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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

to think DH's work are DISGUSTING for not paying people when they are sick?

107 replies

MoomieAndFreddie · 04/12/2012 10:18

he has worked for them for 5 years, been an absolutely exemplary, loyal employee. he started as a warehouseman and has been promoted 3 times since being there, and is now a senior manager. he has completely turned around his branch and its earning about 5 x the profit it was when the last manager was in charge. the last time he took time off sick was about 3 years ago (for 2 days) when he had swine flu.

he has gone in to work on loads of occasions when he has felt unwell, because they DON'T PAY SICK PAY. basically, they just ASSUME people are skiving.

so anyway, he is really poorly with flu. yet he has dragged himself in today, so he is going to infect his whole team, customers and probably not be able to even do his job properly just for the sake of "presenteeism"

and who does he work for, I hear you ask? well, its not just a small back street business who probably genuinely can't afford to pay when workers are absent - this is a huge, multi, multi million organisation....

YOU TIGHT, STINGY, HORRIBLE BASTARDS, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. Angry

[NOTE FROM MNHQ: OP has been edited to remove company name at the OP's request]

OP posts:
Scrazy · 04/12/2012 13:03

The organisation I work for pay sick pay for up to 8 weeks no questions asked. Then they may put someone on SSP but that is optional depending on the circumstances.

Guess what, one or two skivers make sure they use up their 8 weeks every year. Now that is extreme but it happens when firms offer anything above SSP.

Fortunately, most employees have integrity and don't take the pee. It's nice when you are genuinely ill to not have to worry about finances.

I have worked at lots of places that don't have a sick pay scheme. Was laid flat in bed once with flu and because I only worked 3 days I got nothing for that week. Worked there 7 years and never had a day off before. I left soon afterwards.

wigglesrock · 04/12/2012 13:05

I've worked in a few places with no sick pay for the first three days then SSP - pretty standard.

Belmo · 04/12/2012 13:06

I've never worked anywhere that pays sick pay, neither has my DP. I thought it was only public sector? It is shit though, I agree.

Scrazy · 04/12/2012 13:09

It sucks, doesn't it. But so does 'working' alongside colleagues who take the p--s.

derekthehamster · 04/12/2012 13:10

I don't get paid sick pay either (nor does my dh). Can he not take it as annual leave?

choceyes · 04/12/2012 13:12

wow I'm finding this thread shocking. Never realised that paid sick leave is not the norm.
I've worked for one multinational (HUGE parmaceutical company - the biggest one probabably), one pretty small independant company, and now working at a major univeristy and I've always got paid sick leave, from the first day of illness. I think up to 6 months of full pay...I don't really know, maybe even a year. Whenever I've applied for a job in my sector paid sick leave is the norm. Its a professional job.

Not getting paid sick leave is shit, can't believe it's legal. I've had one day off sick the last academic year, and none so far this year, and my collegues are rarely off work either, so it's not always the case that the sick leave policy is abused. I'd hate to work for a company with no sick leave payment. I'd have no loyaly to that company.

choceyes · 04/12/2012 13:13

My Dh gets sick pay too, he's a teacher.

catgirl1976geesealaying · 04/12/2012 13:13

Very few companies pay sick pay IME

Ours does up to 15 days in a year if you have been there more than 2 years

But loads don't do anything so sadly YABU to be surprised by this

blanksquit · 04/12/2012 13:14

Yes I can see it from the other side too.

Too many people used to take the odd day off sick here and there for hangovers, days out, couldn't be bothered. It's unfair on the company and unfair on the other staff who have to cover.
I think it's probably effective in cutting this type of "sick" leave.

But unfair on those who are genuinely sick like your dh, I agree. The trouble is that they have to treat everybody the same and they have to follow policy. Otherwise they go against equality law. So they can't make an exception when they can see that a good employee is genuinely ill.

If somebody has a serious illness or injury, SSP kicks in.

Quite a lot of companies follow this policy now because the cost to the company for sickness absence can be huge. Most companies are having to look at these costs and tighten their belts to avoid going under. The building industry has suffered a significant decline in recent years. This is perhaps all part of keeping jobs and staying afloat.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 04/12/2012 13:18

Blimey, my old company (v big meeja organisation) paid sick leave. I (naively) assumed it was only freelancers/people who were self-employed htat didn't get sick pay. Wow.

givemeaclue · 04/12/2012 13:23

Your dh may get the sack if they discover this thread.

Icelollycraving · 04/12/2012 13:43

This reply has been deleted

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StatisticallyChallenged · 04/12/2012 13:58

Apart from part time retail work when I was a teenager, every company I have worked for has paid sick pay so I think yanbu op.

sportinguista · 04/12/2012 14:05

We've had exactly this, this week. DH took sick and was docked wages. His company don't pay first 3 days of any sick and none if you have had more than 2 occasions in 2 years.

He has gone to work sick before and thrown up there ( I did laugh at the thought of their shock and them having to clear it up Ha ha!). But I do feel quite worried as any of his colleagues could go in sick say with D&V and because they operate trucks potentially could be putting themselves and others at risk, not to mention potentially spreading it not only to other colleagues, but to their families as well. Viruses that are not a problem for normally healthy adults can be potentially serious for people with compromised immunity and tiny babies.

This is a large healthcare company so I find their attitude somewhat shortsighted but I guess it's all about whether the shareholders families are ok and it doesn't matter if they kill off their employees families eh?

VodkaKnockers · 04/12/2012 14:07

I'm in the private sector (finance) and we get paid sick leave. 6mths at full pay in any 12mth rolling period. Which sounds great HOWEVER we also use the Bradford factor when calculating sick leave to determine whether a warning should be issued.

ChocHobNob · 04/12/2012 14:08

My H doesnt get sick pay other than SSP of £80 something a week after the first week. After being in a road traffic accident (non fault) he was off work for a couple of months due to surgery and many broken bones. We struggled terribly financially and he had to go back to work before he was well enough as we couldn't afford more time off. It is rubbish.

JenaiMathis · 04/12/2012 14:17

Jeez, I got sick pay when I was a waitress years ago!

Usually there'd be nothing (we worked shifts, so if you missed one or two through illness you'd swap with whoever covered for you - if they didn't want to keep the extra wages iyswim) but I was once out for a whole week and was paid roughly what I would have had (minus tips of course).

I am quite taken aback that organisations still get away with this - surely it doesn't make business sense at all? Confused

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 04/12/2012 14:21

Not read the whole thread but....he has flu and managed to get into work?

I had flu this year and I wouldn't have physically been able to get out of bed even if someone offered me a million quid to do so.

My dh was the same.

fedupwithdeployment · 04/12/2012 14:22

I feel it is very tight for a large company not to pay any sick pay, but I also think that companies who offer generous sick pay can be taken advantage of.

At my last place of work (where I was for 5 years) I was entitled to about 6 weeks off sick. Complicated formula. I had a major op (hip replacement) and ended up taking 8 weeks off. My boss (who was a total bastard) did actually give me additional discretionary sick leave on the advice of HR (really rather nice people) after he'd asked me to come back after 2 weeks Xmas Shock. NB I'd had 2 days off sick in the previous 5 years.

One lad had a similar issue to me and had hip op (not replacement) on same day (although 10 years younger), and when I came back after my 8 weeks, he was still in major pain. He was entitled to one week's sick leave and so struggled in immediately. I felt very sorry for him.

Mulledandmerry · 04/12/2012 14:23

We run a business and I'm afraid you should be directing your anger at the people who do take the mickey resulting in these blanket policies. We nearly had to make redundancies from losses due to sickness..we don't get reimbursed for sick pay and nobody is making money so what are we supposed to do as the business owner? So now we just pay stat sick which is hard enough on us. Shame as your husband is obviously a decent employee, but there are plenty who are not.

imdreamingofaskyebluechristmas · 04/12/2012 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ElectricalHoHoHoBanana · 04/12/2012 14:34

my OH is having treatment for bowel tumours (not cancerous....well the ones taken so far havent been) and he needs to have a scope every 6 weeks as the lumps are so big and there are so many (think satsuma). He needs two days off at least as he is a driver.

he has been having this treatment since the summer hols....he is not paid. he has taken some holiday on a couple of occasions as we cannot afford to loose the money every time. because he has been off so many times since the summer HR have made noises that they are thinking about disciplining him! he takes all his letters in etc.

He was given the option of having major surgery and ending up with a colostomy. If he had taken this option he wouldve had sick pay!

up until summer he had taken one day off in 4 years (norovirus) a few years ago.

if they call him for disciplinary i will not be responsible for my actions....he has spoke to the Union and they are unable to help!!!!!!!!!!!!

PessaryPam · 04/12/2012 14:35

I worked for a company once that only paid SSP. When I realised after being ill for a few days I just devoted my time after that to finding a new and better job. I would not work for such an outfit now.

niceguy2 · 04/12/2012 14:37

As others have said, it's probably more the case that the ones who take the piss have ruined it for millions of others.

I remember being Shock at someone once who told me they get 4 weeks paid leave and were 'allowed' to have up to 2 weeks off sick so they made sure they also took those 2 weeks off too since they were 'entitled' to it.

Back when I was working on the front line in a call centre there used to be more people off sick on a Monday or Friday. A coincidence I'm sure..... Hmm

redlac · 04/12/2012 14:40

ah yes, the Monday Club! Too hungover/knackered to make it into work and everyone else has to pick up the slack for it.

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