Our own business new employee dilemma

onomatopoeia99

shiny76 wrote: »

Another thing may be to discourage 'sickies' by having minimal sick pay.

Perhaps you could tell the public sector this. Friend of a friend has had 12 months off on full pay from the local council and is now on half pay for an unlimited period. Yes, they had a very serious medical condition for which the treatment is debilitating, but when I compare it to my own workplace (very small company) we get six weeks I think that something is wrong somewhere. Councils are always complaining that they are short of money, but when you look at the way they spend it, the reasons become clear

As for those moaning about people not coming in when they feel a bit rough, I know very well that if I come in I'll be ill for longer, probably spread it around the office (my antipathy for the so-called "heroes" that work though communicable illnesses is without limit) and when I'm well again spend double the time correcting all the mistakes I made while I was ill. My job requires intense concentration and ability to think clearly and logically. If I've got anything more than the mildest of sniffles that is shot to pieces and it's obvious in the quality of the work I do. Consequently, if I catch something that someone has bought in to work with them, I make bleedin' sure I don't come in while I'm ill!

I took 4 sick days last year, in two blocks of two, both for colds. Year before it was two in one block, so I'm always on the sick

Person_one

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Perhaps you could tell the public sector this. Friend of a friend has had 12 months off on full pay from the local council and is now on half pay for an unlimited period. Yes, they had a very serious medical condition for which the treatment is debilitating, but when I compare it to my own workplace (very small company) we get six weeks I think that something is wrong somewhere.

I took 4 sick days last year, in two blocks of two, both for colds. Year before it was two in one block, so I'm always on the sick

Yes, its terrible that private sector employees have such poor terms and conditions that a spell of illness or an injury could see them in fairly major financial trouble.

Time off for colds though, really? Nobody in my public sector workplace would consider doing that...

tea_lover

Person_one wrote: »

Yes, its terrible that private sector employees have such poor terms and conditions that a spell of illness or an injury could see them in fairly major financial trouble.

Time off for colds though, really? Nobody in my public sector workplace would consider doing that...

Every public sector workplace I've been in has seen time off for that and far less. I'd much, much rather someone had a day at home rather than infect loads more people with a cold. No one is indispensable, and no one should delude themselves into thinking they are so they can justify making others ill.

heuchera

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

I took 4 sick days last year, in two blocks of two, both for colds. Year before it was two in one block, so I'm always on the sick

It's far better to take the days off when you're feeling unwell than to come in and not be able to do your job properly, AND risk infecting other people. People who come into work and spread their germs around are selfish and irresponsible, not to mention socially stupid!


But looking at it from the employers point of view, you get people who ring in sick when they've got a hangover, or who ring in sick because there's a football match on telly. How can the employers differentiate between an illness that can't be helped and something self-inflicted (or a non-illness!)


I guess the answer is they can't, which is why they introduce these draconian rules for everybody, only one sick day allowed every 3 months, or whatever.

Person_one

tea_lover wrote: »

Every public sector workplace I've been in has seen time off for that and far less. I'd much, much rather someone had a day at home rather than infect loads more people with a cold. No one is indispensable, and no one should delude themselves into thinking they are so they can justify making others ill.

There's no reason why anybody with a cold should infect anybody else if they are capable of good hygiene, which every working adult should be.

If everybody thought it was ok to take a few days off with a cold, the country would fall apart!

heuchera

Person_one wrote: »

There's no reason why anybody with a cold should infect anybody else if they are capable of good hygiene, which every working adult should be.

If everybody thought it was ok to take a few days off with a cold, the country would fall apart!

It's highly contagious, so unless you stop breathing/coughing/sniffing/touching surfaces you are highly likely to spread your germs around.

Person_one

heuchera wrote: »

It's highly contagious, so unless you stop breathing/coughing/sniffing/touching surfaces you are highly likely to spread your germs around.

If you only cough/sneeze/blow your nose into a tissue, then throw it away immediately, wash your hands afterwards or use alcohol hand gel (but still wash with soap and water every 5-6 times of using gel) and avoid touching your nose/mouth, then the chances of you infecting anybody else are tiny.

There's no reason why competent, otherwise healthy adults need a day off for a bog standard cold.

tea_lover

There's no reason why competent, otherwise healthy adults can't leave an office toilet in a half-decent state but a large number of them can't.

Why should people feel they have to go work when ill? Work-martyrs don't do anyone any favours, least of all themselves.

heuchera

Person_one wrote: »

If you only cough/sneeze/blow your nose into a tissue, then throw it away immediately, wash your hands afterwards or use alcohol hand gel (but still wash with soap and water every 5-6 times of using gel) and avoid touching your nose/mouth, then the chances of you infecting anybody else are tiny.

There's no reason why competent, otherwise healthy adults need a day off for a bog standard cold.

Even if you manage to scrupulously do all the above, all day, every day that you have the cold.. (which is unlikely..) you can spread the germs simply by breathing (it's in the tiny droplets of moisture in your breath)

So unless you do as the Japanese do, and wear a face mask. AND wash your hands with sanitiser gel, you will spread your germs around.

Somebody who is in pain and not concentrating is not going to be able to do their job as well, but it does of course depend on the severity of your symptoms.

Person_one

tea_lover wrote: »

There's no reason why competent, otherwise healthy adults can't leave an office toilet in a half-decent state but a large number of them can't.

Why should people feel they have to go work when ill? Work-martyrs don't do anyone any favours, least of all themselves.

Oh come on, I really don't believe that a large proportion of working age adults are wussy enough or unconcerned enough about their sickness records to be having days off every time they get a cold!