Downside of having sick leave: Sick leave hogs

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by kanhawk

OK, my 2 1/2 year old thread just came back from sick leave and is back at work again finally. I think the people defending this practice are like the coworker I was complaining about. Sick leave hogs. I would explain the old fashioned concept of work ethic, but what would be the point of explaining that to the excuse makers? At least I get overtime pay for the long hours I have to work covering for people absent time and again, for their "sickness", even though I'd rather be able to go home after 8. Oh well, beats not having a job.

Ethics include not going to work sick and infecting the rest of the office. Ethics include not sending a sick child to school and infecting the rest of the class.

[TWD39]

Originally Posted by Wartrace

On the other hand......

I was at my former employer for 20 years and we were given 7 days sick leave per year. If you didn't use it it "accrued" in case you had a major issue and were out for months.

I took a total of 8 sick days in my 20 years. I had accrued 140 less 8 or 132 sick days I did not take. They then shut the plant down and I was terminated without any compensation for those sick days.

Looking back I should have taken every sick day I was entitled to. I knew other people that took every day they had coming and it didn't seem to affect their performance reviews. I feel like I cheated myself out of some time trying to be a "good employee".

But if you had the misfortune of a major issue then you would be thankful that you saved it up. Anything can happen. You could slip and break a bone and need weeks off.