Being forced to stay in work when ill

safesound

I too work in a shop, sometimes on checkouts, and most posters here are right. Its all in the way you word it, and that depends on your relationship with the manager you are approaching. When umming and ahhing over letting me go early I've been known to say "Pay me or don't, I don't care. I dont feel well enough to be here so I'm going" I don't suggest you say this though unless you're sure you wont be sacked as it isn't exactly polite. I only got away with it because I'm a model employee (and my boss likes me ).
Your biggest mistake was returning to your till after speaking to the manager, he would have seen it as if your okay to work until your break you are okay to work until the end of your shift. He doesnt care if your ill, he just wants the till covered.

Forris

getmore4less wrote: »

I think you need to ask for a health and safety meeting to raise the issue of being presurized to stay at work while sick.

Leave it to management to advise on policy and take any action required.


maybe someone can answer this question

Do supermarket workers come under the rules for food handling when sick?

As far as I can remember, the food hygiene rules only apply if you are handling raw food (meat counter, bakery, etc). In these cases, if you are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, then you have to be clear of these symptoms for 24 hours before resuming work.

midnight_ninja

I think your supervisor/manager was being a bit harsh , i would have just went straight to the manager and asked to go home sick, they cant force you to stay if you are unwell , maybe have a word with the store hr/personnel to put in a complaint

smartpicture

Forris wrote: »

As far as I can remember, the food hygiene rules only apply if you are handling raw food (meat counter, bakery, etc). In these cases, if you are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, then you have to be clear of these symptoms for 24 hours before resuming work.

My teenage daughter works at a fast-food establishment. She was feeling ill so rang in sick and her boss said he couldn't get anyone else to cover her shift so she had to go in. Whilst there, she was physically sick and asked to go home - and her boss told her she could have a 10mins break then he expected her back at work.

I make a point of never eating there...

valos_mummy

This is the thing when it comes to retail, all a lot of employers will care about is if there is someone to serve all the customers, never mind if they're coughing germs-a-plenty about, just keep the customers coming through the door. I've worked when not feeling well, although I mainly did it in a smaller scale shop; because I knew how hard pushed everyone would be and didn't want to let people down (awwww...) But if you announce you are going home, no if end or buts and walk out, in some places you can guarantee the b0ll0cking of a lifetime when you return and possible warnings as well.

I do like getmore4less' suggestions though, if you just complain they could just ignore you, or mark you out as a troublemaker. However, if you pester them for health and safety meetings, and handbooks, and demonstrations, and copies of policies, as a "good little employee" - you will light a fire under their butts, keep them on their toes for extra work (which they will have to do) and more importantly, arm yourself with all the information that you can wave under their noses in the event that you feel carp at work again.

viktory

snapping_crocodile wrote: »

I used to work on the checkouts in sainsburys and we weren't allowed to take drinks onto the checkout, hidden on not. As far as I am aware it's not illegal :cool:

They are allowed drinks in my local Sainsburys (well, water anyway!).

OP, I agree you should have politely told your manager you were leaving as you were unwell. I did this the other day as I had a migraine at work - as it happens I left at 2.30pm and will take the time as flexi, but could have noted it as sick leave.

Move on and learn from this.

Mini_Bear

i have had similar situations workin at tesco when i was a student. why dont you speak to a union rep (USDAW), i was a member and if any of the managers knew you were in the union you didnt tend to get picked on/made to work extra etc.
even if you aren't in the union i would speak to a rep, see what they make of it, it must happen daily durin the wointer months!
good on you for being polite tho OP, pity these big retailers couldnt give a hoot.