Sick at work

Sarah69

My son has been in a job it will be 3 years this May/June time. He’s not one to be off sick but this morning he’s thrown up 4 times whilst at work and explained to them that his 9yr old nephew had been at ours and has norovirus. They’ve said to him you can’t be that ill if you’ve come to work and won’t let him go home. He only started being sick today. He’s on a permanent full time contract. What would other people do? 

la531983

I would be walking out, hes been sick 4 times, how many times does he have to be sick for them to get the hint?

pramsay13

Absolutely just walk out of the door for the sake of the colleagues as well as himself. 

The employer should be impressed that he at least attempted to attend work.

LeafGreen

if that's their attitude, I'd be looking for another employer post-haste

adamp87

Personally as an employer and an adult if a staff member feels they are sick enough then really all they have to do is say I’m very ill I need to go home.

Yes it can be an inconvenience but that’s not their problem they are ill and feel too poorly to be at work. This isn’t school they don’t need to ask permission simply stating I need to go home I’m sick should be enough.

Can always ask for a sick note over the phone from a GP too if required for a week off if still ill in a few days.  

GrumpyDil

Agreed with above. When someone is being ill the last thing any responsible employer should want is for the illness to be spread amongst the other staff/customers depending what the job is. 

Brie

Tempted to suggest that the next time he feels ill he should stand next to his manager. 

But that would be nasty so I won't suggest it and just agree with the others that he should go home.  It's not uncommon to wake up, maybe feel a tad off and it's only when you've been at work for a while that you realise how ill you are.  Might be that you would be ok-ish on an empty stomach but since you go on autopilot in the morning and had your coffee and bacon sarnie that sets your tum off.  At least that's what's happened to me in the past.  

DullGreyGuy

Brie said:

Tempted to suggest that the next time he feels ill he should stand next to his manager. 

But that would be nasty 

I was going to take it a step further (desk, not the manager themselves) 

stu12345_2

it is your right to leave and go home.
you choose. nobody can legally force you to stay.

TELLIT01

Idiotic attitude by the employer / manager.  Norovirus is very contagious so I would expect any sensible manager to send him home whether he wanted to go or not.  Regarding getting a sick note, many GPs won't issue one until after 7 days as they know the law states that a person can self-certify for that period.

stu12345_2

yes it's called a fit note, not a sick note you get it only when doctors say you can return to work.

 that employer sounds horrible. are they qualified doctors, for goodness sake?