I don't think the writer has particularly worked out what sick people are meant to do. I'm sure as a boss he'd whinge if he had to deal with someone spluttering at their desk, unable to properly do their job too.
I was once a happy little temp, working a week's contract.
Being a temp I was, of course, paid by the hour. No workee, no monee.
In the middle of that week, I came down with what was either a really bad cold or a fairly mild case of the 'flu. I needed the money, so I staggered into work.
As I left the cubicle on my last day, I noticed that the office contained only half the normal number of people, and heard someone say, 'What, they've got the 'flu as well? Someone must have been really infectious!'
(September 2004) "Today I am somewhat hoarse. I feel like I accidentally swallowed a belt sander when asleep, and then left it lodged in my head for safekeeping without switching it off ... It's disheartening when you're lying there in bed calculating your daily earnings at 7am, wondering if you can justify a day off work, and if you can drive without breathing. And deciding no and yes respectively, before haulling yourself into the shower.
And this, my friends, is why I want paid sick leave."
It was the main reason I really wanted to go perminant as I spent over 2 years temping as it was miserable, and yes, I always went in when sick.
Sick pay is there for a reason, and it's to stop an entire office getting infected, and to get the best out your workers. I don't think I've ever actually skivved a day off, either work or school.
I hate using sick days. This is probably due to the attitudes of previous employers, as my current manager is fine with people calling in sick if they are, he'd rather we stay home and get better.
Regardless of this attitude on his part, I've saved the majority of my holiday days just in case I have problems after my eye op, and need to stay home. This is probably ridiculous of me.
Oh god, yes. There's a bloke works for us; a wonderful man, devoted to his job, very good at it.
He worked through what he thought was a minor stomach bug. It turned out to be food poisoning, he ended up in Intensive Care, and his immune system reacted to it all by going mad and attacking everything it could find. He now has arthritis and is on powerful immune-depressing drugs and painkillers. Some days he can't walk.
A system that discourages sick days will end up with a lot more people with issues like that, and a lot fewer places where they can work.
I work in a mid sized organisation who pay me despite the number of sick days. Last monday I couldn't speak and could barely stand, so I worked from home in the comfort of my bed (I could still type). The flexibility to do this meant that I didn't lose a day's productivity and didn't have to infest everyone else with my illness or make myself worse by travelling.
I do believe that employees need to feel a sense of responsibility towards their organisation. In a large organisation it's easy to lose this and think "a week off won't hurt". When I'm off sick I see how much it costs the organisation when I do my monthly billing. To reduce sickness overall you need to have an enlightened employer who reduces the stresses on the workers, has flexible policies to get the most out of them and employees who believe they have a duty to deliver for their pay-check.
Can't we all just love each other? Even Oedipus had a mother! - The Doug Anthony All-Stars, Friends
It's all about mutual respect. A company needs to respect that you are human and can't stay well all the time. You have to respect that the company is paying you to do something and should go the extra mile to stay healthy (don't stay up all night playing Halo) and minimise the impact of your sickness when you can (work from home when you can't travel but you can still think).
Specifically for your question, I would not work at a place where it had a "no sick days" culture. I would be less productive by making myself more sick by coming in to work as a flu-zombie. However (like the last two weeks) I should drag myself in to work when I've just got a headachem, sore throat and a bit of a cough.
You can see where the article writer is coming from, harsh as it seems people DO cheat the system and it's only natural that people will want to stop the cheaters from getting away with it.
However, what the article writer hasn't stop to consider is the consequences of trying to stop things. For example, we already have an issue in the UK of "must work no matter what" and a measure like this would only make it worse.
That said, who should pick up the burdern of someone who can't work? The employeer or the government?
That said, who should pick up the burdern of someone who can't work? The employeer or the government?Well, first of all it won't be 'the government' who picks up the bill for supporting those who cannot support themselves. It will be the taxpayer, so it will be everyone
( ... )
To be fair, when I talk about the government paying, I am aware that it's us, the tax payers who pick up the bill.
The points you raise are valid, but I can't help but think it's an impossible situation to resolve and that your opinions on this can only come down to personal choice. After all, if you were an employeer running a large company your views will naturally be different to someone who has, or knows a person in that position.
Personally, I think more needs to be done as a society to help get the most from it's members. There are people out there who want to work, but for various reasons can't, whether it's issues with back pain, depression, children etc. For example, should it not be possible for your typical office grunt to have a VOIP phone line at home and dial into the office network to take and process orders.
I do agree with you on most of it, but I can also see how the article writer reaches their conclusions. What I don't know 100% is what the right answer is.
You see, I don't think it's an impossible situation to resolve at all. This may be the dodgy socialist in me talking, but I think it's quite simple. We are a society. As a society we have a duty to support each other. And in the big picture, it's far far cheaper for all of us if we as a society support the more vulnerable
( ... )
Comments 27
(The comment has been removed)
Gah. And bah.
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Being a temp I was, of course, paid by the hour. No workee, no monee.
In the middle of that week, I came down with what was either a really bad cold or a fairly mild case of the 'flu. I needed the money, so I staggered into work.
As I left the cubicle on my last day, I noticed that the office contained only half the normal number of people, and heard someone say, 'What, they've got the 'flu as well? Someone must have been really infectious!'
So I left by the other door...
Reply
(September 2004)
"Today I am somewhat hoarse. I feel like I accidentally swallowed a belt sander when asleep, and then left it lodged in my head for safekeeping without switching it off ... It's disheartening when you're lying there in bed calculating your daily earnings at 7am, wondering if you can justify a day off work, and if you can drive without breathing. And deciding no and yes respectively, before haulling yourself into the shower.
And this, my friends, is why I want paid sick leave."
It was the main reason I really wanted to go perminant as I spent over 2 years temping as it was miserable, and yes, I always went in when sick.
Sick pay is there for a reason, and it's to stop an entire office getting infected, and to get the best out your workers. I don't think I've ever actually skivved a day off, either work or school.
Reply
Regardless of this attitude on his part, I've saved the majority of my holiday days just in case I have problems after my eye op, and need to stay home. This is probably ridiculous of me.
Reply
He worked through what he thought was a minor stomach bug. It turned out to be food poisoning, he ended up in Intensive Care, and his immune system reacted to it all by going mad and attacking everything it could find. He now has arthritis and is on powerful immune-depressing drugs and painkillers. Some days he can't walk.
A system that discourages sick days will end up with a lot more people with issues like that, and a lot fewer places where they can work.
Why don't people think?
Reply
I do believe that employees need to feel a sense of responsibility towards their organisation. In a large organisation it's easy to lose this and think "a week off won't hurt". When I'm off sick I see how much it costs the organisation when I do my monthly billing. To reduce sickness overall you need to have an enlightened employer who reduces the stresses on the workers, has flexible policies to get the most out of them and employees who believe they have a duty to deliver for their pay-check.
Reply
Reply
Even Oedipus had a mother!
- The Doug Anthony All-Stars, Friends
It's all about mutual respect. A company needs to respect that you are human and can't stay well all the time. You have to respect that the company is paying you to do something and should go the extra mile to stay healthy (don't stay up all night playing Halo) and minimise the impact of your sickness when you can (work from home when you can't travel but you can still think).
Specifically for your question, I would not work at a place where it had a "no sick days" culture. I would be less productive by making myself more sick by coming in to work as a flu-zombie. However (like the last two weeks) I should drag myself in to work when I've just got a headachem, sore throat and a bit of a cough.
Reply
I tried to do that a couple of times when I was working at Misys.
They had a 'no working at home' policy.
So I stayed at home and did no work instead.
I am not entirely sure how this was better for them.
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However, what the article writer hasn't stop to consider is the consequences of trying to stop things. For example, we already have an issue in the UK of "must work no matter what" and a measure like this would only make it worse.
That said, who should pick up the burdern of someone who can't work? The employeer or the government?
Reply
Reply
The points you raise are valid, but I can't help but think it's an impossible situation to resolve and that your opinions on this can only come down to personal choice. After all, if you were an employeer running a large company your views will naturally be different to someone who has, or knows a person in that position.
Personally, I think more needs to be done as a society to help get the most from it's members. There are people out there who want to work, but for various reasons can't, whether it's issues with back pain, depression, children etc. For example, should it not be possible for your typical office grunt to have a VOIP phone line at home and dial into the office network to take and process orders.
I do agree with you on most of it, but I can also see how the article writer reaches their conclusions. What I don't know 100% is what the right answer is.
Reply
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