Going to work sick?

[susan silva]

What type of sick leave do you have for normal sickness days?   (not long term)  What do you think about that person who comes in sneezing and hacking because they are "busy" or don't have sick time?  Is that ok, or should they stay home and not infect others.  What do you think?

[Atlanta Z3]

We don't get sick leave per say.  We have 20 paid time off days which we can take in 1/2 day units.
If for some reason you don't take all your PTO it rolls into Sick Bank.  You have to be out two days PTO before you can use Sick Bank.  If you leave the company, you don't get paid for Sick Bank hours. 

People here come in sick all the time to save PTO for vacation and bring their sick kids to work but that is another issue.  I have to be very ill or contacious not to come to work, but I'm a fairly healthy puppy. As for the person who comes in with more than sniffles or sinus - take your germ fest home!  I think managers should make a command decision and send people home, but they never do.  It's a double edged sword if you take too many sick days you're in the dog house, if you come to work sick, your co-workers get mad.

[gee4]

This is a weird one for me because in my company, we get so many sick days per year, which I learnt if not used, go into a "sick bank" to be used at a later date. 

So if for example, I became very ill or had an accident and could not work, I can use my sick leave during the time I am off.

It's bizarre because I have never worked anywhere else where this operated.

I am not one for taking sick leave, unless I am seriously ill.  I believe people are too quick to phone in sick just because it's cold outside or it's a Monday.  If I can get out of bed and get ready for work, I am there.  If I can't, then I won't.

Currently sick periods are noted and we are not allowed more than 2 in a row.  Each period of illness is recorded so if you are gong to be out sick for a day, you may as well be out sick for a week.

[Jackie G]

I've never understood this.  We don't get sick leave as such, if you're off sick, you're off sick.  Extended absences and odd absences are followed up on, and everyone gets a return to work interview, whether you're off for a day or a week.

In the UK you have to off for I think it's five days and need a doctor's certificate.  Before that you simply say you're off sick - self certification.

And if people have germs and are contagious, I certainy don't want their germs.  By the time however, people with colds are sniffing and sneezing all over the place, they're no longer contagious but it's uncomfortable for them (I know, been there, got that t-shirt!).

[msmarieh]

We get sick leave separate from vacation. It's fairly generous too and rolls over if not used in a year. If you are out more than three days in a row you have to get a note from your doctor to return.

[countrigal]

I have a fairly good sick leave balance, similiar to Ms.Marieh.  As to what do I think... personally, sniffling, sneezing, stuffy head, general just don't feel great doesn't equal no work.  If I have a fever, then I stay my butt at home, otherwise I come in.  They have cold meds, allergy meds, etc for that purpose.  We have so many allergies in this area that most of the time, if they are only sniffling, sneezing and so on, then it's probably allergies and nothing "contagious".  As another poster stated... in today's society it seems that folks are too quick to play the "I'm sick" card for any ol' thing.  I save it for when I'm actually sick, unable to come to work.  That said, if I come to work and develop more signs of illness, I'm willing to leave and take it home.  I may be the one responsible for my part of the job, but it'll be there when I return and hot items can be done by a team member.

[Cozwaz]

After two years service we get two weeks full pay sick leave per hear - after those two weeks its statutory sick pay (ie not alot!).

Today I am sat here stuffed up with cold and a cough - feel better than I sound though.  This is what having a weeks holiday does to me lol

[gee4]

I don't understand stat sick pay.  I get paid if off sick, normal salary.

[raindance]

Some companies operate the statutory sick pay, but I have never worked anywhere that did.  The sick leave allowance that my company offers is generous and rises with length of service.  We have a certain length of time at full pay followed by a certain period at half-pay.

I take little sick leave - four days in three years - and only if it is serious.  We do have employees who "always" seem to be off sick.  I am rather suspicious of lots of odd sick days, especially Fridays and Mondays.  However, i think people should take sick leave if they need it and a lot depends upon the environment in which they work.  I spent many years in health care, and we were required to take sick leave if we had so much as a cold because of the risk to patients.

[officepa]

At my company, you have to be employed for a year before you get paid if off sick.  So if you have been here under a year and take a day off sick, you are stopped a day's pay, if you are off 2 days, then you are stopped 2 days and so on.

After a year, you can take 5 days self certification and be paid but after 5 days off, you need a doctor's note and then you are paid up to a maximum of 2 weeks.  If you are off for longer the company won't pay you but you can claim statutory sick pay which I believe is (or was) around £47 per day so probably a lot less than you actually are paid by your company.

I have gone to work when not feeling well as in a bad cold but dosed myself up to get through the day.  Co-workers then say that you should not bring your germs into work and I do agree but don't feel I can justify sitting at home all day with a cold. I only ever don't go in if I am unable to get out of bed with a fever for example or if I need to take regular trips to the bathroom  . 

[Katie G]

We have a pretty good sick time allowance here as well.  I like to think I take a "common sense" approach to it. 

A minor head cold can usually be handled with OTC meds.  If I'm feverish, or coughing so badly that I have a sore ribcage despite taking meds, I stay home. 

ANYTHING bathroom related stays home, no questions asked.

Fortunately, I get about one minor cold a year and only the occasional tummy upset.

[Granados]

We get a very reasonable amount of sick days, they are called Personal Days.  HOWEVER unless you can plan you sickness 3 days ahead, you are going to get shorted on your quarterly bonus.  Any day off with less than 3 days notice counts toward 'unannounced" absence and 4 days a quarter starts to take away the bonus.  So most people don't use Personal Days for sick days , they come in to work sick, so they don't get penalized at the end of the quarter.   If I am sick enough to not show up to work, I am going to miss more than 3 days. 

[traudi]

In Germany you get your normal pay for 6 weeks from your company, then you get about 70% of your normal pay from your health insurance if you are in the public health insurance system.
Normally you have to bring a medical certficate of illness after two or three days.
And you should not be fired just because you are sick. However, if you do it too often, your employer may send you to a District Medical Officer's office.
I myself tend to come in when I don't suffer from a real serious illness or have to recover from an operation.