Why do people come to work when they are ill??!

[Confused228]

In work yesterday, about 3 or 4 people are harbouring horrible cold/flu type things. Surprise surprise tonight I am starting to feel ill. I honestly think it's so selfish, stay home if you're ill and don't come to work spreading your germs about!! We work in an industry with really good sick leave policies.

When I worked in retail we didn't get paid for the first day. Plus they were horrible to you if you had time off ill.

Can I ask if you get sick pay? I have a friend who I used to work with, if she gets a cold it is quite serious as she has long covid she still works.

I do sympathise but I don't know the answer as it could be serious for some people. Also do you get paid sick leave for a limited amount of time.

I have only ever had one job in my 53 years that paid sick pay and another company that paid discretionary. Further more, I have never had a boss that took it upon themselves to send people home even if they had lost their voice and this could be a contact centre , and I'm not exaggerating.

@Jeschara Sorry, this is not going to make you feel any better but the pandemic really brought home the reality that vulnerable people need to protect themselves and not expect strangers to stay home and risk losing their jobs.
😖
I hate typing that and I said as much as the beginning of the thread last year .

How do people know they’re vulnerable? It’s not like things like covid only target the vulnerable. Vulnerable people don’t live in silos either. How is a care home resident or a hospital patient meant to protect themselves from sick staff? How is someone meant to protect themselves at work? Lots of people won’t even wear a decent mask when they’re contagious. Some firms would rather people were in when they’re contagious, even if they could wfh. I think it’s a real shame how many are losing their livelihoods because they become too sick to work or because they have a child who becomes too ill to attend school anymore. Long covid is already costing billions and billions and instead of adjusting to this and other viruses in a sensible way, we seem to be going full steam ahead to cost even more.

I can’t remember the details but last week there was a thread whose manager asked her could she get in in the afternoon when she said she was barely functioning with a virus. One of our managers used to talk everyone in, I was once told I could stay out in the stockroom if I was afraid I’d spread it🤔