Message #57446

[spitfire78]

Yes, we also have vacation time that is separate from our sick leave.  Unlike Countrigal, we do not get paid for any unused sick time when we retire.  However, my feeling is that if I retire with 90 sick days accrued and lose them on retirement, I've been a lucky person because that means I've very rarely been sick!

Countrigal, I hear what you're saying, believe me.  And I also understand for new employees who haven't accrued a lot of time.  What frosts me are the ones who have the time and just refuse to take it.  My office mate gets a severe case of bronchitis every winter.  She comes in coughing so bad it sounds like she's coughing up a lung, her face is flushed (so she's obviously feverish), and she looks and quite obviously feels like sh**.  When you say something to her like why doesn't she go home since she obviously doesn't feel well, she responds with "why - there's nothing wrong with me - I feel fine!" (at the same time she coughs like she's dying).  The woman just absolutely refuses to believe that she's sick, and the whole reason is because she feels she MUST be here.  She's worked here for 4 years, while I've been here for 24 years - I can certainly run the office for a few days without her.  She doesn't have any special duties or responsibilities that can't be handled by me or someone else if she is gone.  A few times she has only gone to the dr. because the other secretary in the office harped on her until she finally said - OK there's absolutely nothing wrong with me, but I'll go.  Of course, when she goes, he tells her she has severe bronchitis and an ear infection.  She doesn't ask him if she should stay home, so she comes right back to work.  When you ask her about staying home, she says - "the dr. didn't tell me I should stay home".  Well of course he doesn't say anything if you don't ask!

Well, time to get off my soap box. Again, I totally understand people saving their time for their families or people who are just starting out and don't have time accrued.  The only ones who annoy me are the ones who insist on coming in when they don't REALLY have to.