54% of Canadians have faked sick to skip work

[Northendzone]

Gettingnandr's note for one or two sticks seems silly to me, and I would cost us all, because the dr would bill the Alberta govt for the visit......

For the record, I have called in sick when I was iffy, or just needed a day off to lay around and eat pizza......I have also worked overtime because stuff had to get done, I'd like to think it worked itself out.


My mom used to,work for the government, one day a coworker called in sick, my mom's boss was out and stopped at a Walmart to run an errand, the sick employee w at work......what a genius

[IliketoPuck]

I rarely if ever take sick days. I have 5 paid sick days per year, and have yet to use a single one at my job.

What pisses me off the most though, is people thinking that they are heroes by being at work when they are sick. Guy in the office beside me has sounded like he is losing a lung for the last ten days.
I don't really care if he gets me sick, that would be nice to have a day or two off. However, my pregnant wife doesn't really have that luxury. I told him that it was aggravating that he was there, and that it was irresponsible of him.

You aren't being a hero by coming to work sick. You are being a jerk.

Anyways. I'm all for people doing what they want with their sick days, if its part of your compensation, by all means take advantage of it.

[4X4]

I do not call in sick unless I'm sick. I don't get sick often, so I leave all or most of my days on the table each year. I think less of some of my co-workers that call in sick because of laziness, or hangovers, or to max out their sick days. A man without work ethic is not much of a man to me. Likewise for women. And yes, I know that they think I'm the chump.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

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?

Not really. Because over a thirty year career you would miss around the same time as well so it would cancel out. Besides that, wouldn't long term disability cover that time for some of your wage?

And about the single moms thing, it's hard even with two working parents and kids. Kids get sick constantly once they are in school. And it spreads through the whole family. Plus you have to stay home with them because they obviously can't go to school and no daycare will take them. I couldn't imagine how I'd do it if there was only me to take care of them.

[GirlySports]

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".

Some work places don't allow mental health days to taken adjacent to vacation days or two mental health days taken in a row to ensure that is it ONE day off to relax.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I do not call in sick unless I'm sick. I don't get sick often, so I leave all or most of my days on the table each year. I think less of some of my co-workers that call in sick because of laziness, or hangovers, or to max out their sick days. A man without work ethic is not much of a man to me. Likewise for women. And yes, I know that they think I'm the chump.

While I totally agree a person without a work ethic isn't much use... I don't think using an odd sick day up tells you a person lacks work effort.

About twice a year I'll be sick on some random Tuesday, I'll cut out that morning and head to a movie threatre, alone, to watch whatever the heck is playing. Those are such nice recharge days.

Question my manhood, question my work ethic... but ya need those days sometimes.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by worth

We'll have to agree to disagree because that's not how I see it. I think most companies try to treat their employees relatively well. You go to work to work, not to lie and stay home and get paid for it.

I'm 29. Working 5 days a week isn't that big of a deal. Find something that makes you happy and then it's actually worthwhile going to work.

sorry to sound cliche but I work to live, don't live to work. If work is what makes you happy then great do it as much as you want. For me it's not, I still don't think that makes someone a p*ssy because they find happiness/contentment from life outside of work. It's not that I don't work hard but given the choice between two jobs that offer the same pay, one with 2 weeks vacation and no sick days, the other with 4 weeks vacation and 8 personal days a year I have a hard time believing anyone would take the first option.

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

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.

They do and that is something I am working towards. I plan to move up a few more levels in pay then go to a 4 day work week. There are a fair number of people at my company who have gone that route.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

Anyone who hasn't faked being sick to skip work is a big ol' chumperoo.

Or they run their own business.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by troutman

Or they run their own business.

I'm sure almost everyone that runs their own business has taken a day off just because they want one at some point.

[Azure]

I also think days off to recharge are pretty important.

Of course if a company was smart they would schedule days like that for team-building events. Let everyone relax and do something together while they get their mind off of work. Makes for more productive employees.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Azure

I also think days off to recharge are pretty important.

Of course if a company was smart they would schedule days like that for team-building events. Let everyone relax and do something together while they get their mind off of work. Makes for more productive employees.

That's difficult in some workplaces due to coverage. Someone always has to be at the office. Would you just close the entire office (hundreds of people)? Would you have to do it in little groups? Can't have some people going and not others. Can't have favoritism.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That's difficult in some workplaces due to coverage. Someone always has to be at the office. Would you just close the entire office (hundreds of people)? Would you have to do it in little groups? Can't have some people going and not others. Can't have favoritism.

Well obviously it depends on what kind of work you do, but I know for our company with proper scheduling it could work. Getting management to agree on the other hand....

Another idea might be going offsite to get work done. I know friends that work at a few companies in the US with 100 or so employees where the company scheduled a long weekend at Lake Tahoe, and the whole company went there to work/play Friday till Sunday. If you want your employees to work for you long-term and commit to your vision you have to give back to them as well. So instead of just worry about driving up the profit margin, maybe invest some money into team building events. Increased productivity is often a direct result of employees committing to their co-workers and the company.

[Pacem]

Last time I called in sick was when I worked evenings. It was for Game 7 of the 04 cup final. I called in sick 2 days in advance (iirc, there was a full 2 days between game 6 and 7). In any event I called in sick right after game 6. My boss didn't understand. I didn't care.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I'd like to know where I can get a job where I have 12 paid sick days a year in addition to my vacation.

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I get roughly 17. I work for AHS.

It should be noted that in a health care setting, employees need to stay home when they are sick. You should not be around severely ill patients when you yourself are sick. It is really important and it is not encouraged enough. Just my $0.02.

I work for AHS as well. We get accumulate roughy 1 sick day per month to a max of about 950 hours. On top of long term/short term disability (if needed) and 4 personal days/year. We do have an unwritten rule where I work that you can have 5 sick "incidents" per year. For example of you take 3 shifts off in a row, that's 1 incident, but if you called in sick one day, work the next, and then called in sick again, that would be 2 incidents. However, I can think of a handful of people who go waaaaaay over every year, and their punishment is getting a warning on their file. Being unionized there's no real punishment as if you have sick hours your allowed to use them any way they want. FWIW, I wish there was some sort of real punishment as it really really pisses me off to see people abuse the system this way. I've never had more than 3 incidents per year and I know some people who have 15+. One woman even takes a sick day as soon as she accumulates enough hours, like clockwork. I figure if I need surgery or busted my leg, it will be nice to have about 6 months in sick time to recover. But I guess I'm a sucker because the sick time abusers will just got on short term disability given the same situation.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

I figure if I need surgery or busted my leg, it will be nice to have about 6 months in sick time to recover. But I guess I'm a sucker because the sick time abusers will just got on short term disability given the same situation.

Isn't that the proper route to go if something happens that puts you out of work for that period of time?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Azure

I know friends that work at a few companies in the US with 100 or so employees where the company scheduled a long weekend at Lake Tahoe, and the whole company went there to work/play Friday till Sunday.

I hate companies that do this - if I want to hang out with people from work, I'll do that, and if I don't, the last thing I want is an obligatory "long weekend" trapped with people I already see more of than I want to.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

While I totally agree a person without a work ethic isn't much use... I don't think using an odd sick day up tells you a person lacks work effort.

About twice a year I'll be sick on some random Tuesday, I'll cut out that morning and head to a movie threatre, alone, to watch whatever the heck is playing. Those are such nice recharge days.

Question my manhood, question my work ethic... but ya need those days sometimes.

So what'd you quote my post for? I'm talking about people that call in sick because they're lazy, or because of a hangover, or to max out their sick days. You're talking about taking a day or two off per year to recharge.

It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not "questioning your manhood". I'm saying that I think less of people that lack work ethic. And in my opinion, people that are look for ways to do the least amount of work, lack work ethic. Maxing out your sick days when you're not sick falls in that category, afaic.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by 4X4

So what'd you quote my post for? I'm talking about people that call in sick because they're lazy, or because of a hangover, or to max out their sick days. You're talking about taking a day or two off per year to recharge.

It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not "questioning your manhood". I'm saying that I think less of people that lack work ethic. And in my opinion, people that are look for ways to do the least amount of work, lack work ethic. Maxing out your sick days when you're not sick falls in that category, afaic.

Meh. Where I work there a few people that take 0 sick days. At least one of them doesn't do anything extra outside of always showing up.

There are guys that take 15 sick days a year that show far greater work ethic in terms of picking up extra projects, and going above and beyond in their day to day tasks.

So while not calling in sick can be a sign of a strong work ethic, it certainly isn't always the case.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Isn't that the proper route to go if something happens that puts you out of work for that period of time?

Well when you have the option to accumulate us much as 950 hours of sick time you shouldn't really need to go on disability, depending on the severity of your illness I suppose. My buddy had some orthopedic surgery and could use purely sick time for the 1st 3 months and went on disability for the next 3. There is no way you should have to go immediately on disability when you earn sick time as quick as we do. But like I said, these abusers that use up all their sick time all the time have the safety net of short-term disability and are a complete drain on the system.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by jammies

I hate companies that do this - if I want to hang out with people from work, I'll do that, and if I don't, the last thing I want is an obligatory "long weekend" trapped with people I already see more of than I want to.

Sounds like you shouldn't be working for that company in the first place.

I work with people I would have no problem spending a weekend with, especially if it involved something like a ski trip.