to think that people with streaming colds shouldn't work on supermarket checkouts?

[BroccoliSpears]

I just don't want someone coughing, spluttering, sneezing and sniffing all over my groceries, and blowing their nose on a little scrunched up, damp tissue before handling my unwrapped fruit and veg.

This is all shocking - how terrible that companies treat their employees like sh*t.

Tesco you can have 3 days off, then you need a Drs note. But if you go over 3% attendance, then you have an interview thing and they put you on an attendance management review. The 3% thing applies for 6 months. They only did this when people abused the policy before and phoned in sick when they weren't ill.

I don't want to be there when i'm coughing, spluttering, sneezing and sniffing believe me, but do customers keep away when they have colds? Nope, cuz you still have to eat!

DP works for Dell and their sick policy is quite relaxed. They just leave a message on an answerphone to say they are not coming in and can have 5 days off without a DRs note. And they get full sick pay.

saltire - thats awful. Last saturday a customer slipped up on some milk which was all over the floor and they filled out the accident book. I've also done many stupid things like getting my hand stuck in the printer trying to get some ones cheque out and have had 20kg of photo paper fall on my big toe once! I make sure it goes in the accident book as the injury I never had put in (slipping on a grape) still gives me pain.

I've got a bit of a virus at the moment and a gunky nose - but I'm fine and if I worked then I'd be in at work...

I'd especially be in at work if I have a part time casual or evening job to pay for me when I was a student etc as I suspect your check out operator may have been.

Yes, not very nice but most employers don't have a culture where you can phone in sick and be paid just because you have a bit of a snotty nose...

Broccoli I used to work in M&S (4 years ago now so I don't know if it has changed) but I was very ill once and had to be rushed into the hospital with a v v serious chest infection.

I could barely breath and it took me all my time to walk to he end of the ward. But when my DH (DP at the time) called them for me, my manager asked if I could maybe go in and do a half day for her as they were busy I was in hospital for 5 days BTW so was v v ill. My GP signed me off for 6 weeks.

When I eventually got back to work I got a written warning for being off. They just did not allow you time off ill.

So yes it is gross, but alot of places wont pay your or give your warnings for just taking one day off.

Bexie - I know, and the stock room is still as bad for rubbish. If it wasn't for teh fact I need the money i would finish. Am dreading the DSes being ill in the next 6 months, as if DH can't have time off to look after them, then who else is there?.

PinkyP, I didn't post the question in the first place! So, let's be clear I am not being unreasonable for thinking people with streaming colds should not work at checkouts I never said I thought that. I said I don't like it when people lick their fingers to open bags because they then handle my food. That's it, I said nothing else at all-although it seems you would like me to make personal comments about people who work in supermarkets so you can bitch at me. As I haven't made any personal comments you have dreampt some up so you can bitch at me anyway.

This chat seems to have turned into a big long rant about working at supermarkets, I have no opinion on this. But it does sounds as if contracts are a bit harsh.

Hedgewitch, its great that you have customer service awards, maybe you could be as polite to other people on MN as you clearly are to your customers, I bet you wouldn't say to a customers face you are a "sad individual with no life" if they asked you not to lick your fingers before you handle their food, you'd be fired. Being nice to people makes friends...