see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PresenteeismPHP:FYI This is called "Presenteeism" and is becoming a bigger problem to companies than absenteeism for the reasons you allude to.
THis is interesting - has there been some research into it?
You are a bit fast off the starting block here...OP never stated taking 17 sick days... Read the thread.
I agree. I am no healthier than the next guy and I have missed 6 days in the last 17 years due to illness.I think presenteeism is more to do with staff being hungover than sick.
Can't say I agree with the poster moaning about people working through headcolds. Taking a day off work when you've a headcold is embarrassing and shows a poor work ethic. Also coughing and sneezing all over the place is just really bad manners.
When you have a bad cold you have no choice but to caugh and sneeze. It's the body's way of ejecting germs. It's nothing about manners. It's these germs that can infect others in your job.Also coughing and sneezing all over the place is just really bad manners.
When you have a bad cold you have no choice but to caugh and sneeze. It's the body's way of ejecting germs. It's nothing about manners. It's these germs that can infect others in your job.
If someone who has a cold/flu uses your phone or sneezes and covers their nose/mouth then there are germs on their hands and they could be touching anything from your mouse/keyboard/desk etc even down to door handles - i know it sounds silly but in reality germs spread far quicker than you realise. One day at home until you are not contagious anymore never killed anyone.
Yeah, it was 5 in 7 months not the other way round.
OK, 15 instead of 17.
Hmmm...sounds like rationalising to me.
"I'll skive off when I'm still fit to work for the good of my colleagues"
Sorry, I don't buy it. It's laziness and a poor work ethic.
Obviously if someone is genuinely in a bad way that's different.
My philosophy is if you're fit to work you work...if you're not you don't.
I don't think that's particularly extreme or unfair.
Where you choose to live is your own business, it should not be an excuse for taking days off work. The fact that your employer does not allow you to work from home is also irrelevant in this context.Usually I would be fit to work if it was just a matter of turning on the pc and doing the job. The problem is the getting up early, heading out for the commute and feeling I've a day's work done before I even start working all while not feeling 100%. This whole routine is a struggle while feeling any way sick, so I count that then as being unfit to go to work, but regret that it means missing a days work. Still, I've often requested a laptop so I can work from home but the company is not interested (I live over 50 miles from the office).
I agree, they should use a tissue as was suggested above. The company may not go under but it can effect others who rely on you for information and/or instruction if you don't turn up. It is also unfair to expect co-workers to carry someone who doesn't come in when they feel no worse that they many others who would go to work.I also hate when people come in like martyrs and cough all over you. They aren't so indispensible that the company will go under if they take one day off.
So you accept that those who habitually take more sick days than usual are perceived as malingerers? Why do you think that is?My dad is very proud of the fact that in his 40 year career, he never took a sick day. I dont think that's something to be particularly proud of - I'm sure he did himself and his colleagues more damage by going to work some of those days. (Having said that, I rarely take sick days even when I feel rotton, since I dont want to look like a malingerer).
I also hate when people come in like martyrs and cough all over you. They aren't so indispensible that the company will go under if they take one day off.
My dad is very proud of the fact that in his 40 year career, he never took a sick day. I dont think that's something to be particularly proud of - I'm sure he did himself and his colleagues more damage by going to work some of those days.
(Having said that, I rarely take sick days even when I feel rotton, since I dont want to look like a malingerer).
Apologies if you were genuinely sick but for the sake of your career you really need to examine this. Don't think I'm having a go at you because I'm not but you're missing a ridiculous amount of work.
10 days the last time, 7 this year...any employer would frown upon this. This is not normal. Again if you've had legitimate problems I apologise but if you're not just sucking it up and going to work when you have headcolds etc then you are harming your career.
Does this figure include those out on long-term sick leave? What's the average for non-certified days off?Absenteism rates of 1-5 % are typical in the private sector (higher in public sector). 2% (based on 48weeks x 5 days) = 2.4-12days per year on average so 7-10 days per is not uncommon.