Office etiquette - going to work sick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like using leave to stay home is not in most peoples' self-interest (unless you're can't stand up). If you have separate sick leave, usually you can pile it up for future use or for cashing out. If you have combined leave (PTO), then using it to stay home means one less day of vacation.

Our company is eliminating our sick leave as it transitions to a PTO system. Most employees' accumulated sick leave will be zeroed out unless they use it before the end of the year. Of course, it you want to use it, you'll need a note from your doctor (because everything else in our office is like junior high already).

You need a note from your doctor to use sick leave?? Even for under three days?

Yes, for one day. They want to be sure that people are really using it for illness. We're a federal contractor with 5000 employees but the company is clearly circling the drain since the sequester hit us.

That is absurd. Who goes to the doctor for a cold?? And some doctors charge for notes.

Well, the company is not doing well and banked sick leave is a big liability sitting on the books. They decided to make the banked sick leave mostly worthless as part of their transition to a (more stingy) PTO system. And, yes, they cut also halved the severance policy just before the big layoffs. You can see why most of us don't care about 'office etiquette' anymore.

[Anonymous]

People who come to work sick are so annoying. A few years back someone came in with the flu and it spread like fire around the office, even hospitalizing someone with asthma. However we have a pretty liberal (like whenever you want to) telework policy. I have no idea why these sick people come in making everyone else sick when they can just work from home. It's rude.

[Anonymous]

I agree with 14:37.

I'll go further and say I think that people who come in sick because they are saving their sick time for maternity leave are selfish and abusing their sick leave. Having a child is not an illness.

I'm happy to help lobby for paid maternity leave. It's terrible that it isn't a basic perk. That said, as another cancer patient, your flu is easily pneumonia for me, so your willingness to jeopardize my health because you want to be home with your baby is almost the height of selfishness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 14:37.

I'll go further and say I think that people who come in sick because they are saving their sick time for maternity leave are selfish and abusing their sick leave. Having a child is not an illness.

I'm happy to help lobby for paid maternity leave. It's terrible that it isn't a basic perk. That said, as another cancer patient, your flu is easily pneumonia for me, so your willingness to jeopardize my health because you want to be home with your baby is almost the height of selfishness.

It stinks but I think people are responding rationally to the lousing policies over which we have little control.

[Anonymous]

Thankfully my office gives us 15 days sick a year apart from our 5 weeks annual leave and we can carry all sick days forward and 15 days a year annual.

I must admit that I hate it when colleagues come in slobbering all over their hankies and coughing up a storm-hate it. We have enough sick leave- please take it at least until you're not contagious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who come to work sick are so annoying. A few years back someone came in with the flu and it spread like fire around the office, even hospitalizing someone with asthma. However we have a pretty liberal (like whenever you want to) telework policy. I have no idea why these sick people come in making everyone else sick when they can just work from home. It's rude.

There's a huge difference between going into work with the flu and going in with a common cold, which is what the OP had

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who come to work sick are so annoying. A few years back someone came in with the flu and it spread like fire around the office, even hospitalizing someone with asthma. However we have a pretty liberal (like whenever you want to) telework policy. I have no idea why these sick people come in making everyone else sick when they can just work from home. It's rude.

There's a huge difference between going into work with the flu and going in with a common cold, which is what the OP had

Plus, a lot of people can't work from home. Therefore they have to come in.

[Anonymous]

Stay home if it is contagious. We have an asshole at work who comes in when he is really sick because he is a stingy fuck with his tons of sick leave.

[Anonymous]

I'm not staying home for a cold.

-My job can't be done from home
-taking an unplanned day off sets me back as well as my staff and coworkers
-I am not wasting a pto day on a cold when I barely get enough vacation as it is
-I still haven't figured out how to deal with my kids' sick days
-my colds can linger for a week or more so I can't just stay home every time I wake up still sneezing

I can't imagine what those of you do who take off every time you have a runny nose.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, 12:47.

Just stay away from coworkers you can infect while you figure out your kids' sick days and worry about your vacation.

You're still selfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 14:37.

I'll go further and say I think that people who come in sick because they are saving their sick time for maternity leave are selfish and abusing their sick leave. Having a child is not an illness.

I'm happy to help lobby for paid maternity leave. It's terrible that it isn't a basic perk. That said, as another cancer patient, your flu is easily pneumonia for me, so your willingness to jeopardize my health because you want to be home with your baby is almost the height of selfishness.

I agree, but I'll go further than that- going to work sick because your company won't pay you to have a baby is just ridiculous. Boohoo.

[Anonymous]

Not a fan of folks who come in while in the contagious stages of a cold. And I'm definitely not a fan when said person comes over to my desk and announce that they're sick. Uhm....get the fuck away from me!

If for no other reason, you should use your sick leave to avoid infecting your coworkers, no matter how well you claim to feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stay home if it is contagious. We have an asshole at work who comes in when he is really sick because he is a stingy fuck with his tons of sick leave.

+1, I hate those selfish pricks. It's always the men, too. They think they're essential.

If it's just the sniffles and a minor head cold, fine, come in. Otherwise, stay at home.