54% of Canadians have faked sick to skip work

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Would you say that could be something that would be able to be negotiated between an employer and an employee/employee group?

I don't really care. I just think that sick days are not as bad as people make them out to be. Obviously they shouldn't be abused, but having 1 per month isn't that crazy.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I honestly agree with Swarly. I like options. For instance I would much prefer to work 4 x 10 hours or even 3 x 14 hours than 5 x 8 hours.

For awhile when I was working part time I was doing 7 days on, 7 days off. I would love to do that full time (7 x 12 hours).

His point wasn't that companies should be flexible or provide options. He said people don't want to work 5 days per week anymore, and instead they want more personal time, obviously saying that the 40 hour week is too much.

Working 5 days per week isn't that much.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Azure

His point wasn't that companies should be flexible or provide options. He said people don't want to work 5 days per week anymore, and instead they want more personal time, obviously saying that the 40 hour week is too much.

Working 5 days per week isn't that much.

Yeah I guess I only half joined his argument. I don't think 40 hours is too much, but I would love to divide it up in different ways to work fewer days but the same or even a few more hours.

[Azure]

Not all jobs are as flexible. Personally I would love to work 4 days per week, 10 hours per day, or even more, but it wouldn't be really possible with my job.

But honestly, I think a lot of companies are still stuck in the 8 hour day, 5 days per week, and I absolutely think they should be more flexible, if possible.

Then again, companies that do this tend to be ahead of the curve and more forward thinking. Results instead of time served type deal. This thinking can apply to sick days as well. I wouldn't really care as an employer if certain employees took 24 sick/personal days per year, as long as they do good work, and provide results.

[CofR]

I haven't used any sick days this year. I absolutely love my job, so that probably helps, and I get a fair amount of time off. I do 12 hour shifts, work two day shifts, then two night shifts, then have four days off, so 48 hours a week. I love it though, think it's an amazing schedule. Like Nehkhara, I work for AHS, so being healthy is pretty vital to being able to perform at work.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Swarly

Because not wanting to work 40+ hours a week for the rest of your life for a company that in the end could not give two sharts for you makes you a p*ssy.

Maybe some people have more to their life than their job? and if calling in 'sick' once or twice a year makes you happy I say go for it. There is more to life than work.

I'm guessing you are much older Worth, no offense, as that sounds like something my grandpa would say. Back in the day that is all anyone lived for, work. Times have changed, people like their personal time. We shouldn't have to work 5 days a week to live, life is too short for that.

would your company be willing to give you 4 days a week in exchange for you giving up 20% of your pay? Because if they are then go for it.

[Devils'Advocate]

I graduated university 16 years ago, have been working full time in my field since graduating and haven't once called in sick when I wasn't deathly ill. Like worth, I think it is unethical... it's stealing from my employer. And as a public servant, I'm stealing from the taxpayers.

I think there needs to be a better system though. It isn't fair when Worth and I are working several more days a year than other people. I like the idea of personal days... and if you show up to work sick, you get sent home.

The nice thing about personal days is that you can use them for ANYTHING. I know when I was working in the private sector there was a single mom who would call in sick all the time... She felt guilty about lying to her boss, but she had no other option because the company didn't provide any days for taking off to take care of sick children and the daycare wouldn't take the kids if they were sick. Everyone has appointments that they have to take care of. In the government we put doctors visits, dentist visits, physiotherapist visits, etc as sick leave but when I was in the private sector, that all had to be done on vacation time. So instead, people would again, lie, and say they were sick. Which meant they would go to the 10:00 doctors appointment and then spend the rest of the day home watching TV.

[Devils'Advocate]

BTW - in this thread here:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ht=sick&page=3

When I said that I was saving up my sick days just in case I was stricken with cancer or another such illness, Azure said:
"Honestly not sure why you think you should be able to collect 100% of your salary for those 170 days despite never showing up for work."

But aren't those that are calling in sick in the private sector doing the same thing, just over the long haul? Maybe not 170 days, but 3 days a year over a 30 year career is 90 days, collecting 100% of their salary, despite not showing up for work. What is the difference?

[GGG]

Where does mental health days come into play. There are some days 2 or 3 a year where if I went into work I would be absolutely useless. Whereas if I take a day off I can be more productive the rest of the week. I do this probably twice a year.

I am okay with it because overall it improves my productivity. I have never phone in sick to play golf or anything like that. I would answer the question as yes I have called in sick when I wasn't sick.

[WhiteTiger]

In the last 20 years, I have actually been sick enough to not go to work twice. In that time I have also taken 3 Mental Health days, where it was just better for me that I not go to work.

I have only recently, with a job switch, started being paid sick days (or personal days, or flex days, or however you want to spin not being at work and not being on vacation and still getting paid) and don't really plan on changing my habits any.

[MoneyGuy]

I don't know if I've ever faked sick. I've been self employed for 18.5 years now so I can take off whenever I want, but I don't. I do take lots of vacations, however. I'm on one now.

[Devils'Advocate]

If mental health days are days to get a break away from work and clear your head, then what is the difference between mental health days and vacation days?

Also, I've noticed a double standard. If a public servant takes a "mental health day", it's condemned as "a lazy government worker slacking off again". But from when I've worked in the private sector there was the same level of abuse of sick leave for "mental health days" that was seen as "taking advantage of one the few benefits that the company gives the workers".

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I don't know if I've ever faked sick. I've been self employed for 18.5 years now so I can take off whenever I want, but I don't. I do take lots of vacations, however. I'm on one now.

Ditto.

I just tell my assistant I'm going for a bike ride. No secrets.

On the other hand, I'm most likely to work if I'm sick. Why take an afternoon off if you're not feeling well? Might as well be miserable and productive.

Cowperson

[Azure]

How do your employers handle stuff like a doctors appointment, or dentist appointment? I can go to the appointment, and then come to work. Just a heads up is required.

Having to take a personal/sick day would be useless because I can still work at least a half day.

[chockfullofgoodness]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

I get 12 a year as well. And yes, every now and then (maybe once or twice a year) I'll play hooky.

Hey while were on this topic, does this count? Last week I must have ate something funny because I kept getting out of bed every 20 mins to use the can until maybe 3:30-4 a.m. After that, I decided to screw it and take the morning off and set my alarm to noon. So TECHNICALLY, I wasn't sick during the work day. I may not even have been sick at night, outside of the runs. Is that still legitimate, or would you consider that skipping work?

You're a big fat cheater!

No, you did the right thing to get a little extra rest. If you go in feeling like crap, you're going to be pretty much useless anyway. Plus, at the time, you didn't really know if it was a food thing or something contagious. You absolutely did the right thing.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

If mental health days are days to get a break away from work and clear your head, then what is the difference between mental health days and vacation days?

Also, I've noticed a double standard. If a public servant takes a "mental health day", it's condemned as "a lazy government worker slacking off again". But from when I've worked in the private sector there was the same level of abuse of sick leave for "mental health days" that was seen as "taking advantage of one the few benefits that the company gives the workers".

I think it is a real fine line between just not wanting to go to work and needing a day to recover so that you are more effective. I'm don't think it is different between the public and private sector other than the public unions usually have negotiated a significant number more sick days so it can be abused without risk of needing the sick days later in the year.

As for the difference between a mental health day and vacation a vacation is your time to do what you want whereas a mental health day is to recover from work in order to make you more productive.

[Yasa]

Back when I worked for a corporate office mailroom, I took sick days here and there when I wasn't sick. I didn't get paid for them though, and it was a thankless job so I didn't care all that much. I didnt do it during busy season or on days guaranteed to be swamped though.

Now I work casual for AHS and get as much time off as I want. No benefits though.

[Titan]

My workplace has gone to a ROWE, results only work environment.

All of the above discussion has basically disappeared. If you are sick, don't work. If you need a mental health break, take it. We all work from home and productivity has skyrocketed.

People work when they need to and get the job they are responsible for done. It has been nothing short of life changing.

Based on this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Why-Work-Sucks-.../dp/1591842921

Awesome.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Ditto.

I just tell my assistant I'm going for a bike ride. No secrets.

On the other hand, I'm most likely to work if I'm sick. Why take an afternoon off if you're not feeling well? Might as well be miserable and productive.

Cowperson

I'm in the same boat as you. Thing is that while I would work through being sick, and have absolutely no issue, I won't meet with people while I'm sick because it's just plain ignorant. If anyone showed up for a meeting with me and they were clearly sick I would be less than thrilled. I extend that same courtesy to people I meet with.

[bagofpucks]

It is always funny how different companies have different cultures.

I worked at one employer that didn't that wasn't great for vacation time and everyone knew they had six sick days per year. It was very common to see employees abuse this policy and employees felt they were owed their six sick days and they felt bad if they didn't use them all.

At my current employer, the culture is very different. We are very competitive in terms of benefits and vacation and I have no idea if there is a maximum number of sick days. We also get 12 flex days per year. I haven't heard anyone complain about vacation or abuse sick days.

As for faking sick days, I have never felt the need to do it because my work is going to be there no matter what. My thought process is if I'm sick I need to stay home to not make other people sick, so I have taken about four sick days in three years of work. That said, if I have an appointment my employer is very flexible with working from home for part of a day. But, when I am busy I have put in some long hours, so I figure it all works out in the end. I do know lots of people at other employers that definitely take many "mental health days" though, so I think it depends how you feel about your work and your employer.