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Interesting scenario

Jman

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My wife has a co-worker with two kids that both have the swine flu. The boss is so stingy that he will not give her paid time off to stay home with the kids - rather than endanger everyone's health and safety at the workplace. So, as a result, this co-worker is coming to work putting everyone at risk. In this economy and tough times - I can understand her doing this, but it is like a catch 22 situation. Curious to see what others think about this....
 
The boss probably has nothing in place to work around this emergency. Anyone can claim time off for a family member having the flu.

It seems the monetary issue is the most important on both sides of the fence.
There is also a tremendous controversy over this whole flu/flu shot subject.
There are doctors saying don't get the shot and they won't let there kids get the shot. Then there are Docs that say everyone should get the shot. Confusing for a civilization that is suppose to have it's sh*t together! We should at least be working together and resemble civilized human beings. Maybe we're suppose to act like human beans and we just got the words mixed up and that's why we're so mixed up and controversial Hahaha! LOL! Sorry it just comes over me........I'm all better now....:rolleyes:

Gort
 
The boss probably has nothing in place to work around this emergency. Anyone can claim time off for a family member having the flu.

It seems the monetary issue is the most important on both sides of the fence.
There is also a tremendous controversy over this whole flu/flu shot subject.
There are doctors saying don't get the shot and they won't let there kids get the shot. Then there are Docs that say everyone should get the shot. Confusing for a civilization that is suppose to have it's sh*t together! We should at least be working together and resemble civilized human beings. Maybe we're suppose to act like human beans and we just got the words mixed up and that's why we're so mixed up and controversial Hahaha! LOL! Sorry it just comes over me........I'm all better now....:rolleyes:

Gort

Yeah, I hear ya on the monetary thing......seems like money is usually the main reason for humans doing terrible things to each other.:(
 
Yeah, I hear ya on the monetary thing......seems like money is usually the main reason for humans doing terrible things to each other.:(

and who says a site full of Gear Heads can't have a thoughtful side ? :D

but seriously, I like that comment..it is a tough question...obviously she needs
to stay with the sick kids and it makes no sense to risk infecting co-workers,
but if she ain't there contributing, why should she get paid? I do see the employer's
position here as well...looking at it long term, on a purely business point of view,
more infections will lead to less productivity, but where do you draw the line?
 
So what's the problem?
You're concerned that the CW can't be with their sick kids?
You're concerned that the CW is gonna get everyone in the office sick?

If it's the former then that means that the kids aren't being watched at all? Are the kids too young to be alone? If this is the case then FMLA should provide legal guideline. If they just want to be with their kids... Everybody would like to give their kids extra attention when they are ill, but sometimes thats just not possible.
Kids get sick all the time... This does not mean that everyone is going to get sick...

Does this person have regular paid time off? Did they use this time?

I'm usually not one to question reasoning when it comes down to staying home with kids, but this is a real flimsy case regarding an illness that is a whole lot of Hooey... Many people reporting H1N1 have a cold or the flu and have decided to report H1N1 w/o so much as a test... People have been taking advantage of this crap for too long...
 
So, defense #1..... your wife wears a face mask to prevent catching the infection from the co worker. #2, she has the decency to do the same. Asia, that's the bare minimum expected of anyone who is ill.
 
So what's the problem?
You're concerned that the CW can't be with their sick kids?
You're concerned that the CW is gonna get everyone in the office sick?

If it's the former then that means that the kids aren't being watched at all? Are the kids too young to be alone? If this is the case then FMLA should provide legal guideline. If they just want to be with their kids... Everybody would like to give their kids extra attention when they are ill, but sometimes thats just not possible.
Kids get sick all the time... This does not mean that everyone is going to get sick...

Does this person have regular paid time off? Did they use this time?

I'm usually not one to question reasoning when it comes down to staying home with kids, but this is a real flimsy case regarding an illness that is a whole lot of Hooey... Many people reporting H1N1 have a cold or the flu and have decided to report H1N1 w/o so much as a test... People have been taking advantage of this crap for too long...

lol, tell us how you REALLY feel. do you work as a manager or something?

But your reasoning isnt that far off the truth tbh.....
 
I work in a hospital...
I like to BS with an Epidemiologist..
The point of my job is to find out underlying reasons why people suffer from reduced function so way too often I find my job easier when I cut through implausible excuses... Tough to pity the "possibley" swine flued when I'm helping people with brain cancer learn how to walk again so they can enjoy life till they get sick again...
 
So what's the problem?
You're concerned that the CW can't be with their sick kids?
You're concerned that the CW is gonna get everyone in the office sick?

If it's the former then that means that the kids aren't being watched at all? Are the kids too young to be alone? If this is the case then FMLA should provide legal guideline. If they just want to be with their kids... Everybody would like to give their kids extra attention when they are ill, but sometimes thats just not possible.
Kids get sick all the time... This does not mean that everyone is going to get sick...

Does this person have regular paid time off? Did they use this time?

I'm usually not one to question reasoning when it comes down to staying home with kids, but this is a real flimsy case regarding an illness that is a whole lot of Hooey... Many people reporting H1N1 have a cold or the flu and have decided to report H1N1 w/o so much as a test... People have been taking advantage of this crap for too long...

Well, my concern is for all parties involved. I would guess this CW has already used their vacation time and it would not be much. No paid time is given for anything else including sick. I'm sure many people are abusing the system with the whole H1N1 scare, but that is not the case here.
 
So, defense #1..... your wife wears a face mask to prevent catching the infection from the co worker. #2, she has the decency to do the same. Asia, that's the bare minimum expected of anyone who is ill.

That is actually a great suggestion - appreciate the positive feedback.
 
well... unfortunately there is nothing proving that the employee will contract the flu or infect anyone else with it. if healthy precautions are made then it is very possible to prevent the spread of the flu.

if everyone was allowed to take paid time off for every time their kid got the sniffles then nothing would ever get done in a workplace. Can't she just take vacation time? or has she used it all for the year already?



Now that i am done playing devils advocate, it would be nice to give one or two days to the woman so that she can make sure that her kids don't get too bad and actually stay alive. the morale boost might actually increase production as opposed to everyone washing their hands every 15 minutes and worrying about it.
 
Jman.... the most important part of any prevention plan is to make sure and wash hands often. Most people touch their face 200+ times a day.... whatever is on or near their hands will eventually end up around their mouth and eyes. That hand sanitizing stuff? Mostly alcohol.... and that kills a huge range of pathogens.

It's pretty much impossible to live in a sterile bubble..... but it's not so tough to reduce the opportunity for infection to 1/10th what you deal with on a 'normal' day. Including good nutrition, and plenty of sleep; that's enough for most of us.

I happen to be one of those who believe in getting the flu shots.... that has cut down the number of serious colds and flu like problems I have had to almost zero over the past 20 years. Wife is up in arms about the H1N1 vaccine, we just got the 'normal' shot this year instead of the H1N1 preventative..... time will tell, if that was wise or not.
 
well... unfortunately there is nothing proving that the employee will contract the flu or infect anyone else with it. if healthy precautions are made then it is very possible to prevent the spread of the flu.

if everyone was allowed to take paid time off for every time their kid got the sniffles then nothing would ever get done in a workplace. Can't she just take vacation time? or has she used it all for the year already?



Now that i am done playing devils advocate, it would be nice to give one or two days to the woman so that she can make sure that her kids don't get too bad and actually stay alive. the morale boost might actually increase production as opposed to everyone washing their hands every 15 minutes and worrying about it.

You guys are spot on with the hand washing thing. My wife and co-workers have been doing that much, but I do like the mask idea. I hear you on the "every time getting a sniffle thing", but this flu is supposed to be a little more serious than the usual illnesses (maybe not all the hype the media has given it).
 
Thumbs up to the handwashing... I would think the mask might be a bit of overkill...
RJ has it on the head with proper nutrition and exercise... The human body has something like 100K times more bacterial cells than human cells the reason we don't get sick is balance and a good immune system...

Nothing empirical, but I always up my yogurt intake around flu season... It tastes like crap to me, but the theory is to flood your gut with bacterial flora can give your body the jump on a viral attack... but just an idea...
 
Tell your wife to take a few sick days while it all blows over. :D

I am very fortunate. The company I work for and the boss I have both prefer that when a person is sick, they stay home and not bring it to work. The company is self-insured for short-term disability and pays us 100% for the full STD 6 month period, thus, those are our sick days. Yes, I get 180 days a year. Of course, you DON'T want to be caught abusing it!

We also have a pandemic plan in place where, should out first case of swine from an employee known to have been in the building with it, and that person is verified by the hospital and CDC as a swine flu victim, immediately, half of every department will be working from home for the next 5 business days. After those 5 days, everyone swaps and the next half goes home for 5 days while the others come to work. We have at least two people in every department that can perform the work of a coworker plus their own job should it be necessary. But, we also have an excellent VPN system in place and people have connectivity from either a work laptop OR a home PC with our client software installed. The person who had the H1N1 cannot return until they have a Doctor's note that says they have recovered.

It's obvious that we are the rare exception and far from the rule, but I just wish the majority of companies could do the same.

She needs to take all the precautions she can. Mask, washing often, Purell at the desk, extra vitamins B complex, C and Zinc in the morning and every night. And if she feels this is not enough, stay home herself until it is safe to return.
 
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