<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:s="http://www.techrepublic.com/search" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"  xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Feeling the pressure to work sick ]]></title>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330]]></link>
    <atom:link rel="hub" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" />
    <atom:link rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330/rss" />

    <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <lastBuildDate>2013-06-17T22:34:04-07:00</lastBuildDate>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sick Days? What Are Those?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-3161837]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[My company has been around for many years, and STILL doesn't have &quot;sick days.&quot; You either have to take a Vacation day or an Unpaid day. And we have over 500 employees. You can sometimes get a &quot;paid sick day,&quot; but you MUST have A.) a doctor's note, and B.) approval from the Company President (no one else).And HR discourages people from going to the doctor (necessary for a note) for minor things like a cold, because it runs up the insurance claims.(We've also been told via e-mail that floods, snowstorms and icestorms are no excuse to be absent. We're to call the President directly, and he will send someone in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to pick us up and bring us to work!)]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-3161837]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Firedrake]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:13:00 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[The ADA has some say in this too.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2475967]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[The American Disabilities Act covers time out as well. There are particular guidelines spelled out on, depending upon the cirmcumstances, that require the employer to allow special compensation for disabled workers that require extra time off. http://www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.htmlJohn]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2475967]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jcitron@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:20:46 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Very interesting and it appears history has repeated its self]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2474308]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Interesting. What you're describing is the reason why the unions were developed, and unfortunately you are correct that the unions have gone on to abuse the very power that they received over the companies. The sad part is now that the corporations are gaining the ground again, they are doing exactly what they did before, and for the very reason that the unions were created in the first place.If you get a chance, check out this link about the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912.http://www.lucyparsonsproject.org/iww/kornbluh_bread_roses.htmlThis happened in a city not too far from where I live now. The workers struck back because of poor working conditions and low wages. It was because of this strike, that child labor laws and the 40 hour work week were created.John]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2474308]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jcitron@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:51:36 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[When I was self-employed...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473481]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I didn't have vacation time, sick time, or health insurance. I went nearly ten years without insurance and didn't get sick either! Once I entered the normal workforce again, and started commuting and working in a closed office, I ended up with pneumonia twice, then bronchitis, then numerous other infections to count. There's something about companies expecting employees to come to work ill. The problem is they *do* spread whatever they're carrying to the rest of us who are not sick, but are probably over-stressed so are rundown and open to whatever the germ factory is carrying in.John]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473481]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jcitron@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:43:06 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I agree with you 100%]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473479]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[As both the employee who has also been through the ropes, and as a manager myself I can see both sides. There are people who will take advantage of a good situation when they see it. Unfortunately these people put the dampers on the good will they receive, and as a result ruin it for everyone else.For me sick time is just that sick time. If someone needs a day off for something else, by all means take it if they need to. They have a number of allocated vacation days, and we do not pay out vacation time so they better use it or lose it, which happens in most cases anyway.When I was very young, I took a sick day for a day off, and ended up with a stomach bug. As a result, I would never do that again! John]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473479]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jcitron@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:28:45 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Been there and then some!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473477]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I've had a manager do that to me. I was quarantined in my house due to a viral infection, and my manager made me call in every day to check in. Every call was a long distance call to boot, which pissed me off to no end.Once I deliberately went to work with the flu and he made me go home. I figured that since he didn't believe I was so sick, he might get the point if I infected everyone including him. I know this was selfish, but I had to prove the point somehow!What is worse is when there are medical problems that you're getting tested for and can't say anything about until you have full understanding of what's going on. This has happened to me. I had to keep taking days off for tests and for resting. Unfortunately the days fell on  Mondays and Fridays so it looked like I was going for long weekends, or I had a substance abuse problem. At one point, my manager called me into his office to 'discuss' my problem with him. His face turned purple-red when I told him what I was going through.Now I'm under coverage of the ADA so they can't pull that type of thing on me if they tried.John]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2473477]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jcitron@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:20:31 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sure, especially when it's a lump sum]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2470634]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I worked for a small consulting co. that lumped all leave into PTO (Paid Time Off) that accrued as 10% of your hours worked.  We were paid hourly, so it was really a bit different.  If you didn't work, you didn't get paid.The philosophy was, we don't care about your personal life, use your time off however you want, we don't care if you felt like playing frisbee with your dog that day because the weather was nice, so long as you're meeting deadlines.   The downside of this was that people would come to work sick, because then they could use the time when they were *healthy*, to do something fun.  I know *I* did that.  Unless I was having surgery or caught something horrible that required being really close to a toilet bowl, why stay home and lose the time you could use later?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2470634]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[william.bohrer@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:54:20 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: Feeling the pressure to work sick]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2455237]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I think those of us with heavy workloads choose to work because there are things we have to get done.  But the other side of the coin is there are work from home options that should be utilized to ensure the rest of the office doesn't get sick.  In my experience one person will come in sick then the virus circles through the office one employee at a time..resulting in all kinds of lost productivity.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2455237]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[sauceml@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:33:28 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Sick time off!.. is this a joke???]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2453646]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Sick time off is a management tool where THEY can call in sick and not be bothered but heaven forbid if YOU call in sick.  A month ago, I had the wonderful flu going around, temp of 102 and puking like a big dog.  My boss called me 6 times; 2 on my personal cell, two on my home phone, and two on my work phone ) with the same question and the comment....Know you are sick but you must call me.  When I returned, he tried to write me up for insubordination!  Thank goodness HR told him to &quot;take two asprin and think about it&quot;   Weeks later, he got sick and one guy who had to deal with a PO for 10K called him, the boss was incensed!  &quot;How dare you&quot; was the bosses verbage cleaned up quite a bit.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2453646]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[networkguyinsavannah]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:44:49 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Well Done Canada]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2449892]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Would never happen in the UK.This is a great rant from a Brit who is a little peeved at the way Europe is changing, to accept Eastern culture.http://www.dotsub.com/films/moredemands/index.php?autostart=true&amp;language_setting=en_1618Sorry not really tech related.Les.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2449892]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[SObaldrick]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:25:35 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Why don't you guys 'n gals come to the UK?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2449327]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[We got hundreds of jobs going in UK companies.  So many we are recruiting from all over Europe.  At least you would learn the language a lot quicker than my Bulgarian and Polish colleagues.  Our currency is doing well against the dollar, so that will work in your favour.We've got mountains, coast, plains, Walmart, and castles.  If you want culture, you can get on a train (with your car, if you like) and be in Paris in a few hours.  What more could you ask?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2449327]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Chaz Chance#]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:44:13 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Pay cuts involved for tech support]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448812]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Most of the ads I see for the Charleston area are for software or level 1 tech support.  I don't program any more and level 1 support is a significant pay cut for me.Personally, having been through Andrew (and others), I don't understand why anybody lives on the coast.  Besides, it's too flat down there.  ]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448812]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[NickNielsen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:14:27 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[ummmm no, you didn't lie]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448761]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Canada does not have a national picture ID yet. We have passports, drivers licenses (by province), health cards (by province). Permanent residents (non citizens) have a federally issued photo ID.The ONLY reason we are looking at a national ID card is to get around the need to issue Canadians passports to visit the US. Before homeland security existed all we needed was a birth certificate/resident card and some form of picture id like a drivers license or health card.When I was a kid, before health cards had pics, I got an &quot;age of majority&quot; card so I could drink in bars without a drivers license.By the way in Ontario you can enter a bar without ID, but may be asked to prove your age, no one enforces helmet laws and women can be topless in public, legally. There was a case recently about a Sikh man who did not want to wear a motorcycle helmet, which is the law and is enforced. Instead of paying the fine he took it to the Supreme court of Ontario, which ruled that despite the fact his religion specifies a turban, he is not exempt from the law. James]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448761]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[JamesRL]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:32:23 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Happens All The Time]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448738]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I worked for a company that received almost all of its revenue from the government. The company knew what budget was available to them for the year, but realised in November of my first year there, that they were coming to the end of the year charging significantly less than the budget that was available. Everyone in the company was made to work 10 hours overtime per week for 5 of the last 6 weeks of the year.I have seen similar situations internally, where next years departmental budget is based upon what was spent by the department this year - doh!Les.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448738]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[SObaldrick]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:40:48 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Actually I lied]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448714]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Canada also has a national picture ID. The only 2 countries I've visited where I can't drink my favourite beverage in public, where I can't enter a bar without carrying a picture ID, where I can lose my driving license for riding a bicycle without a helmet, where women can be arrested for being topless, but men do not (the last 3 apply to the US only).It's safe, clean and comfortable .. but free, hmmm!!Les.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448714]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[SObaldrick]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:29:16 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Just my personality:)]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448642]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[My major problem with your OP was the title and general tone.Sorry about the tone. Sometimes it's just my personality. I'm actually a very likeable person once you get used to me. I just like to grumble sometimes, I think it relieves my stress.  Once people get to know me they just laugh. They know even if I'm grumbling about a task that they won't find anyone who will do it better or faster.  Take the good with the bad.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448642]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[$dunk$]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:46:22 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Move to Charleston]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448539]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[IT seems to be hot here on the coast.  Plus it's prettier.  Why anyone lives in the upstate of SC is beyond me.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448539]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jmarkovic32]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:49:58 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Congratulations, Dad!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448220]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Did your mother get her revenge? (&quot;Wait 'til you have children, they'll be just like you!&quot;  )I've been working for almost 40 years and know how it should be; we are working from the inside to get things improved.  But South Carolina is not a good place to be looking for a tech support job right now unless you're interested in a level 1 position; lots of those out there.My major problem with your OP was the title and general tone.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2448220]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[NickNielsen]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:03:35 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[I am better off]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2447988]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[on paper (8 or so holidays, depending on how Christmas/New Years falls, 17 vacation days after 6 years).  However, I get 6 sick days a year, and I have had it brought up in an annual review if I actually use all the time I have coming to me.  How I'm supposed to *not* use 6 sick days in a year with a small child, has never been explained to me.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2447988]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ganyssa]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:42:35 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
             

    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Last Friday....]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2447961]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I was sick and tried to go home, but my boss said no. I was asked to fix a problem on her manager's computer before he went to a trade show that cost $10,000. I would have normally fixed it remotely, but made the point to go sit at his desk to fix it. He asked me why I didn't go home and I told him.He promptly disinfected his desk and I received an apology this morning. I guess my point was made.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-256330-2447961]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[NaughtyMonkey]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:56:47 -0700</pubDate>
    </item>
    </channel>
</rss>

