I once had a 5-6 year streak going where I never called in sick. Kids, paid sick days, and getting screwed change things abit. I once worked for a complany where you got sick days, and they could accumulate year to year so you could save them up in case something major happens. Another company took over our company and they legally had the right to wipe them all out without letting us know they were going to do that. Every since then I have found ways to use them.

Man, that one is tough to beat, 16 hours is a beast.

yeah, we keep accumulating them and then after you go over 130 days, the company will buy them back from you at 25%. i'd just as soon use them for doctor, dentist, eye apts, and fishing.

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What is work?

It's different when you're at the top of the chain.

I've puked off the side of roofs and literally had a heat stroke when it was my job putting the big cut of cash in my pocket. Running on 4 hours sleep in the spring or fall isn't unusual because it's my baby and I'm the one taking the risk & raking in the dollars. If it's my job and I see the pot of gold at the end of the day, I don't get sick.

If you're paying me wages that barely pay my bills while half the country is living off the government, why the hell would I want to show up when I feel like shit or have vacation days build up that you force me to use or lose at the end of the year?

I have some down time at certain times of the year and often get asked to help on projects. The pay is never very good and I normally know what kind of cut the lead guys is getting. If it's over 90, **** you. If I'm sick, **** you. I'm not starving and would much rather be sitting in the shade fishing than suffering though something for a few extra bucks. It's not a work ethic issue, it's a quality of my life issue. :thumb:

One night I showed up to work with the runs, sat in the station for the first three hours dominating the toilet. Finally got it to quit so I could hit the streets. Even took a report in the station in between dumps. Night before I went to work with severe stomach cramps, never got out of my car, finally went to the ER, massively constipated. Missed the last four hours of work, only time I have missed due to sickness.

That is good but 25% is not enough incentive. It would be good if they could put that time as hours worked into our 401K or something, its win win, they get productivity out of us, and we get something back.

I haven't missed a day of work for 7 years.

I hardly ever get sick though. I had a 1 day flu earlier this year but it was on my day off oddly enough.

agree.
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If I'm sick enough to spread it, I'm not going in. I'll do whatever work I can from home or where I can avoid being physically around customers or other employees.

The last thing we need is me getting 2-3 other people sick at my work. That would just nuke efficiency far more than me missing one day due to our small work force, and I'm not Cal Ripkin trying to keep a streak going for my own ego.

Nothing pisses me off more then when some prick drags his germs to work and I end up sick because he can't take one ****ing day off.

You should not be going to work if you are running a fever. That means you are contagious. Didn't your doctor tell you to wait until after being on the antibiotics for 24 hours? It's good that you can brag about your work ethic, but another thing that helps you get over sickness (you mentioned it lingered) is rest. I'd rather miss a few days of work to get better and non-contagious than to have to deal with it for weeks or know that I caused other people to catch it. That's just me. In the two years I've been at my job, I've missed 6 days due to being sick, and I only miss work when I'm puking or running a fever.

Yeah I'd been rolling hard for a couple weeks so I was a zombie anyway. I thought I was being a whiney bitch. I went home and wife made me take a temperature. 101. And normally mine runs at 95-96. Fortunately I had finished up, so I could skip the next day.

Sprayer didn't give a ****.

Some employers have attendence policies that will not let employees do that. I have worked at places where the policies were so strict you could barely miss 3 days of work a year without getting in danger of losing your job. In those places people come to work sick, and its spreads and spreads. Sometimes it even cycles a few times. Those places really need to re think their policiies.

You are suggesting someone should work w/ strep throat and or the flu? Am I understanding that correctly?

I haven't called in sick in probably 8 years or so. I did have the flu on NYD and can tell you that if it had been a work day there's no way in tarnation I could have functioned.

Outside of that clarification I asked about I completely agree w/ your sentiment and overall point.