Money Moral Dilemma: Should you risk spreading the lurgy to colleagues?

armoured-smiler

I would go in, as most corps now don't seem to have loyalty rewards etc anymore...

bodhisattvan

There's no doubt about it, if you can manage to drag yourself in to your workplace and just get through the day then do it. I've been freelance for years and take very little time off sick.

Morally wrong? I don't think so. First of all you probably caught the cold or whatever from someone at work in the first place as that is where you will have spent the most time with the most people. You may already have infected someone else before your symptoms appeared anyway. The thing is there is always 'a bug going round' that is a basic fact of life none of us can do anything about; hiding ourselves away so as to not infect others probably has no overall effect.

Anyway, we're freelancers, no sick pay, holiday pay, pension, training...nothing. If you give your cold or flu (and if it is real flu you won't be able to go to work whether you want to or not) to a permie you'll actually have done them a favour as they take at least 4 times the amount of sick leave that I do and at least this time they won't have to feel guilty for giving a made up excuse! If you give it to another freelancer he'll just carry on working as you have - and hey, you've boosted his immunity a bit more.

It's not easy being freelance - I'm currently 'resting' between assignments - and we can't afford to take any prisoners I'm afraid. Just remember the first rule of freelancing at all times and let it's spirit inform all your other decisions. What? You can't remember the first rule? Never !!!! in your own time!

SandC

armoured-smiler wrote: »

I would go in, as most corps now don't seem to have loyalty rewards etc anymore...

I have worked places where certain workers would receive an attendance bonus. Quite unfair I thought as should a company really give extra money to people just for turning up? Why not up the pay for everyone and deduct for absences instead? That system could make people have more days off than they would have done because after one day they lost their bonus anyway. Then there is the thought that people are penalised for being sick etc.....

It's not easy for employers.

My place does have a draw at the end of the year and 10 people will get a cheque for 100% attendance and all the others who had 100% are given voucher. It's a nice gesture.

YoungEil

An awful lot of wimps about - if you really have 'flu you wouldn't be able to lift your head from the pillow. What most of you are talking about is a heavy cold and we all have these and struggle on.

Cusackhannan

Woke up this morning, nose and eyes streaming, sneezing feel awful - but I'm self employed and had to take time off all during the summer to look after my kids, 3 days last week because one of them was ill - half term approaching and bills mounting up at a rate of knots.... If you ask me there is no "choice" - if my bosses were willing to pay me sick time, I would go home - but right now - need the cash!

blowstar

Go in to work, infect as many of the permanent employees as possible so they take time off sick with pay and the management has to dole out even more work to the freelancers!

Time we had a union ...

:-))

LameWolf

It's been nearly nine years since I worked, as I was granted early retirement on medical grounds, but when I was working, we were well and truly castigated for taking time off sick.

So yes, given the circumstances stated in the question, I most certainly would go in.

76rosie

I come to work when i'm sick and look conscientious. You can't enjoy your time off when your sick so it's just a waste of money. Then if i do have an appointment it won't look so bad either.

ih8stress

Has anyone tried looking at it from a different perspective?

I have had agoraphobia for all of my adult life and it can be a struggle coping with normal day to day life. In the beginning I managed to carry on working but then my situation changed and it is only recently that I have been able to look for work again.
I am already limited by what I can and can't do but if I am unwell with 'just a cold' then it usually makes me completely housebound again as I then find myself fighting against the 2 'illnesses'.

I know it is difficult if your bosses aren't sympathetic and/or are concerned by skivers but struggling in to work DOES increase the chances of it being passed around and affecting people maybe less able to deal with it than yourselves.
Also think of the people you come into contact with on your way to and from work.

SandC

Ah that's a strange way of looking at it. You can't enjoy your time off whilst you are sick so it's a waste of money. I think I know what you meant to say - you might as well be at work if you can physically get there.