To think that going to work while unwell might become socially unacceptable

[Carbosug]

Just wondering if sick leave policies that force people to struggle into work when unwell, and office martyrs who insist on coming in when they're sneezing and coughing all over the place will no longer be considered acceptable or responsible in a post pandemic world?

@HoffiCoffi13 Unfortunately that’s because the local authority and Ofsted define ‘poor’ attendance and demand to know what is schools are doing about it.

I think that many office workers will have proved that working from home is doable, so maybe will be more inclined to do that when they have a mild illness rather than soldier on and infect the office with every cough and cold.

I REALLY hope so. I work with vulnerable people, and at least the current measures mean they aren't subject to ill care staff coughing and sneezing over them. Bugs go through our organisation like wildfire due to people not taking basic hygiene measures and coming to work sick. Yet a cold could kill our residents just as easily as COVID 19 could.

Not in my profession
People book in 3/4/6 months ahead to see us
Sick days just don’t happen unless you physically can’t get in. And then if the bosses get a locum to cover us. it costs us money
We pay to be ill- therefore staff come in when they really should be at home

I can see people working from home a lot more if they’re under the weather. Works for everyone if so, people don’t have to struggle in and they’re more likely to work than call in sick if they don’t have to get up early, commute, sit at a desk all day etc.

I hope so. The amount of times I have had to endure working next to someone clearly unwell, sneezing and coughing all over the place. It would help if some people could practise some basic hygiene, and learn to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.

I agree that draconian sick leave policies are a huge part of the problem
I am appalled when I read some of the threads on here about how ill staff are treated

There was a big shift at the time of the last recession. Most of the places I’d worked in the decade prior to that were pretty relaxed about sickness at the least, and some were actively “don’t come in if you’ll infect others”. Most were really relaxed about WFH too. Then credit crunch cane along and presenteeism became a massive thing again.

Isnt it already in force? We have wfh for sick ppl... So they work without spreading their germs.

Some ppl r abusing the systems, hence why they became tight in the first place

Hopefully. I came down suddenly with a high temperature, sore throat and body aches in my first week at work mid-February. Even at the time, it crossed my mind it could be Corona virus, as DS (17) had already spent days in bed, coughing his lungs up, aching and with a fever that week. Of course back then, not a fucking hope I would have dared take time off in my first week in a new job!

I hope so. I've got several colleagues who come in when obviously ill (apparently the world will end if they don't) and spread it round. I've got kids who then come down with it after I do, then I get smart remarks about having to stay off to look after the kids. Then you're asked why can't you send dc into school and collect them if they get sick again !!! Most don't have school aged children or they have someone who can take dc when ill. Pisses me off .

Most people dont want to go while ill.

I think, initially, people will find is socially unacceptable. Then it will go back to normal. When people realise they cant afford no pay, when they have cold etc.

I’m not sure. A lot of places still have strict sickness procedures, and with the current number of unemployed people there’ll likely not be an issue filling most vacancies. Certainly in my job, I can’t see there being any changes. Hell, in addition to strict sickness procedures (2 periods or over a week off in 12 months triggers stage 1), my company pay an additional annual bonus for 100% attendance. People already drag themselves in unless they’re actually sent home by occupational health as ‘unfit for work’.

And I don't think employers will change sick leave.

People self isolating because they had one symptom or someone in their house did, but got full pay would costs business a fortune.

If anything I think it will make more businesses decide that they dont want to be paying people full when they are sick.

I hope so.

I also hope that working from home will become easier and more widespread where possible, so if for example I had a very bad cold, or cystitis, or something similar where I feel too ill to go to the office but would be quite OK staying at home, I wouldn't need to take a sick day. It's a win / win for me and my employers and the public. They still get a days work out of me, I don't have to go for a long walk and train journey to get to the office and back, my colleagues don't have to listen to me cough and sneeze all day, I don't pass anything on, and I get to stay where I'm comfy / in pyjamas / close to a bathroom / in a room which isn't fucking freezing from ridiculous air conditioning.