A bit of a rant

"wiffleballtony" (wiffleballtony)
02/14/2016 at 16:08 • Filed to: None

People who go to work sick are scum. More after the jump.

My coworker had been coming to work sick for a few days. On Thursday I started coughing and on Friday I was full blown sick. That night I went to urgent care and tested positive for Influenza B. Shortly thereafter my wife got it as well. My coworker openly admits that he got me sick along with his family.

This has totally submarined our Valentine’s weekend. To make matters worse we are supposed to head out of town next weekend. I used to have a job that provided sick time separately from time off. I think more companies should adopt this and force their employees to go home if they are sick.

DISCUSSION (57)

ranwhenparked > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:14

We don’t actually have sick days, our policy is that if you’re sick, stay home and maybe answer email or something. One of the good things about this office.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:17

Does the US have paid sickness days?

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 16:19

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

No.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 16:20

I get 10 PTO days, sick or vacation. I used almost half a year’s worth of time between illness and a day I left early because a blizzard was coming in. But paid sick leave isn’t a guarantee, many jobs don’t give any at all.

DoYouEvenShift > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 16:21

I get 8 days a year. Only used 2 in last 3 years lol

vondon302 > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:22

Unfortunately my work policy is so up or else but I get alot vacation so I usually burn one of those. Pople suck. Gorgeous pic.

Mercedes Streeter > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:23

Unfortunately, I am one of those people. My sick days aren’t paid, and not going to work for 1-3 days is financially devastating. And I can get punished for not going to work, even though I clearly shouldn’t be there.

Woo, Murica. :(

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DoYouEvenShift
02/14/2016 at 16:26

I get 8 hours a year. No lie.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
02/14/2016 at 16:28

I guess I’m lucky then. But here we need to see the doctor and get a certificate.

DrJohannVegas > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:29

I’m sure your coworker intended to get you sick purely out of spite. Definitely no other reason why one would go to work while ill, no siree.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
02/14/2016 at 16:29

That sucks. Here in Germany it’s mandated to give employees paid vacation and sickness days.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > DoYouEvenShift
02/14/2016 at 16:30

In the last 1 1/2 years I only called in two times sick.

Cash Rewards > DrJohannVegas
02/14/2016 at 16:32

Intend to? No, probably not. Irresponsible and disrespectful? Hell yeah. I got a3 month old at home, if I bring home the flu and get him sick he could be hospitalized, all because my office mate was like “eh, fuck it”? No, that’s not OK.

Khalbali > Mercedes Streeter
02/14/2016 at 16:36

Same here unfortunately, I had the flu a few backs and while I tried going to work the first few days I had to leave early and ultimately ended up missing 6 shifts between my 2 jobs, over $500 in lost pay and as somebody living paycheck to paycheck, I'll be working my way back from that for months.

DoYouEvenShift > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/14/2016 at 16:36

One day that sucks man

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DoYouEvenShift
02/14/2016 at 16:40

I get 12 or so vacation days a year that roll over though. So I have like 15 days off stockpiled right now. I once had 20. Used all that up for my wedding and honeymoon.

DrJohannVegas > Cash Rewards
02/14/2016 at 16:41

You both took a job where taking off work if you are sick was not an option, or if it was, one was so discouraged that your coworker decided to come in sick anyway. (This was the point of the post.) So, feel free to throw around the responsibility language, if you must. I’ll be over here, shaking my head at y’all’s inability to discern between proximate and ultimate causes of an event.

Rico > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 16:42

Some jobs do but many don’t. Some states like New York have taken it upon themselves to make it mandatory for employers. Employees earn 1 hour of time off based on a formula of how many hours they work. When Bernie Sanders says every worker in America deserves paid sick leave people boo and hiss.

I get 15 paid sick days and 15 vacation days that roll over annually.

DoYouEvenShift > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/14/2016 at 16:44

I get 15 days, but actually using them is a PITA!! You have to put it way in advance and make sure your covered while gone.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Rico
02/14/2016 at 16:46

30 paid days in total are actually very fair. Not trying to get political but I think it’s time for something like this to become standard.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 16:49

If they’re not giving you dedicated sick days at your job, I can totally see why the coworker would go in. Prior plans in place, for example....

10 days off in a year and blowing 5 of them on the flu in winter?

For a few years I worked jobs where if I wasn’t there, I wasn’t getting paid. No sick, no vacation. Pay was decent to boot. A livable wage if you will. I’ve dragged my ass to work with full on bronchitis....

I doubt your coworker’s intention was to get you and his own family sick. It happens.

P.S. jobs that give dedicated sick days still frown upon the use of them. People where I work have gotten letters in their files for 5 sick daydays in a 12 month span. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

Awesome, aint it?

Remember those job interviews where you tell the interviewer you’ll work hard for the company? Some of them take that to mean all the time at your own expense and that of your loved ones (to an egregious extent) forgetting that one works to better themselves and loved ones as well.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DoYouEvenShift
02/14/2016 at 16:49

Yeah I request time off months in advance so one someone bitches coming up to it, I say, “well gosh, if you had just checked the company calender once in the last six months, you could have prepared better!"

Cash Rewards > DrJohannVegas
02/14/2016 at 16:49

I didn’t take it that it was discouraged, just that the sick and personal were the same pool. Sounds to me it was more like “if I take sick now, that’s a day less vacation later”. That’s being a dick. If it was actively discouraged, that’s a different story. Either way, everything has the same issue, and you’re making your problem someone else's. But me and my office mate both have kids, so if either one of us is slightly sick, we stay home. Don’t fuck with someone else’s kid’s health.

1111111111111111111111 > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 16:54

We actually do in Oregon. It’s paltry, like a few days a year.

DrJohannVegas > Cash Rewards
02/14/2016 at 17:02

WBT didn’t explain what the leave situation was, and I don’t expect he knows what his coworkers leave usage is, so we are both shooting in the dark here with respect to that. I was taking issue with the general “are scum” line.

It’s nice that you and your coworker have that arrangement, and the employment flexibility to carry it out. I’d like to hear how it works out when one of you has no leave days left and you need the hours to feed your kid. Not everyone is in the same situation as you.

edit: Had to add this, it was a splinter in my mind: I recognize that children are at greater risk for illness, and therefore transmission through parents is a risk, but who are you to make me responsible for your child?

DoYouEvenShift > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/14/2016 at 17:03

I wish it worked like that everywhere. People cry to management and get their way.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 17:05

My last job would let you call in/go home early, but you lost out on those hours/money. And you had to be near death. It's because of policies like that, that actually make more people sick since no one can afford to stay home.

spanfucker retire bitch > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 17:05

It’s a communist plot to hurt the job creators because us peon employees are undeserving of such niceties. We have to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.

In short, no, we don’t have that. Because our government is owned by corporate lobbyists.

Cash Rewards > DrJohannVegas
02/14/2016 at 17:15

You’re right in that we are both just guessing, and I see your point. The federal government takes care of its employees, encourages working from home when possible, and you actually start earning sick leave faster than personal, and aren’t limited to how much you can carry over year to year. It sucks that others aren’t like that.

As to your last point, to be it’s not even you being responsible for my kids health, it’s more of what you prioritize. At some point (if is a common pool), you’re saying I could risk my coworkers health to save my own leave. I don’t like that attitude, but my experience with my employer is probably a large part of that.

for Michigan > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 17:18

I work in food service and we all go to work sick because we would end up unemployed if we called off.

traitor joe > Cash Rewards
02/14/2016 at 17:19

Sounds like you’re the one who got your own wife and kid sick. Maybe you should have been more careful if you knew that you were being exposed to a sick coworker.

Cash Rewards > traitor joe
02/14/2016 at 17:40

Never said I got wife and kids sick, so not sure what you’re talking about. Either way, you sick at home: your problem. You sick at work: everyone’s problem. In general, making your problem everyone’s problem is being a dick.

DrJohannVegas > Cash Rewards
02/14/2016 at 17:50

The Feds take good care of their employees, indeed. It’s a large part of the reason why my mom (who was raising me alone at the time) took the Federal position at a slightly lower pay rate, but with better benefits and stability. She’s been there ever since, and I’ve benefited immensely from her decision.

Also, it makes me chuckle to think how the Federal Government is usually considered to be behind the times, yet my mom was the first person I can think of who had the kind of workplace flexibility which is now considered commonplace. Telecommuting over dialup? Sure, why not?

On the final point, I think it’s all a matter of generating externalities. Unfortunately, in many workplaces, I am discouraged from considering those externalities. I can assure you that I appreciate your larger point, despite what my prickly replies might imply.

wiffleballtony > ranwhenparked
02/14/2016 at 18:09

See that’s awesome.

wiffleballtony > DrJohannVegas
02/14/2016 at 18:11

I’m sure it wasn’t out of spite, but he openly admitted he knew he was contagious after I started having symptoms.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/14/2016 at 18:12

I get a few small amount which I have already used up this year due to injuries from my car accident. I’ve already worked four days while sick because I couldn’t afford four unpaid days. Fortunately I’m not around people unless I really want to be.

wiffleballtony > for Michigan
02/14/2016 at 18:12

That’s kind of disturbing.

wiffleballtony > Mercedes Streeter
02/14/2016 at 18:14

We get paid time off, just not dedicated sick time off. He could have taken the time and I would have covered for him.

for Michigan > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:16

That’s the reality of working a minimum wage job. Every such job I’ve worked has had the same policy.

wiffleballtony > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
02/14/2016 at 18:16

I’m sure it wasn’t malicious but it certainly was selfish. We get 15 paid days, plus a free floating day and every other Friday off. He’s not hurting for paid time. But, by side lining me, it impacts the company since I’m only one of two who do my job in the corporation.

Gone > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:17

I get 10days/yr and it rolls over. I’ve got 3-4wks in my sick bank. We all use them here regularly and it is HIGHLY encouraged. Have a cold? Go home. Scratchy throat? Go home. Kid sick, stay home. If absolutely necessary, someone will drop off your laptop at home. No downside as we need people healthy to do their best work and the company asks a lot of us at times. Part of the deal is time off is no questions asked when it comes to being sick/under the weather.

wiffleballtony > for Michigan
02/14/2016 at 18:21

The last time I worked minimum wage was back when RadioShack was still viable. I remember the time off was pretty draconian.

wiffleballtony > Gone
02/14/2016 at 18:23

That’s brilliant. What’s really stupid in my situation is that he has a laptop he takes home and almost anything he does I can cover. And we get 15 days a year plus a floater and every other Friday off.

samssun > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:24

Counterpoint: everyone should go everywhere sick all the time until no one gets sick any more.

Frenchlicker > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:40

One thing I've realized in my life, it doesn't matter what happens to other people as long as you are good. Being an adult means you have to be selfish sometimes. Using days off for being sick is not using them when you want to.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:43

I hate being the “other” guy, but there are people who HAVE to come to work sick because if they didn’t they may not be able to pay their rent that month.

Sadly, I work with a few at one of my jobs...

Gone > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:49

Jeez. That’s stupid.

Being not sick at work is like the unwritten 3rd rule of work here. The 10 is only sick days, not vacation/floating days - so they’re serious about it. My cubemates voted me “off the island” once 30mins after arrival because I started showing signs of a cold. Smart move - I worked from home for 2 days (not full time - charged 1 sick day, 1 to clients) and got a cold out of the way with no other “victims.” I also charge sick time if I have to take my kiddo out of class for being sick, going to doc, etc. Take my lappy, charge time to clients for some work I do and the rest to sick bank. And also charge sick time for my own doc appts, checkups, etc.

Feel very fortunate as I’ve also worked at places that expected to show unless you were dying.

DrJohannVegas > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 18:53

I can’t speak for your coworker, but maybe it was a “mea culpa” sort of admission?

wiffleballtony > samssun
02/14/2016 at 19:11

That would make sense if there wasn’t such a thing as mutation.

wiffleballtony > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
02/14/2016 at 19:12

We get 15 days plus a floater and every other Friday off. He’s not hurting for time.

wiffleballtony > DrJohannVegas
02/14/2016 at 19:13

I am sure you’re right there.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Frenchlicker
02/14/2016 at 20:38

Example: I need two personal days in May for kids things. My job cannot deny a personal day as opposed to a regular vacation day. If it will incur overtime, vacation can be denied unless it’s a pre-pick which we do in September for the following year by seniority.

NJAnon > wiffleballtony
02/14/2016 at 21:08

Sick Time? lol what is that? Businesses only care about productivity and profit...

maybe that person felt if he called out, it would disrupt his routine or something, idk. Moreover, sick time/PTO works best if adequate staffing can cover (skeleton crews don’t count).

wiffleballtony > NJAnon
02/14/2016 at 22:32

That’s true, they only care about productivity. However how much productivity is lost when one person infects many more?

Burn-Spaz1966-Burn > wiffleballtony
02/15/2016 at 03:00

You need to share Rule no.1 with him.

Just mention you have a 3 month old baby at home. That you would cover for him. So that your baby stays healthy.

BigBlock440 > spanfucker retire bitch
02/15/2016 at 21:05

Eh, speak for yourself, many of us do have it.

spanfucker retire bitch > BigBlock440
02/15/2016 at 21:52

I have PTO days as well.

They are not mandatory by Federal law. There’s a difference.