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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Work ethic?

90 replies

Uglycurtains · 29/05/2018 19:07

I own a business and the level of staff sickness it insane! I’m not sure if I am being unreasonable- but I have staff of for their child having suspected chicken pox, tingling fingers and my favourite conjunctivitis.
Is this usual? Not sure how to motivate people to actually turn up to work?!

OP posts:

honeyishrunkthekid · 29/05/2018 23:08

I am inclined to disagree with you in a way OP. Parents and employees cannot help being ill or nursery not allowing children in with contagious infections.

But that being said, I have had 3 days off in 10 months. I work in a school environment, full time. Young children at home. I'm constantly run down and just have to grin a bear it. It's also not an office based job and requires stamina. I'm permanently tired and feel unwell but will drag myself in if my body allows it.

You have to look at the pattern of time off- always a Monday or sporadic days rather than consecutive days. That's when it would annoy me.

Parents are allowed to take parental leave- up to 5 days? You cannot discriminate. It's unfortunate but kids do get ill.

bugaboo218 · 29/05/2018 23:46

What do you expect staff,who have no one else to look after their child to do if the child is ill? Not everyone has family or friends nearby or on standby to help out.

Are you sure it is not your shit attitude that is contributing to staff being off sick?

There are reasons for high levels of absenteeism at work, usually related to micro management, lack of trust between manager and staff, favouritism, possible bullying, a stressful environment and crap pay and conditions. All equal high staff turn over, which is not good for business morale or profit.

ilovesooty · 30/05/2018 00:45

EdiShowers good luck with that once your employees accrue two years of service.

pointythings · 30/05/2018 10:52

sooty I was gong to say the same thing - after two years, if you do that, you can and should be taken to tribunal, and it should cost you £££ for wrongful dismissal. Honestly, with employers like these it really is no wonder that people go off sick...

Upsy1981 · 30/05/2018 11:06

In my situation, DH has a lengthy commute so is out of the house by 7:15, often DD is only just getting up then so we might not be aware that she is ill enough to not go to school until he has already left, therefore it would be me who takes the day off. My mum is the only person I could have ask to have DD as ILs live further away and friends work, however as my mum is now main carer for my grandmother who has a serious condition and needs to avoid illness if possible, I can't rely on my mum to have DD as, depending what the illness is, we can't afford either my mum or grandmother to become ill. Its not always simple.

MarthaArthur · 30/05/2018 11:42

In regards to tingly fingers i had that once and was diagnosed with severe stress disorder. Are your staff very stressed?

I do agree though op. I have been raised with strong work ethic and only call in when i really really need to (no kids so cant comment on that bit.) It amazes me what my coworkers will phone in sick with including feeling tired after a late night! Sniffles a cough etc. Some people just dont care that much for their job.

veggiethrower · 30/05/2018 11:53

Sounds like you don't have proper policies in place.
You need a policy as to what happens if someone needs to take time off for a sick child - what are people supposed to do if the child can't go to childcare and they have no-one to look after the child. Is the parent allowed to take annual leave for this?

What happens when someone is sick? When do they have to supply a doctor's note? What is your procedure for people with regular one or two day absences where they self-certify? Are you monitoring this?
Every workplace I have been "keep an eye" on these short term absences and warnings are issued if too many are taken in a certain space of time.
A friend of mine worked for the Royal Mail and they were very strict about absences (including longer term absences with doctor's notes)

You sound like you need to address these issues - find out what the law says about the situation, put policies in place and implement them.
If there are no clear policies some people will take a lend. If they see that there are no consequences then they will continue to take sick days as and when.

On the other hand, you need to be supportive of those who are genuinely ill. It is a difficult balance and that is why you need fair policies that everyone understands.

EdiShowers · 30/05/2018 12:44

@pointythings

Unfortunately most people can no longer afford to access a tribunal to enforce their employment rights even if they've worked for 2 years.

ilovesooty · 30/05/2018 12:50

So @EdiShowers that gives you an excuse to treat them as if they have no rights?

pointythings · 30/05/2018 12:53

Employment tribunal fees were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court in 2017, EdiShowers. They have now been abolished. So employers like you need to be careful once again.

NellMangel · 30/05/2018 12:59

OP I think only you know if staff are taking the piss.

My boss knows I work hard, so was very understanding when I had to take leave for DC illness. I'm a single parent so unfortunately it always falls to me. I am very grateful to my boss.

But there are people who take the piss. Call in sick when clearly hungover etc. I think all you can do is use appraisal and performance management to address it.

If you offer free childcare, I bet there are plenty of people who would bite your hand off to work there.

Gottagetmoving · 30/05/2018 13:01

I managed a call centre, and even my deputies and team leaders were of the type that clocks on at 9 on the dot and leaves like a rat from a drowning ship at 5. It was just the nature of the beast

The beast that doesn't think they should be in or hang around when they are not being paid? How do they expect an employer to survive when they do that?!

ilovesooty · 30/05/2018 13:05

Well said @pointythings
I was so cross I'd forgotten that.
I hope one of @EdiShowers employees really fights her disgraceful work practices.

pointythings · 30/05/2018 13:20

GottaGet exactly this - what makes employers think they can expect people to work over their hours without pay? Especially if they aren't on a stellar wage? No wonder productivity in the UK is so low - you get back what you put in, so if you treat your staff like shit...

Because I have supportive management who give a damn, I'm happy to work if the need of the moment demands it. I'm happy to move my hours and work later or longer because there is an event that requires my expertise. If anyone in our team is off sick, the others are happy to pick up the slack. Treat people well and that's your reward.

bugaboo218 · 30/05/2018 17:19

GottaGet I agree with the points you raised.

Edishowers I think your attitude towards employees is disgraceful! You need to be careful because sooner or later you will treat an employee like dirt and they will take you to a tribunral, regardless of the financial cost to themselves.

Manager’s, who believe that their own shit does not stink and treat their employee’s like chattles deserve their staff to go sick and the high staff turn over that they get.

You reap what you sow.!

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