no way you are working at peak efficiency and you're risking passing on what you have to them as well.

We've a small team in work and if you're sick you're told to stay at home. One being sick is bad enough, two is extremely hard to manage.

Got a massage & facial from a girl sniffling away in my face with a cold once.
I got the cold afterwards.

SB_Part2 · 19-01-2017 6:30pm

bluewolf wrote: »

Got a massage & facial from a girl sniffling away in my face with a cold once.
I got the cold afterwards.

I can't imagine anyone enjoying a massage from someone who was sniffling. I'd ask for someone else. Especially since you're in such close contact with the person.

Corruptedmorals · 19-01-2017 6:42pm

I work in the HSE, they could really do with a culture of sick leave being frowned on. You do have to be careful when you work in a hospital and the majority of patients are elderly though, but sick leave is pushed to the extreme and puts such a huge strain on everyone. Quite a number of pisstakers around. And then there's the long term sick leave that's not covered..

andekwarhola · 19-01-2017 6:58pm

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Force majeure?

I would assume force majeure is for more serious stuff. I've only ever took it when my kid was in hospital.

happywithlife · 19-01-2017 7:22pm

jester77 wrote: »

Don't know how it works in Ireland but where I am the parents get 10 days each per child per year and it gets classified as a child sick day.

Wow would love that!
I have to take certified sick days if I.m out or if kids are sick/ has hospital appointment. Do have some self certified days i coukd technically take but its frowned upon big time. Have one child with multiple diagnosis at this stage and it's tough going. Trying to organise appointments to coincide with AL is a pain and then everything gets buggered up if he is hospitalised. Haven't used force majore (yet!)

I'm currently battling sore throat for the past two weeks - lost my voice last week which given I depend on it for work was a pain. I've been self medicating with honey paracetamol and on gp advice neurofen but it's viral so no antibiotic required. There's no sign of improvement two weeks on though - it's annoying but liveable with

westcoast66 · 19-01-2017 7:29pm

As a parent of two young children, I can't waste sick days on myself. Whenever the kids are sick, I basically take a sick day. When I'm sick, they still have to be dressed, fed and brought to school/creche. I may as well go to work at that stage.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 19-01-2017 7:53pm

SB_Part2 wrote: »

Do you not think you're being very unfair on your clients by continuing to work on them knowing you're sick? There's no way you are working at peak efficiency and you're risking passing on what you have to them as well.

We've a small team in work and if you're sick you're told to stay at home. One being sick is bad enough, two is extremely hard to manage.

If you read my post I said when I'm unwell with something I caught I go in and stay in my office, if I'm unwell with conditions I have, I won't cancel my clients.

19-01-2017 8:17pm

bluewolf wrote: »

There's so many people who boast about never having taken a sick day and then you just feel like a total loser

Never having needed to take a sick day is not exactly a big achievement though, it looks impressive but can also just mean you've been very lucky with your health. I'd think anyone who actually boasts about that is a total loser tbh.

Goya · 19-01-2017 8:53pm

Kashton Hundreds Laborer wrote: »

Let me guess. Private sector begrudger, always looking for an excuse to bash the public sector, even if it means completely distorting posts to try and make your invalid point?

I'm private sector and get no sick pay but I still wholeheartedly agree with you!

There seems to be a bit of a false dichotomy on this thread - either literally unable to get out of the bed or a sniffle, no in-between. If a person phones in sick once or twice a year with a bad cold that requires bed rest (and which could get worse if they don't get said rest - and which is contagious, and might manifest itself more severely in others), that is not phoning in sick because of every little sniffle. The only people who will get a reputation for phoning in sick because of every little sniffle... are people who phone in sick because of every little sniffle! And they're the exception in fairness.

B.A._Baracus · 20-01-2017 12:34am

check_six wrote: »

I just don't understand this way of doing things. If you are sick, you take sick days and never mind a limit. If you have a quota of potential sick days and you are told you could lose them if they are not taken, do you go and get sick by getting someone to sneeze on you? Do you hurl yourself down some steps to ensure you can be sick on specific days? It just seems a bit premeditated to me.

To my mind it encourages you to claim you're sick when you are fine. Maybe someone can explain how it is supposed to work in real life, because the scenario I'm imagining right now seems wrong.

Well there is a bit of a confusion with this whole thing.... Even I added to it earlier.

Generally you get two types of days: uncertified and certified. You are openly told to use your USL's (uncertified sick leave) because if you don't use them they go. These you are entitled too and you would be mad not to take them. But it's a person's choice.

The other are a certain amount of sick days you get each year/two years. A bad idea to be constantly using them up and you can even be brought in to hr if you are using them all up weeks after been issued them.

The confusion happens to people outside these jobs that you are told to use your sick days. In reality you are reminded to use your usl's.

smurgen · 20-01-2017 12:46am

I can't understand people talking about going in work with a stomach bug?seriously if you have a proper stomach bug you will in no way make work.

Loveinapril · 20-01-2017 12:55am

I have MS so it really p!sses me off when sick people come into work. I catch anything going as my immune system is compromised. As well as having to fight off an infection, my MS symptoms flare up and it makes walking and using my hand very tough. AND I don't get sick pay.

Stay home yiz selfish feckers!

dresden8 · 20-01-2017 12:56am

Kashton Hundreds Laborer wrote: »

Someone has been in work doing the dying swan all over the place for the past couple of days. Their area is not particularly busy, she will be paid if she stays off work, there will be no issue made of it. But no, she insisted on coming in, coughing and sneezing all over the place, looking all pale and miserable, and telling us all how awful she felt.

She is now out and on antibiotics, but a couple of other people who work in the same room as her are starting to feel shivery and one girl is getting a scratchy throat and generally people are annoyed that this woman didn't just stay at home out of people's way.

I understand that sometimes it can be difficult to stay at home when you're sick (won't be paid, unreasonable employer or somesuch). But in circumstances such as the above, why can't people use common sense and stay at home and not spread their germs all over the place?

When the flu pandemic comes they won't be employee martyr of the month.

Those stupid bastards will kill us all.

dresden8 · 20-01-2017 12:58am

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I only miss work if I literally cannot get out of bed or am admitted to hospital. I've stayed in work after passing out, I've stayed when I caught the vomiting bug, and ive gone to work and had my GP ring me with results of blood tests so serious she a) was shocked I was in work and b) ordered me to hospital straight away. I've gone in for a half day just until I could organise cover for myself after no sleep being up all night after taking a morphine tablet.

In my job, I have no choice but to go, we run our day right and everyone needs to pull their weight. In my old job I held the keys so had to be there to open and close, and deal with any problems that came up, organising rotas/cover. That couldn't be done from home.

I am the kind of person who needs to keep going. If I stop, and start feeling sorry for myself that's the last thing I need. I'm the kind of person that only responds positively to tough love. Kid gloves and sympathy leaves me feeling sorry for myself and I'll feel worse for it.

When you get really sick you will kill all your workmates.

How will that affect the company's KPIs?

dresden8 · 20-01-2017 12:59am

LexieOnRale wrote: »

When I'm very ill I'll be holed up in my office but that requires me going in, organising cover, cancelling and moving appointments, being available for difficult clients, complaints, orders, problems. If I'm not contagious and just unwell with my condition, I'll stay working directly with clients. I managed in my last job so it was always my problem to sort if I wasn't going in, so it was easier to go and sort it. Now I'm my own boss so I have no choice

If your company will fall apart if you take a couple of days off you should probably be paid more.

dresden8 · 20-01-2017 1:02am

LexieOnRale wrote: »

We work on appointments and 80% of clients will only want to go to a specific staff member. So, of course if someone is unwell then they can't help that and once they call in well re organise their day, call clients to re schedule with original sick staff member or move them to another column. It was harder for me to do that because there was nobody I could ring, I was the one people would ring. You would need someone there if there was an issue.

It's company policy to expose clients to infection?

Don't send me your card please.

dresden8 · 20-01-2017 1:03am

Goya wrote: »

But the opening post is referring to someone who had a lot more than just a manageable cold - they ended up on an antibiotic and ultimately out sick. I don't think anyone is saying you should even stay home when you just have a mild cold.

What these martyrs don't consider too, when they go to work miserably ill and unable to be productive, is that others who pick up their illness could get even sicker - for example if they are prone to chest infections or sinusitis.

Or if they're pregnant or immune compromised.

prinzeugen · 20-01-2017 3:33am

Didn't feel the best Tue morning, fever by Tue night. Called in sick on Wed, stayed in bed and sweated whatever I had got out, off again today (Thur) and back in work tomorrow almost brand new.

You get no medals for going in unwell. And you just spread it. Hate folk that go around for weeks, popping vitimans thinking it will help.

Go to bed!!

If you get told that taking a day off is wrong.. Get another job.

Dick phelan · 20-01-2017 4:43am

If i'm out for more then a day i need a doctors cert and there's no sick pay, i can't afford 50 quid for a doctor and to miss days of pay i'm sure there's plenty of people in a similar situation.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 20-01-2017 6:46am

Sometimes you can have a cold and yet not need to be in bed and stay at home.

If everyone stayed at home in order to avoid contact with others and avoid passing on a cold then you'd have very few people working for a lot of the winter.

JellieBabie · 20-01-2017 8:36am

It's incredibly selfish to go into work when you're sick. You are spreading the infection and ensuring other people get it too. This can be really dangerous for people who may have a compromised immunity.

namloc1980 · 20-01-2017 8:54am

red ears wrote: »

Stay at home for goodness sake, what is the big deal with everyone so work obsessed. Whats it all for really in the end.

For many people it's a financial necessity to go to work even when sick. A lot of places don't pay sick pay. First week you get no illness benefit either. Throw in a trip to the doctor and a prescription and for many people they simply can't afford to be sick. Not so much work obsessed as a financial requirement.

Goya · 20-01-2017 9:47am

I don't get sick pay either - that's life. One or two days in bed sleeping the sickness off works out cheaper than dragging your sick ass to work until you become even more sick (because of not getting that day or two of bed rest) and ultimately having to stay at home anyway, and for longer, only after having to go to the doctor and pay for an antibiotic prescription... none of which it would have come to if just one or two days were taken off work earlier!

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Sometimes you can have a cold and yet not need to be in bed and stay at home.

If everyone stayed at home in order to avoid contact with others and avoid passing on a cold then you'd have very few people working for a lot of the winter.

But nobody said you should stay at home if you just have a cold that's so mild you are still well able to go to work.

Lorelli! · 20-01-2017 10:37am

Goya wrote: »

But nobody said you should stay at home if you just have a cold that's so mild you are still well able to go to work.

But the OP said the girl came in for the "past couple of days" and then went to the doctor and stayed home sick.

It might take someone a few days to realise they have more than just a cold. She may have felt ok to work and then her symptoms got worse and she was figuring out whether or not it warranted a visit to the doctor and antibiotics.

Goya · 20-01-2017 10:51am

Kashton Hundreds Laborer wrote: »

Someone has been in work doing the dying swan all over the place for the past couple of days. Their area is not particularly busy, she will be paid if she stays off work, there will be no issue made of it. But no, she insisted on coming in, coughing and sneezing all over the place, looking all pale and miserable, and telling us all how awful she felt.

This is the description though.

It's just one of my pet peeves because where I work, people are nightmares for coming in clearly too sick to be anywhere but bed, and then everyone else in the team gets sick, including sinus infections which are so difficult to shake for weeks.

It may be with the intention of not losing productivity but ultimately it's actually counter productive.

People coming into work when they're ill

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