Coming into work when ill?

Work culture here is of course a bit different, but if I have a cold (as I do right now), I'm expected to go in and teach wearing a face mask. Which is just generally stupid, as it muffles my voice (quite important in conversation classes), and I'm not at 100%.
 
Moses said:
Have you ever working in care or catering?
Click to expand...

I manage businesses in both those areas

Those professions are terribly paid and sick pay’s a rarity...
Click to expand...

I don't think I have ever worked for a company that paid more than SSP

I used to see obviously sick people coming into work as carers for elderly people in care homes and as chefs. That’s surely an indefensible situation, right?
Click to expand...

I'm involved in the Nursery sector as well, due to ratios it couldn't function if all the staff went off for a week for something like a cold.
 
chroniclard said:
Man flu/colds are relatively minor inconveniences to 99% of people, no reason to stay off work.
Click to expand...

When ever I get a cold I always feel absolutely shocking, the year before last I was basically in bed for 3 days and had a chest infection as well. I never get a mild cold.
 
I have been off today and yesterday, but working from home. I have a cold, shivers etc. I could man up and deal with it, but it's near Christmas, I'd rather not ruin everyone's holidays making them sick. I'll just work from home instead.
 
DarkHorizon472 said:
It depends how ill you are. A slight cough or cold but feeling OK is no issue. Dragging yourself in as a badge of honour when really ill helps no one.
Click to expand...

What happens if that cough/cold develops though and you end up not feeling okay? By that time you'll likely have spread it to other colleagues and then they have to either come in ill or take time off.

It's something that will only be solved by advances in medicine I believe or less likely a complete shift in working culture towards sick days.
 
Roar87 said:
When ever I get a cold I always feel absolutely shocking, the year before last I was basically in bed for 3 days and had a chest infection as well. I never get a mild cold.
Click to expand...
I’m the same. Hardly ever ill, but if something does get through my defences it hits me hard and I’ll often be totally useless for two or three days.

Like, I can go to work, but I’ll not be getting anything useful done.
 
There's a horrible culture of looking down on people for taking time off work, especially when it's a "lesser" ailment, like a cold or 'flu, but it's worth remembering these are very contagious and can progress into other contagious diseases like chest infections etc.

It's also worth remembering that sick time is for the benefit of the employer, not the employee. An employer needs to minimise the risk (of further infection) of losing more employees to sickness, just because one person decided to be a hero and "man up".
 
Moses said:
So you actively encourage employees to come in when they’re caring for old people, caring for children, and producing food?
Click to expand...

The customers would complain even more when there is no food for them to eat, or childcare for them so they can't go into work themselves.

You’re the sort of idiotic employer/management I’m talking about.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

And you're being the sort of idiotic internet dweller arguing ideal situations without taking into account how the real world works.
 
LOAM said:
Anyone with kids would never work
Click to expand...

This.

If I don't work, I don't get paid for that day.

A cold is trivial imo... full on flu however then the person should stay home, I have been in offices where people come in when full of flu and its around and around the office.
 
Moses said:
I’ve worked in two of those industries so I do have an awareness of how they work. I just don’t feel it’s right to ignore the risks posed to vulnerable people and customers.
Click to expand...

Well, thankfully, in the businesses I manage we don't have customers who are likely to be getting bumped off because someone has a cold. And yes, that includes the Nursery.

If you can’t manage to take reasonable precautions to ensure their wellbeing, perhaps you shouldn’t be in business.
Click to expand...

I know, I should just use that bank of DBS cleared, level 3 trained staff who just sit around waiting for a call to be called in for a week when someone is off with a cold, what am I thinking.
 
Freakbro said:
Well, thankfully, in the businesses I manage we don't have customers who are likely to be getting bumped off because someone has a cold. And yes, that includes the Nursery.



I know, I should just use that bank of DBS cleared, level 3 trained staff who just sit around waiting for a call to be called in for a week when someone is off with a cold, what am I thinking.
Click to expand...

At least you don't do what the nursery my OH works at which is to interpret the ratio's to suit themselves.
 
Moses said:
What’s your plan if someone rings in sick?
Click to expand...

You just have to make it work and usually it does.

You don't always have a full amount of children in due to various reasons, they could be sick ( ;) ) or just off for a day with the parents, so you can pull a staff member from another room who are under ratio.

When multiple people phone in sick it gets really desperate, the mangers will go into rooms as they are needed due to ratios and they are level 6, and the admin staff will do a kids club run, where there are no ratios.

We used to have a couple of bank staff who we could ring up to do some cover, but they have now found permenant jobs, so we don't have any of those at the moment.

Things are desperate in the Nursery sector full stop, due to low pay, high costs, staff and ratio requirements and the new 30 hrs free, but that's another thread....and one a compter forum isn't that interested in :p
 
Last edited:
Why as none self employed would you go into work ill when there's sick pay for when you're ill. I like the ones who go to work ill to try and prove they're tough enough for it, then days later you'll hear reference to them doing twenty minutes of physical activity such as jogging moaning as if they were dying.
 
I had to have a sick day last week. I got up about 7am to sort out my lad whilst the wife went to work. When she got home I went to work myself. I started at 3pm. I work in a pub as a chef. I finished work just after 1am and went home and went to bed around 2.30am. Back up at 6am as little one woke up. Spent the morning with him whilst I let the wife sleep (shes 24 weeks pregnant and not have a good time really) I went to work at 12 midday and finished at 1:30 am next morning. I didn't get a break, have anything to eat as it was too busy. I went to bed around 3 am and back up at 7am sorted little one out whilst wife went to work at 8/9 am. I started work at 3pm.

I felt crap. Really crap. Cold, shivering, sweating, tired, felt a little sick, head stuffy. I got to work and struggled to do anything so I stuck myself on potwash to have a less stressful night. I finished around 1am again. I had a day off (on the rota) this day so chilled out at home. Still felt really bad. I had a 12 midday till 4pm shift next day but managed to get cover so I called in sick. I felt guilty about it but if I went in I would have made myself worse and more than likely be off over the weekend and that would have a massive affect on the kitchen. I had another day off (rota) the next day, so again I chilled out. I felt loads better on Sunday o I went to work but still idn't rush around incase it tired me out again.

I am doing, not long long hours but late finishes and getting up very early without much sleep and not getting a nap before work then finishing later again, rinse and repeat. It's really tiring at the moment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom