If you're sick, please stay home! Don't be a martyr.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

I've been out of work over a year, and had an interview over a week ago. One of the people there was hacking all over the place. I was invited back into her office; I reluctantly agreed (was pretty sure the job really wasn't a fit for me, but I knew this woman so I wanted to get more info. just to be sure).

The whole time I was in her office, she was blowing her nose and just coughing up a lung.

Two days later, I got sick...I mean flat-on-my-ass sick.

I went to the doctor a few days later, and by last Friday, I had full-blown bronchitis. I just finished an antibiotic a couple of days ago, and I'm feeling a little better, but not 100%.

The lady was telling me how she has health insurance and sick leave at her job...so why didn't she stay home that day? I'm fairly certain she's the one who got me sick.

Sorry; just had to vent. I had an interview scheduled last week that I had to postpone because I was so ill; turned out the lady who was going to interview me was sick herself, so I got a reprieve.

[Angry Dragon]

1. There are some companies that do not give sick days

to all their employees. Some even give you points if you call in sick unless you set it up before hand.
Get so many points, out the door you go. Catch22

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

3. I noticed one of the guys who was interviewing me looked sick, too. His

eyes were all red.

[ChoralScholar]

5. You're absolutely right about that one...

Many employers take the "assume everyone's faking" approach -

Elfrangel worked for a Travel Center/Truck Stop kind of place. One year she got the stomach flu, and her boss told her she had to come in, period. I told her she should go in, and vomit all over the fuel desk and merchandise. He'll listen next time. :)

[blueamy66]

7. Exactly.

I have sick days, but with the work situation in the US these days, I'm going in unless I am in the hospital.

[Very_Boring_Name]

8. When I was in school I worked for a place that gave zero sick days

They kept this really nasty notice up in the break room that always got vandalized, that basically said "if you're healthy enough to use the phone to call in sick, you're healthy enough to come to work". One time I was actually pretty sick, and when I called in they browbeat me until I finally pretty much made it clear that they could fire me if they wanted, but I wasn't coming in. I got an "infraction" the next day, and I think I quit a week later.

[wickerwoman]

12. Sounds like a place I used to work.

If you weren't coming in to work, you had to arrange your own replacement- nevermind that you didn't have contact information for all the other employees and that you were in the hospital waiting room. Call in sick without arranging a sub yourself more than once and you were fired.

[raccoon]

15. Is the employer a name we'd recognize? nt

[Lady President]

16. 24-hrs. notice to be sick

Where I work they give us a bucket of time to use for vacation, sick leave, or personal days. You have to give 24-hrs. notice or it's an "unscheduled absence". If you call in after 8:00, the manager has the discretion to make it one or two unscheduleds. I was in a car accident on my way to work and couldn't call until after 8:00. Sure enough, two unscheduled absences. I believe you can have four every six months, then you're on "coaching" (no bonus or raise for a year-- not that it amounts to much). Of course, the manager can take away a scheduled absence with less than 24-hrs., if they feel there is work to do.

I go to work sick, but I don't feel like I have a choice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. You know what bothers me?

I kept my son out of school this morning because he is sick. The school, of course, will have a problem with this. They invariably do. Even though they tell us to keep sick kids out of school to reduce the spread of disease and illness. It's lip service.

[struggle4progress]

4. We had an office party once. I cordially asked the secretary "How are you?"

She said: "I feel terrible. I have a sore throat, I'm sneezing, my stomach hurts. I would have stayed home today, but they need me to serve the food." She went off to serve the food. I decided just to stick with a glass of water.

[joneschick]

6. ewwwwww!

brings a whole new level of meaning to "thanks for sharing!"


:hi:

not you, her.

[LibDemAlways]

9. Unfortunately at many workplaces staying home sick means no

pay for the day. The US is primitive when it comes to recognizing employees need for occasional time off.

And the bosses who institute the draconian policies often do not personally feel the need to abide by them. I once worked at a shitful insurance company. At Christmas a memo came down from on high that no one was to take any extra time off during the holidays. Christmas and New Years Day only. The bosses of course all were gone the entire week with no questions asked. Sucks to be a peon in America.

[jp11]

11. Exactly, or if you are lucky you get a portion of what you would have made

for the day. I rarely call out sick but as part of doing so I am required to speak to a manager, no answering machine, no texting, no leaving messages with another employee, even if they won't answer the phone one hour prior to my scheduled time and often am directed to see a doctor to get a note like I was a child. I've never done it and if anyone ever asked I'd be more than happy to explain that when I call out sick I'm not willing or really even able to waste my time/money going to see a doctor to get a note when I'm too sick to go to work.

[AmyDeLune]

10. At my workplace...

in order to claim sick-pay, you have to call in sick for three days and have a note from your doctor. You also have to call in personally, three hours before your shift starts, not the night before, any time you call in sick.

There's nothing like dragging yourself up at 7:00 AM when you've got the flu to call in sick, only to find out that your manager doesn't have to be there until 8:00 AM. At least I was saved the "Well, come in later if you feel better" talk; yeah, I'm willing to sacrifice a day's pay, but I'll be in later should I stop puking my guts up.

[Mojambo]

13. You offering to pay my rent? n/t

[nadine_mn]

14. I hear ya - I just wish employers agreed

I have been sick for 2 fucking weeks with an awful flu and cough.

I understand that people have to work because of crappy or non-existent sick policies. But man, be considerate when you are hacking up a lung - cover your cough, explain why you can't shake hands, and keep a safe distance.

There are people though, who do seem to take a perverse pleasure out of "toughing" it out and dragging their sick ass to work (when they have a good sick policy) just to prove something and spend the rest of the day moaning, hacking and spreading their sickness to everyone. I have worked with these people, and hate them.

[triguy46]

17. No don't! Go to work, cough, don't cover your mouth!

I work in a large medical clinic and we are making tons of money on the flu! People! don't get a flu shot either! And STOP washing your hands all the time! I have a vacation to pay for!

[Skittles]

18. where I work, vacation and sick days are the same

they give you a certain amount of days a year that can be used for sick time OR vacation time - solves the problem of people doing fake sick calls, because they're using vacation time

[LanternWaste]

19. It's not marydom...

It's not martyrdom... it's called making a full 40 hours to pay all the bills.

If I ever get sick time, I'll use it. Until then, I'll work.

[Odin2005]

20. We have to pay the bills. Don't blame us for not having paid sick leave.