Are you able to take time off from work if you or your child are sick?

October 21, 2009 3:07 PM
Mary Ann G. Superior, WI  

Are you kidding, we are in the USA. No time off for us.

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October 21, 2009 10:58 AM
Sara R. Minneapolis, MN  

We can take time off, and use our accrued vacation time. On the other hand, if my husband gets sick (and he works with FOOD), his employer will write him up (the first time) and not pay him. I also know of several people in my office that are really sick, but they were "sick" so much during the year that they are getting written warnings. On the other hand, people that wern't "sick" all year are having no problems, and their work is being reassigned.

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October 21, 2009 8:13 AM
Claire K. Duluth, MN  

When my daughter was a toddler, she seemed to catch everything going around her day care center. Since my husband's a teacher, I was the one who'd stay at home with our child (I worked at a small company here in Duluth). It got touchy a few times, and once my supervisor complained, even though I was able to keep up with my work load. I told her if she was asking me to choose between my child and my job, the decision was pretty easy, and she backed off. It's not an issue now, as I'm self-employed, and I feel for parents who don't have the flexibility I enjoy to be able to stay home with a sick kid.

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October 20, 2009 9:26 PM
C H. Duluth, MN  

The caring facility we work for Memorial Blood Center has given anyone who has no sick days (but has to stay home with a small child because the child has the flu & cannot go to school nor with the day care take them) more added pressure by giving the employees a "Final Written Warning" which stays in the employees file for the length of employment.

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October 20, 2009 4:09 PM
Sue J. Duluth, MN  

Absolutely, people are very upset when sick people come to work and spread the germs. Parents stay home and tag team to take care of children. Employers who don't take this seriously are only asking for trouble.

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October 20, 2009 2:16 PM
Paul U. Superior, WI  

NO it's not like that everywhere because I have worked elsewhere in my 40 years! I don't know what point you are trying to make, but the RR is doing it wrong! I, and others with common sense are well aware of people that take advantage of situations. I am tired of living my life for the "what if's"! I will not! It is time that we hard working, dedicated, honest people are rewarded for our efforts and for companies to give us back what we give them. We give them our lives! Don't even start with me about them paying us for our efforts, blah, blah, blah..... yes and we give them our lives!

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October 20, 2009 2:14 PM
D J. Iron, MN  

My employer has a very strict absentee policy, You are allowed so many days up to so many hours and than you start to get reprimanded, put on warning and than fired there after. Everyone comes to work sick or not, I think I have already been exposed to the swine flu atleast a couple of times in the last week. Everyone is very silent about being sick to not upset coworkers. I take vitamins, wash hands, avoid touching my face and wash nose out with netti pot as much as possible as well as use airborne religously. I am just waiting to have to come to work sick.

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October 20, 2009 11:25 AM
J T. Cloquet, MN  

Paul U it's like that everywhere. The only downside to not giving consequences for absences is then you have the habitual excessively absent people who are constantly leaving their co-workers working short, and if it's in the healthcare field, then patients or residents are left with sub-level care. It's a no win situation either way, sadly. Where I work, if you miss more than one day for the same illness, all those days are considered ONE absence thankfully.

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October 20, 2009 10:05 AM
Paul U. Superior, WI  

No. Not without consequences. Everyone thinks that Railroad jobs are such great jobs around this area. At the BNSF Railway we are not given, or given the ability to earn "Sick Days". EVERY asbsence for common ilnesses is considered "unexcused" and if they determine that we have had "too many" in their estimation in a certain amount of time we are written up, punished, up to possible termination. This is bad business and promotes illness in the workplace which creates a completely unsafe work environment. They very insincerely tell us to "take care" of ourselves, but punish us if we don't want to work ill, or spread our illness to co-workers. One of several reasons I will keep looking for employment for a company that takes care of loyal and dependable workers.

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October 20, 2009 9:19 AM
Jana P. Moose Lake, MN  

Yes and no. Yes, I am allowed, but no one else will do my work if I'm gone. That said, I can go into work after my husband gets home and get things done, plus I can do about two-thirds of my job from home. Yesterday, two of five of us in the office were off because of influenza-like illness in the home.

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