Getting sick is vile, miserable, and a waste of time - so do something about it!
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Tell my boss how important it is for me stay home and I will. I get plenty of sick and personal days, but the demands of my job are too great especially since I work in the medical field. Go figure.
As for the gym, not sure how any one can muster up the energy to go, but it depends on how sick sick is. I've worked out and it just puts extra stress on my body on top of being sick, it only delays getting well. But each their own I suppose.
It's so weird how hospitals are terrible about sick days! I called in THREE times in three years, and the second time my boss asked "How sick are you reallllllllly? Can't you come in for 8 out of your 12 hours?" Seriously, YOU JUST HEARD ME VOMIT WHILE TALKING TO YOU! She backed off when I point blank asked her if she was asking me to come in while contagious to be around immune compromised people? Did I have a track record of using time superfluously and did we need to have an HR meeting?15 -
My place of employment switched from a Vacation/Sick day system to generic PTO a few years ago. It was widely celebrated at the time as they weren't reducing the amount of days, just removing the designation, so the perception was widely "Woo! Another week of vacation!" The net effect, which I feared initially and I perceive has come to fruition (strictly through observation, no hard data to support) is that the vast majority of people are far more inclined to come to work sick because they now feel like they lose a vacation day if they stay home. Listening to countless people hack, cough, and sneeze throughout the cube farm over the too-short dividers was enraging before, but even more now that I have a 2-month old at home.11
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I was one of those, years ago, who thought "I am so important to work that I must go in even when sick." Then I realised... I was making my TEAM sick, and that would simply spread, pun intended. So our management started encouraging people to stay home if sick. Work remotely, if you could (although we didn't have a formal policy to do so.)
Now I realise that was a privilege. Many people simply don't have the sick days. Employers are counting those against employees. It's terrible, it's very political, and it's going to happen, especially with anti-vaxxers who count on herd immunity to save them.
I'm currently unemployed and saw a post on LinkedIn last week that was titled "Sick Days Are a Thing of the Past." *shudder*5 -
I'm home sick right now. The boss isn't happy about it, but oh well. He isn't the one sitting in traffic for hours with a raging belly and headache or facing clients who want to punch me for breathing all manner of nastiness on them.
/vent lol. I'm all for using the time if you can.7 -
I was one of those, years ago, who thought "I am so important to work that I must go in even when sick." Then I realised... I was making my TEAM sick, and that would simply spread, pun intended. So our management started encouraging people to stay home if sick. Work remotely, if you could (although we didn't have a formal policy to do so.)
Now I realise that was a privilege. Many people simply don't have the sick days. Employers are counting those against employees. It's terrible, it's very political, and it's going to happen, especially with anti-vaxxers who count on herd immunity to save them.
I'm currently unemployed and saw a post on LinkedIn last week that was titled "Sick Days Are a Thing of the Past." *shudder*
The workplace culture in the 80s and 90s (and beyond) glorified working while sick. "I can't believe you came in after staying up all night puking and with a 102-degree temperature, impressive!". There has been a shift as a more rational perception towards sickness has evolved (in some places), but I still hear people receiving praise for making it to work while sick, which is baffling.3 -
chunky_pinup wrote: »wear a mask really
wear a mask?..hell no I simply build up my immune system to be so strong it resists - let the dweeb hiding in the office leave themselves vulnerable. not me.
Wow....so I guess your objections to wearing a mask trump those around you who might now be able to "build up their immune system" and could literally die from other's germs? I'm immunocompromised - been on low dose chemotherapy for eight years now. When people start getting sick in my office I wear a mask to protect myself so I guess that makes me a vulnerable dweeb hiding....
I also have amazing co-workers who actually care about each other who have also started masking themselves during times where we have a lot of call-outs - mainly because it's difficult to know if you are carrying a virus as signs aren't always visible at first. We care about each other regardless of how strong one another's immune systems are. I didn't realize having compassion was so outdated...
You never know what the person next to you is going through so may be something you could try to be a little kinder about.
I don't get sick. people around me get sick and spill their germs all over the damn place. I don't get sick.
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chunky_pinup wrote: »wear a mask really wear a mask?..hell no I simply build up my immune system to be so strong it resists - let the dweeb hiding in the office leave themselves vulnerable. not me.
Wow....so I guess your objections to wearing a mask trump those around you who might now be able to "build up their immune system" and could literally die from other's germs? I'm immunocompromised - been on low dose chemotherapy for eight years now. When people start getting sick in my office I wear a mask to protect myself so I guess that makes me a vulnerable dweeb hiding....
I also have amazing co-workers who actually care about each other who have also started masking themselves during times where we have a lot of call-outs - mainly because it's difficult to know if you are carrying a virus as signs aren't always visible at first. We care about each other regardless of how strong one another's immune systems are. I didn't realize having compassion was so outdated...
You never know what the person next to you is going through so may be something you could try to be a little kinder about.
I don't get sick. people around me get sick and spill their germs all over the damn place. I don't get sick.
The advice to wear a mask was for people who were sick but feel unable to call into work. If you don't get sick, your refusal to wear a mask doesn't make sense. Literally nobody is advising or asking you to in the absence of illness.
Illness doesn't just happen to "dweebs," claiming it does is very ignorant.21 -
The other contributor these days is the whole "open office space" thing. One contagious person and all of a sudden 50 people are exposed to the virus. Esp true if the person does not even KNOW they are sick yet. Sigh. I got the flu last year and I had not had it in 10 years prior.1
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nicsflyingcircus wrote: »I work in Healthcare, full-time hours. I don't happen to get ETO or benefits (a choice I made, for flexibility and pay, I am insured as are our children, through my husband's employer). So if I don't work, I don't get paid. That isn't my deciding factor. My deciding factor is, my schedule is made out 6-8 weeks in advance. If I have to call out due to illness, I get a point. If it's a holiday or on call day, I get two points if I call out. At 6 points, I get a written warning in my file that prevents me from being eligible for a raise for a year. At 9 points, I lose my job. So unless I am so ill I can't leave the house, I go to work. I take appropriate medications, I wash my hands even more than usual, I use disinfecting wipes multiple times per day on my work station, etc.
Do I understand that I am likely spreading my virus? Yes, yes I do. I also understand that my employer doesn't give a *kitten* and they have a Monopoly in the area.
Heck, I had to fight not to take a bunch of points in December, when I tripped in the parking garage at work and banged the ever living hell out of my skull on a metal rail. I missed 5 total days of work over two weeks for that (and struggled a bit for another week, while working).
Wow. The hypocrisy in healthcare has no bounds. Hope your head feels better. Question- if you work full time hours and your schedule is locked in 6-8 weeks in advance, what flexibility do you get in this job?2 -
chunky_pinup wrote: »wear a mask really wear a mask?..hell no I simply build up my immune system to be so strong it resists - let the dweeb hiding in the office leave themselves vulnerable. not me.
Wow....so I guess your objections to wearing a mask trump those around you who might now be able to "build up their immune system" and could literally die from other's germs? I'm immunocompromised - been on low dose chemotherapy for eight years now. When people start getting sick in my office I wear a mask to protect myself so I guess that makes me a vulnerable dweeb hiding....
I also have amazing co-workers who actually care about each other who have also started masking themselves during times where we have a lot of call-outs - mainly because it's difficult to know if you are carrying a virus as signs aren't always visible at first. We care about each other regardless of how strong one another's immune systems are. I didn't realize having compassion was so outdated...
You never know what the person next to you is going through so may be something you could try to be a little kinder about.
Do you work in Canada, by chance?2 -
I took a note from Japanese culture and wear a mask any time I’m in public during the cold and flu season. I really hate that my kiddo isn’t allowed to do this at school! It makes people give you the side eye but it isn’t to protect them from me...it’s to protect me from them 😩 I don’t have any desire to be sick so it’s worth the effort for me.6
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janejellyroll wrote: »chunky_pinup wrote: »wear a mask really wear a mask?..hell no I simply build up my immune system to be so strong it resists - let the dweeb hiding in the office leave themselves vulnerable. not me.
Wow....so I guess your objections to wearing a mask trump those around you who might now be able to "build up their immune system" and could literally die from other's germs? I'm immunocompromised - been on low dose chemotherapy for eight years now. When people start getting sick in my office I wear a mask to protect myself so I guess that makes me a vulnerable dweeb hiding....
I also have amazing co-workers who actually care about each other who have also started masking themselves during times where we have a lot of call-outs - mainly because it's difficult to know if you are carrying a virus as signs aren't always visible at first. We care about each other regardless of how strong one another's immune systems are. I didn't realize having compassion was so outdated...
You never know what the person next to you is going through so may be something you could try to be a little kinder about.
I don't get sick. people around me get sick and spill their germs all over the damn place. I don't get sick.
The advice to wear a mask was for people who were sick but feel unable to call into work. If you don't get sick, your refusal to wear a mask doesn't make sense. Literally nobody is advising or asking you to in the absence of illness.
Illness doesn't just happen to "dweebs," claiming it does is very ignorant.
there are ways to boost your immune system through nutrition but many people would rather eat processed food from a machine or fast food - I dont' - many people who are not sick take great lengths to not get sick - example. doctors, dentists, teacher. nurses - are they all ignorant dude?
you are very opinionated with not much in the way of knowledge but...whatever.
Most doctors, dentists, teachers and nurses aren't spreading the falsehood that all illness can be avoided simply through a stronger immune system and that people who get ill are "dweebs." If there is someone in those professions arguing that, then yes, I would say they are individually ignorant because it simply isn't true that all illness can be avoided.
Proper nutrition (which isn't the same thing as avoiding processed food) can help reduce instances of *some* illnesses, but blaming every single illness on a personal failure isn't just wrong, it's cruel.25 -
scribblemoma wrote: »I took a note from Japanese culture and wear a mask any time I’m in public during the cold and flu season. I really hate that my kiddo isn’t allowed to do this at school! It makes people give you the side eye but it isn’t to protect them from me...it’s to protect me from them 😩 I don’t have any desire to be sick so it’s worth the effort for me.
My dad’s immune system is very weak. He wore a mask on the airplane here in the US. He said it was great, no one sat next to him and no one bothered him at all. He recommends it!11 -
Glad I am retired.
The rules in the UK about sick days are complicated and vary from company to company. Firstly you usually have to ensure you call in at least an hour before your shift starts and you usually have to speak to your line manager not leave a message. They also don't accept having other people call in on your behalf and if you don't follow procedure then you are classed absent and can lose pay. Just trying to do this after being up all night puking or something is hard enough.
Then you have to listen to the disaproval in your managers voice because now everyone else has to work harder to cover for you and the manager has to fill out numerous forms for HR.
You need to get a "self certificate" from a doctors office to fill in and send in to HR if you are off for up to 3 days (some companies wont pay for the first 3 days) anything over that and you need a signed doctors certificate to send in to HR to ensure you get sick pay.
Bear in mind that you have organise all this while you are sick.
Then when you get back you have to go to a meeting with HR and go into great detail about your illness and justify why you took the time off. Then you have to discuss the likelihood of this particular event happening again and if there something you can do to avoid it. Not to mention worrying about how this will count against you as you have now had 3 seperate incidents during the year but can't work out the complicated math involved in the yearly sick day calculations. And on and on and on.
It is easier just to take your germ ridden body in so you can puke on the managers shoes and then get sent home because then you qualify for sick pay because everyone sees the proof that you are sick.
Yep glad to be retired and out of all this work stuff. I can be ill and stay home and not spread my bugs.
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scribblemoma wrote: »I took a note from Japanese culture and wear a mask any time I’m in public during the cold and flu season. I really hate that my kiddo isn’t allowed to do this at school! It makes people give you the side eye but it isn’t to protect them from me...it’s to protect me from them 😩 I don’t have any desire to be sick so it’s worth the effort for me.
Unfortunately this doesn't work, since viruses can easily pass through a mask.
It does work, to a certain extent, when the SICK person uses a mask, because it stops the droplets from a sneeze or cough before they become aerosolized. But it doesn't work the other way around as protection.6 -
Until I came across this thread, I didn't realise that there were first world countries where employees have no legal right to sick pay
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While I do feel sympathy for those who don't get sick pay, working in healthcare and going in sick is negligence which could cause someone's death, and should be a firing offense, and working while sick as a food handler is actually illegal. Don't do it, and if you are asked to do it, report it.
Not everyone can survive the germs which cause you a small inconvenience. Don't be the one who killed someone else's elderly grandma, or the person recovering from cancer, or the person with lupus taking autoimmune suppressing drugs. Please stay home.5 -
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chunky_pinup wrote: »wear a mask really wear a mask?..hell no I simply build up my immune system to be so strong it resists - let the dweeb hiding in the office leave themselves vulnerable. not me.
Wow....so I guess your objections to wearing a mask trump those around you who might now be able to "build up their immune system" and could literally die from other's germs? I'm immunocompromised - been on low dose chemotherapy for eight years now. When people start getting sick in my office I wear a mask to protect myself so I guess that makes me a vulnerable dweeb hiding....
I also have amazing co-workers who actually care about each other who have also started masking themselves during times where we have a lot of call-outs - mainly because it's difficult to know if you are carrying a virus as signs aren't always visible at first. We care about each other regardless of how strong one another's immune systems are. I didn't realize having compassion was so outdated...
You never know what the person next to you is going through so may be something you could try to be a little kinder about.
Do you work in Canada, by chance?
LOL...no, but I work in an extremely diverse office where most of my co-workers are not American, and thus, seem to be a bit more compassionate than calling me a "dweeb" for being born with a lifelong illness
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Until I came across this thread, I didn't realise that there were first world countries where employees have no legal right to sick pay
To be fair most of the examples in this thread are people working either part time or who voluntarily gave up those benefits for more pay. From when I was a teen and worked full time at a fast food restaurant to when I did carpentry work to computer engineering to the federal government I've always been to able to accrue some sort of paid leave. Some times it was simply PTO but usually it was a combination of sick and annual.3
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