How sick have you been and still been able to work?

[El Jefe]

I thought about this recently because we had a new tech start and he missed a week of work because he had the runs. I have never missed more than one day being sick in 8 years, I have taken a total of 4 days in my tenure. Last friday I started getting a cold, it hung around for the weekend, but got worse on Sunday. Monday I missed 3 hours of work but came in. I was able to deal with it Tuesday and made it to my doctors appointment today. *Keep in mind that, I am able to have little contact with employees, so I am not sneezing in everyones face.

Needless to say, I went to the Doctor today. I had a 102.3 fever, double ear infection, strep throat and a sinus infection. I got my antibiotics, took the first round and was back at work after 1 hour. I know some of you will say "that's stupid, you are getting everyone else sick" this is our family business, there is only four of us, and we need each one of us to maintain full efficiency. I can drag myself to work and keep production where it should be. Matter of fact, here in 30 minutes I will have installed a 4T65E transmission into a Rendevous that I started this morning, not bad.

How sick have you been yet still able to work? I know some of you construction guys who work for yourself have to have some great stories. Having the flu while doing roofing in 90 degree weather?

[Predarat]

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.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I've been pretty sick. Last year I ran the sprayer for 16 hours with a 101 fever when I got off.

I've also been in the field while having significant asthma. I'd rather have the ****ing fever. Asthma blows.

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

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Predarat

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.

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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[houstonwhodat]

What is work?

[ghak99]

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.

[Dunit35]

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.

[Predarat]

Originally Posted by seclark

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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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.

[Hootie]

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.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Predarat

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.

agree.
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[WhiteWhale]

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.

[luv]

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.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

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

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.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by luv

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. 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.

Sprayer didn't give a ****.

[Predarat]

Originally Posted by luv

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.

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.

[warpaint*]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

Man, that is crazy. Work ethic has gone down the crapper in this country. I have hired 4 kids (I say kids lightly, all are older than I am) in the last 2 years, all four had automotive skill, but would not come to work on time nor were they reliable. It's hard to find dependable workers anymore. I am not advocating you should work when it jeoporadizes your health whether long term or short term, but strep throat and the flu are not strokes and infarctions.

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.