knaveman Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 I found out one of my co-workers is sick. His wife has been sick for several days and he finally caught it. He suspects it may be swine flu or just a really bad flu. Problem is, he's one of those people who refuses to stay home when he's sick. He thinks calling in sick is some sort of weakness and enjoys rubbing in all our faces that he's only called in sick twice in ten years. I'm not scared of getting the swine flu, I'm scared of just getting sick. I can't afford to miss any work, I just got back to full time work and am starting to get my bills caught up. Also, we don't have any health insurance so if I were sick enough to need a doctor I can't go. How do I convince my boss to make this guy go home for a few days so he can get better and not spread the flu around the shop?
RA1 Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 Do you have information that your boss doesn't? If so, you may want to consider passing it along. If your boss already has the same information but prefers his staff to be at work than off sick - tough one. You may still want to write an email or memo expressing your concern. If you catch something and lose remuneration or incur expenses as a result, you may have an actionable case if you have previously expressed concern (I'm not a lawyer, just my opinion).
Author knaveman Posted September 13, 2009 Author Posted September 13, 2009 Our company is small, only eight of us total. So no memo, e-mail, or lawsuits. It's like a family business. I am just looking for some help on how to convince my co-worker to stop being such a selfish a-hole or convice my boss to do it for him. And yeah, my boss will probably want this guy to be at work sick or not. We only have four residential electricians to do five houses this week. My co-worker will be more or less useless while he's sick, but the boss will probably want useless over absent.
allina Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 I'm scared of just getting sick. I can't afford to miss any work, I just got back to full time work and am starting to get my bills caught up. Also, we don't have any health insurance so if I were sick enough to need a doctor I can't go. The above sounds like a good/reasonable thing to tell your co-worker and your boss.
Thaddeus Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 This is an extremely common occurrence and it's getting worse given the economic times. Employees that would normally do the right thing and stay home when they're sick are now coming into work in order to look "committed" or "indispensable" so they won't get layoff notices. And many, many organizations still have a short-term mindset: makes no difference if you come to work sick and infect someone, just get to work because short-term profit demands it. It's called "presenteeism." Good article about it here: How to get sick workers to just stay home.
RA1 Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 My co-worker will be more or less useless while he's sick, but the boss will probably want useless over absent. In other words, a short-term mindset. All I can suggest is that you document your concerns so that if you go sick you may have an actionable case.
Author knaveman Posted September 13, 2009 Author Posted September 13, 2009 In other words, a short-term mindset. All I can suggest is that you document your concerns so that if you go sick you may have an actionable case. Seriously? I'm not going to sue someone because I got sick.
westernxer Posted September 13, 2009 Posted September 13, 2009 Seriously? I'm not going to sue someone because I got sick. It's not to sue, but to protect yourself from disciplinary action in case they give you a hard time.
Trialbyfire Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 There's nothing you can do to "force" someone to stay home, if they're down with the cold or even the flu, unless it's something life threatening. Take all measures like washing your hands often and sanitizing your work area as much as possible. Also, keep your distance when he enters your work area or joint areas.
KikiW Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 Sounds to me like you're between a rock and a hard place. Pick up a big bottle of those clorox wipes and hand sanitizer (and a travel bottle of it too), and keep one of them within reach at all times. Wipe down your equipment (phone, keyboard, on buttons, copier machine buttons, fax buttons, whatever) with the wipes, and use the hand sanitizer any time you remember. It's not fool-proof, but it will cut WAYYYY down on your chances of picking something up.
Shygirl15 Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 I'm not scared of getting the swine flu, I'm scared of just getting sick. I can't afford to miss any work, I just got back to full time work and am starting to get my bills caught up. Also, we don't have any health insurance so if I were sick enough to need a doctor I can't go. How do I convince my boss to make this guy go home for a few days so he can get better and not spread the flu around the shop? Simple, explain how his sickness is very likely to spread out to you all and you simply cannot afford getting sick. Your boss should understand. I had a colleague who was coughing so very badly all day everyday but kept coming to work so we just decided to speak with her boss who then conveyed the message to her and so she eventually stayed home until she felt better. It's common sense to most people but I think few just need to be reminded.
Tayla Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 Interesting. My boss (who is the biggest germophobe to exist) Insist that you are the greatest trooper if you can make it to work without Hazmat chasing you. So basically so long as you arent permeating Nuclear waste on your being, He expects you there!! Yet he will make it very clear- Keep your germs to yourself! Talk about a dilema! I personally WOULD not want the swine flu nor do I think folks realize the quickness it can take a life. So use precautions. Yes in the interium, cleanse your work area and simply ask the less healthy person to keep a distance in talk or touching of objects. There is NO lawsuit in the US that has been challenged and won for contracting the flu. Now there are many when its asbestos and other harmful chemicals in which the Company knew the hazards and did NOT inform the employee of the risk.
Author knaveman Posted September 14, 2009 Author Posted September 14, 2009 Well, my co-worker showed up today, on time and sick. Boss said nothing because we have a lot of work to do and losing one person will put us behind. Co-worker thinks people should just work when they are sick, because he can so why can't everyone else. I pointed out to him that he took a week off unpaid for a vacation but couldn't take a day or two off to get better and not get the rest of us sick. Basically he doesn't care. Oh well, it's not like I'm not going to get sick sooner or later anyway.
allina Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 I'm super sick today so I stayed home. I'm regretting it a little, but I didn't want to be that sick person everyone tries to avoid.
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