People Are Pointing Out That The Lack Of Sick Days For US Employees Could Make The Spread Of Coronavirus Accelerate
At the very core of the American soul is the idea of being a hard worker. But it’s a double-edged sword. If you want get paid for your job, you have to show up to work regardless of how you feel. Even if some states require employers to offer paid sick leave, there’s no federal law mandating it in the US.
The low-paid workers are hit the worst, and this is especially true for the service industry. When it comes to the potential for coronavirus to spread in the US, this fact alone could be an undetected fatal error. Writer Lauren Hough shared an unsettling glimpse into getting sick as a bartender: “we called it bar flu because everyone had it and passed it back and forth.” In the context of the COVID-19 threat, one can imagine how flawed sick leave policy could make matters dramatically worse.
One has to learn from lessons like this, but is it too late to change something just now? Let’s dive into this discussion together.
Image credits: shopblocks (not the actual photo)
This woman pointed out that service workers have no option but to keep working while they’re sick
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Image credits: laurenthehough
Image credits: laurenthehough
Image credits: laurenthehough
Lauren expressed her disappointment over the service industry practice of firing workers who call in sick
Image credits: laurenthehough
Image credits: laurenthehough
Image credits: laurenthehough
Image credits: laurenthehough
Another Twitter user declared that the sick leave policy has been flawed the whole time, but coronavirus has made it obvious
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US health agencies have warned Americans that in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, people have to take these seemingly basic steps: wash hands, stay home from work if symptoms appear, and consult your doctor. But for these people whose work requires their presence—think about restaurants and bars, shops, and warehouses—working from home is not an option.
Sarah Evans, an employment expert, claims that “for a small company, having an unproductive member of staff sitting at home doing nothing on full pay will be a huge burden.” Vice versa, the competitive job market pushes the worker to the limit, since there’s always the risk of losing their job. And for many, this scenario sounds worse than handling food or serving customers while ill.
Image credits: AnandWrites
Image credits: AnandWrites
Anand shared an idea of a TV show that would expose what role society’s least insured play in the health of others
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Image credits: AnandWrites
Image credits: AnandWrites
The high cost of health care and the lack of paid sick days suggest that there has to be a systematic change to control the coronavirus. David Blumenthal, president of the global health think tank the Commonwealth Fund, expressed his concern: “People with acute illness of all kinds postpone healthcare when they lack health insurance or have high deductibles.” He added that “there’s no reason to expect people with symptoms of an upper respiratory infection would not do the same.” A simple blood test sample can set you back $167 in Brooklyn and that is self-explanatory.
Yet another person shared his personal experience of working in the fast-food business
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Image credits: NomeDaBarbarian
More people joined the heated discussion
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This is what people had to say
Let's be honest: the USA is not a first world country. Just the fact that middleclass people need second or even third jobs to make ends meet says it all. The infrastructure (roads,bridges, internet) is as bad as any underdeveloped country. No universal health care, because it's 'socialist'. Terrible education producing ignorance about nearly everything. Gun violence. And to top it all they have a lying cry baby as president, who throws tantrumes every time somebody 'is not nice' to him. The leader of the free world? Yeah, right.
This all makes me very proud and happy to live in social-democratic Europe.
Load More Replies...I'm lucky to live in Europe where reason and humanity has priority over greed. This is an American problem and Americans could solve it easily if they just stopped thinking that every legislation aimed at improving the standards and security of living is considered either "socialist" or " paying taxes to support freeloaders". When we tell Americans that we have a system where sick people can be sick for 2 years without getting fired, becoming homeless or having to pay the wages for their substitutes (like in California), they call us liars or tell us that we're living in a fairytale land. No, we live in a developed and civilised country, while the US is only developed.
I completely agree. I live in Spain and my husband was sick for over a year (he needed several operations and therapy). He never lost his job, was paid every month, and we didn't have to pay a single euro for his treatment. Where I'm working now, the moment you say "I don't feel good", the boss just responds with "go home, rest, and bring me a doctor's note." No questions asked. Visiting the doctor is free, of course, so getting the doctor's note to hand in to work only implies spending some time waiting to be seen. Man, I even missed a day of work because my elderly cat was about to die (we could see her slipping away very fast. I stayed home on a Friday and she passed away the following morning). I called in, told them what was happening, and all they said was to take care of her and to make up for the lost hours whenever it suited me best. Empathy, people!
Load More Replies...The government in the UK has promised people that taking two weeks to self-isolate, if there is a possibility the person could have corona-virus, they will be paid sick-pay. No excuses for going anywhere and risking other people's health.
Yeah my place has recently issued a company wide notice stating anyone with corona or suspected or in isolation whatever will be on full pay for the duration, proof will be required from Doctor of course.
Load More Replies...What the hell is with this "sick days"? You cant plan being sick like its a holiday. What if you get sick for more days? Do they fire you?
Last week a girl worked through the flu, ended up in the hospital, was vomiting between orders... think that's bad? All 3 cooks had it too. Sneezing, coughing, in the bathroom non stop... my bosses said they couldn't afford to let anyone go home. Our customers are mostly elderly. You call out, you risk getting fired. Fire at will state. They don't even need a reason. You better work for that 2.13 an hour.
I would have walked out... and taken everyone with me... what are they going to do then... fire everyone? You could file a lawsuit for unlawful firing. I mean... those people were a health hazard, and if the health dept. knew about it, the place would be shut down anyway! So...
Load More Replies...I live in Canada. Our health care system isn't perfect by any means, but we don't have to worry about large numbers of desperately poor people going around untreated for communicable diseases. This is a benefit to everyone, not just them.
Yeah, but it's still not great. Many provinces are just about as bad as the US, with the exception that we can go to the hospital if we're really sick. You don't get paid for that time off though.
Load More Replies...It's America's problem. I live in Poland and if you're sick then the only thing you need to do is visiting a doctor and getting a note from them. And then you stay home as long as the note said you need to. If you get fired because of that you can actually go to court and sue the company so if you're working for a legitimate one there won't be any problems at all. I once stayed on a sick leave for over 4 weeks and generally never work while sick - my boss always tells me to go home if I report that I'm feeling unwell.
In the USA, many states have at-will employment laws. You may quit with no notification, but your employer may also fire you with no notification or stated reason.
Load More Replies...Yep I have had jobs where sick days were offered but if you used it on a day where too many others were already off (planned or not) you got written up. The excuse? The sick days can be scheduled in cases of doc appts or whatnot , but using it when your actually sick ? yeah youre gonna get points for that.
When I was younger, a forklift ran over my foot and crushed it AT WORK. Boss drove me to the emergency room, company (large company) paid my medical bills, but I never missed a single day of work. Before that, I worked with a broken kneecap. Never saw a doctor. Never had it even x-rayed until 20 years later while being treated for arthritis. Had arthroscopic surgery on both knees 6 years ago. I still make payments on it every week. I'm an executive with "decent" insurance.
I suffered 3rd degree burns when hot coffee was spilled over me, and my employer made me work anyway. I finally told him that I HAD to go to the hospital. He gave me directions to the bus stop where I could catch a bus to the hospital. (I was a teenager, young and naive, and didn't have a car.) They covered my medical care, but my Dad told me I should sue them. The worst part is that my co-workers laughed when I spilled the coffee. One man apologised later, saying he didn't know I was injured.
Load More Replies...When people can't get paid sick days, and they have bils to pay and mouths to feed, they go to work even when they are sick as dogs. One sick employee can play Typhoid Mary to not just his/her place of work, but also to public transit. One infectious person gets on a crowded bus, and those passengers who catch the disease will spread it farther.
Yes, its just wrong. I always told my people to stay home if they are ill. Stay home with your kids
Load More Replies...I have private health insurance. It sucks. I get sinus infections annually in the wintertime. I go to the pet store and buy fish-mox. It is amoxicillin for use in aquariums. I mix a packet with ketchup(it's gross tasting) and eat it. Repeat everyday for a week and it's usually gone.
I think che complete lack of welfare is the opposite of what leaving in a community means. Welfare is not democratic republican or socialist or whatever. Basically in the US you live to work, and the correct way should be "work to live." Furthermore you'll pay for test, i read yesterday about an US citizen was charged 3000 USD for a cotton swab and related test; you'll pay for the vaccine, once available, and according to your pure-capitalism based nation, the more it will be required the more it will costs. Basically in the US if you're not rich or very good-insured( that means to be rich) and seriously sick, you can choose to die for the disease itself or starving on the street after losing antything, to pay the medical expenses. Politicians are very clever to make people fight each others for unrelevant ideological questions; it's time you fight togheter for the real issues that have great impact in your whole life. and the healthcare system is the main one. Good luck everybdody
It would also be great if we could ever get a politician to ACTUALLY ever do what they said they would do, while on the campaign trial. Trump might not be the best person, or president, but he has actually managed to fulfill some campaign promises. At least as many as the Democrats would allow. Just think... if we could split all the tax payers money that’s been spent on trying to impeach Trump, and all the money that’s been spent on investigations... I think every citizen in the USA might just have made enough money to actually move into another tax bracket! If the two parties would just try to work together fir once instead of just trying to fight about everything, then our country might get somewhere good! I’m so SICK of all the hateful remarks, the fights, etc., etc. Just do your jobs politicians... show up fir the meetings, sessions, and actually (both sides) OPEN your ears and listen to what the other party has to say! Good to be a lawyer in DC!
Load More Replies...It's not going to be China, the Middle East or Africa (well maybe) that will cause a global pandemic, it'll be the US. Because of the above exact reasons. Most people won't take a day off, won't go to the hospital as they'll be lumped with a $3000 bill (or more) and/or get sacked. Why isn't Trump enacting an emergency plan to deal with mass infection?? Set up free testing clinics that won't thousands?? Oh and btw, it's illegal to sack people in Aus for being sick.
This is why I get angry when people complain about illegal immigrants in the U.S. having access to health care. So, these folks don't want everyone who has tuberculosis or measles or other communicable diseases to see a doctor? Sick folks not seeing a doctor is a contributing factor to a disease becoming an epidemic or even a pandemic.
Chris, I think it all goes back to money. I think American workers are sick to death of paying taxes for anyone who wants to come here (sick or well) but either doesn’t have a job, or has a job, but doesn’t pay income taxes, etc., etc. A good example is CA. People are moving away in droves, because taxes have become too much to bear for most of them. The homeless population is growing by leaps and bounds, and soon there may not be enough people working and paying taxes to keep up the demand. The governor of CA wants to give immigrants free housing, free medical, free food, free education. That’s all very good, and a noble gesture, but someone has to pay for it all, and it’s breaking CA’s back. If our government is going to give one class of citizen free medical care, then it should at least lower the prices for those who are paying for everyone else. I don’t want to see anyone sick, and I don’t wish to see hard working, tax paying citizens get the total tab either.
Load More Replies...Honestly? It's not much better here in Canada. Most of us, in most provinces, also only get 3-7 paid sick leave days a year. Sure, we can drag ourselves into a hospital (where you'll likely be waiting hours to be seen), but what happens when those three sick days have been used up, and you're incredibly sick? You're still back at work, spreading whatever you've caught, because you can't afford to stay home. And while the law states that you cannot be laid off for taking unpaid time off for being sick, it still happens. And we have to pay into an extended health care system, because many services aren't free. You heard me right, my American friends. Our Conservative governments (our version of Republicans) have been chipping away at health care for decades. The whole of North America needs to overhaul its health care policies, and soon, to match those in Europe. I foresee many preventable deaths due to these slave-labour conditions we're all being forced to work with.
Spot on Bunzilla. Where I work you won't be fired for taking unpaid time, you will be fired for "failing in your commitment to provide the best service to the customer". Which you failed to do because you were home sick.
Load More Replies...It'd help if the US gov't didn't fire pandemic response teams to "save money" (for whom!?!) or ignore CDC/WHO recommendations. With that kind of "leadership"... who needs enemies?
Unfortunately, this is the same for nurses - even if we do have the sick days available, there often isn't anyone to work for us and we are guilted into working.
Capitalism at it's finest. There is hope for it jacked health system though. People in power recognize the problem and the older generation of politicians is slowly being replaced. Not that that helps much in this circumstance...
This policy of working when you're sick, especially in customer facing or food prep roles kills. Anyone with a lowered immune system who comes into contact with fairly minor illnesses runs the risk of ending up dead as what is a minor inconvenience and a few days feeling rubbish for "healthy" people can result in life endangering medical situations for them. I'm on long term treatment that lowers my immune system so I have to be so careful. Friends and family know how to help keep me safe, and I rely on those I come into contact to at least have decent hand hygiene.... but so many people don't even do that. Luckily in Europe sick leave us better but it's something that always worries me. Thank God im not in the US!
I think we get 2 weeks sick leave in Australia, or a week. My job is casual so I don't accrue leave of any kind, but I seem to remember having 2 weeks available. Even without sick leave, I'm absolutely fine to go to the doctor. A GP visit at my preferred clinic is $73, and about $40 of that is instantly refunded. My anxiety medications cost $16 a month. My Aunt was just treated for cancer at no cost. My mother was treated for cancer at no cost. My father had a heart attack and was not charged. They pay for medication, not treatment. But tell me again how America is great.
While I also think that this system of fire at will and sick days is not a good one, even American employers must at some point realize an epidemic is dangerous and sick workers should stay home?
I’m sure the American employers realize what this epidemic is very serious and dangerous, but right now, it’s not to the point of shutting everything totally down. I think companies are biding their time, trying to make the best decisions they can, while also trying to keep profits up, so our stock market won’t totally crash, sending the US into a total meltdown, where too many people lose their jobs, homes, insurance, etc., etc. Our CDC has issued emergencies before, and they’re very good about getting vaccines out as quickly as possible. The first vaccines for trial were shipped to Virginia last week, and will be tested before investing in mass doses, that could possibly fail. One very important thing to keep in mind; if this virus strain is replicating and changing, like many flu strains do, then getting ahead of the potential risk of a mutation is going to be a very daunting task. If things become too bad, then I’m positive we’ll have forced quarantines, incubation period
Load More Replies...Unfortunately, this is the sick reality in America. Taking days off is frowned upon. The human side of you has been slowly killed in here (although many other factors play a role as well). I know it’s hard to believe for a lot of you who don’t live in the U.S, but a lot of bosses make you feel bad for taking time off when you are sick. There is always that sense of guilt lingering. You always feel like you are doing something wrong. Not to mention that a lot of people don’t always get paid on days off. So, between not getting paid and being made to feel like c**p, most people just show up to work no matter what.
Why does everyone ignore those of us in gig economy who are forced to be self employed but still report to a company that can fire us? I am a dog walker and work for an individual yet am legally self employed. If my clients all cancel , I have nothing . I can not take off sick days or get any benefits. People discuss the governments requiring sick pay but ignore all of us. We also are penalized with higher taxes. We are also in the service industry but overlooked .
I've worked for Apple in Ireland and while they're saying "your health is a priority", you also can't miss work more than three times in 6 months (for whatever reason, sickness, car broke down, kid sick, etc.) you'd face consequences. Everybody who'd be unlucky enough to fill that quota would come to work sick and infect everybody else.
Glad I don't have "sick days". When I'm sick, I stay home and go to the doc, for free. So exactly how are you the greatest nation on the planet?
Is US a 3rd world country? I don't get why you guys don't have street riots and torch gatherings near the white house or something idk.
I'm lucky to be working in a Singapore company where seeing a doctor is free (coz' of medical insurance the company bought for her staff). As a office worker, we are entitled 14 days sick leave. Given current COVID-19 situation, if you have flu-like symptoms, the doc will give you 5 days of medical leave. I'd always heard about the medical 'situation' in US and reading this post just makes me more sad. Again, hopefully this COVID-19 situation will get better and over soon.
I never got paid sick leave at my "good" job, and was extremely overworked so I always came to work sick because I couldn't lose the pay and didn't dare fall behind. I always get bronchitis after a cold (if I can't rest up) so I would get everyone else sick and customers would hear my seal-bark looking before they saw me. I took great pleasure in telling any customer that asked about how I had no sick leave, or help with my work. My crowning achievement was giving my immediate superior a gnarly cold that permanently destroyed his sense of smell and taste. He was salaried and could stay home sick, I could not. Plus I was doing several jobs (shuttle driver, auxiliary service writer, receptionist/cashier etc) where I not only touched every computer keyboard and phone in the service department, but handed customers change/cards/pens all day long. My coworkers used to call me "The Outbreak Monkey."
I worked at Sam's Club years ago. I got written up for being sick too many times, even though I went to the doctor on each occasion I was sick and had notes for all of them. I should not have gotten the flu and bronchitis in the same winter, so selfish of me. They were a**hats about calling in, but funny thing is when I got written up again (they'd removed the manager in my area of the store, I told them by myself it was too much work and I couldn't do what they were asking, they said that they'd see what they could do to help- apparently "help" meant corrective action to them) I was sent home for a "decision day." Decision day being a PAID day off to... think about what you've done I guess?? Weirdest thing. You can't get paid sick days half the time, but get written up and you can go home with a full days pay.
Are you two different people posting form the same account? Your comment above makes it seem as though you missed the entire point of the discussion and blame people not companies for causing this problem. Then you write this personal story showing how you were affected by terrible company policies. Are you really that self unaware?
Load More Replies...Again and again I'm puzzled on the US healthcare system. Sick days? Come on, serious? That cannot be true ... how should anyone plan this? How can it be legal, in one of the most advanced societies ever to be known. This is so damned ridiculous, ridonkulis, whatever ... and, as always, there will be some blabla about how a public healthcare insurance makes everyone a slave and other b******t I can't imagine being said without a bad and exploitative intention. The working people's rights are not only in question where stuff like that is legal - they're broken. They WERE in question, and the answer seems to be no. So sad!
Imagine healthcare workers. We are in the frontlines. Majority of us get sick, and we often do not have a choice but to come into work sick for fear of losing our jobs. Like everyone stated, we are only allotted so many sick days. If you have a change of circumstances, we are required to get health insurance or we will be penalized. That makes absolutely no sense. Don't get me started on prescription drug costs either.
Oh Lory, you’re so right about the RX charges!! Heck you can get the same meds. made by the same pharmaceutical companies in other countries for $5.00! Now tell me, how can a country that makes the drug, sell it for so much more, in the country where they make it, than a country that imports the stuff and sells it for a measly $5.00??? Big Pharma has big crooks! They say the $ goes into research, but if we can buy it out of the US for $5.00, then we should be able to get it for $5.00 here as well!
Load More Replies...Just for clarity's sake, Deliveroo is an English company with sites in countries with universal healthcare. The top photo is badly chosen.
What lack of sick days? I don't know of any company that doesn't offer them. In California it's the law.
And California enforces it's laws all over the US? Is that what you are trying to say?
Load More Replies...3 sick days in Canada, too. Can we talk about how s****y Canada is, please?
Healthcare accessible to all. That's not s****y. I guess the number of sick days you get depends on where you work. Do you only get 3 sick days a year? Or in a row?
Load More Replies...This is certainly true. Unfortunately, the US has no care for its citizens in need, especially from the health system point of view. In any case, as far as Europe and Italy in particular are concerned, please do not believe the exaggerations (made up!) of the press that tell of a country in chaos, of plundered supermarkets and things like that. We live as usual, with a few more worries but without drama.
This is very common in the office environment too. In fact, my boss just threw a fit like a child the other day when he found out our state required him to give us paid sick days.
We get 6 sick days a year, 1 float day and our PTO. However our dept makes it very hard to take time off if you are sick or to see a doctor. Coming back here the day after calling out is like getting caught sneaking back in as a teenager, and there will be consequences. Around here they just treat you like s**t for a while. So they give it to you but wont let you use it. People around here are always sick especially since the top lady keeps this place so cold we are usually at our desk with blankets over us because its that cold.
If you are in Ontario and need a consult at the doctor's office, it's $20 - $30 for the visit. If you live close enough to the border, drive or be driven over here and get your needs seen to! (Yes, I know this is a bad idea that will overload our already strained medical system, but really! People are dying right next door in a wealthy nation!)
A regular 10-20 minute with a doc costs $$ in Ontario? Or just for a full physical? Are you going to a doc who's "opted out"?
Load More Replies...An American worker above said she was taxed at 21%. In the lowest tax bracket? How is this even possible?! Many Americans fear Socialized Medicine bc they think their taxes will go up. They are already paying enough taxes to pay for it, IMO. Who is responsible for this tragedy???
All of our money goes to bloated military and expensive military contracts so politicians can keep rich friends happy.
Load More Replies...I made a different comment about working- but felt I should say something separately. If you are sick- you shouldn't go shopping for new glasses, pants, mattresses, etc. Just. Stay. Home. If you're sick and your kid has an eye exam- reschedule. Don't come in and make everyone sick just because you want your kid to have contact lenses for football. You make all of us sick and then the doctor ends up having to call in and now nobody gets an eye exam because you needed to go in on that one day. I literally had a little girl turn toward me while I was pretesting her and cough- in my mouth. I was explaining something, and she coughed in my face directly into my mouth. Shockingly I had to call in to work a few days later. Stay the hell home. Please. For real. Keep your germs to yourself.
If they are.sick. Be responsible. Don't take advantage of my kindnesses .
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Hahaha!! An article attempting to hate on capitalism by using a virus that started in a COMMUNIST COUNTRY as an example of why capitalism is bad. Now THAT is short sighted!
Scandinavian? Lol. Go look at a map. I shan't suggest educating yourself about socialism as clearly the concept is beyond your understanding.
Load More Replies...Let's be honest: the USA is not a first world country. Just the fact that middleclass people need second or even third jobs to make ends meet says it all. The infrastructure (roads,bridges, internet) is as bad as any underdeveloped country. No universal health care, because it's 'socialist'. Terrible education producing ignorance about nearly everything. Gun violence. And to top it all they have a lying cry baby as president, who throws tantrumes every time somebody 'is not nice' to him. The leader of the free world? Yeah, right.
This all makes me very proud and happy to live in social-democratic Europe.
Load More Replies...I'm lucky to live in Europe where reason and humanity has priority over greed. This is an American problem and Americans could solve it easily if they just stopped thinking that every legislation aimed at improving the standards and security of living is considered either "socialist" or " paying taxes to support freeloaders". When we tell Americans that we have a system where sick people can be sick for 2 years without getting fired, becoming homeless or having to pay the wages for their substitutes (like in California), they call us liars or tell us that we're living in a fairytale land. No, we live in a developed and civilised country, while the US is only developed.
I completely agree. I live in Spain and my husband was sick for over a year (he needed several operations and therapy). He never lost his job, was paid every month, and we didn't have to pay a single euro for his treatment. Where I'm working now, the moment you say "I don't feel good", the boss just responds with "go home, rest, and bring me a doctor's note." No questions asked. Visiting the doctor is free, of course, so getting the doctor's note to hand in to work only implies spending some time waiting to be seen. Man, I even missed a day of work because my elderly cat was about to die (we could see her slipping away very fast. I stayed home on a Friday and she passed away the following morning). I called in, told them what was happening, and all they said was to take care of her and to make up for the lost hours whenever it suited me best. Empathy, people!
Load More Replies...The government in the UK has promised people that taking two weeks to self-isolate, if there is a possibility the person could have corona-virus, they will be paid sick-pay. No excuses for going anywhere and risking other people's health.
Yeah my place has recently issued a company wide notice stating anyone with corona or suspected or in isolation whatever will be on full pay for the duration, proof will be required from Doctor of course.
Load More Replies...What the hell is with this "sick days"? You cant plan being sick like its a holiday. What if you get sick for more days? Do they fire you?
Last week a girl worked through the flu, ended up in the hospital, was vomiting between orders... think that's bad? All 3 cooks had it too. Sneezing, coughing, in the bathroom non stop... my bosses said they couldn't afford to let anyone go home. Our customers are mostly elderly. You call out, you risk getting fired. Fire at will state. They don't even need a reason. You better work for that 2.13 an hour.
I would have walked out... and taken everyone with me... what are they going to do then... fire everyone? You could file a lawsuit for unlawful firing. I mean... those people were a health hazard, and if the health dept. knew about it, the place would be shut down anyway! So...
Load More Replies...I live in Canada. Our health care system isn't perfect by any means, but we don't have to worry about large numbers of desperately poor people going around untreated for communicable diseases. This is a benefit to everyone, not just them.
Yeah, but it's still not great. Many provinces are just about as bad as the US, with the exception that we can go to the hospital if we're really sick. You don't get paid for that time off though.
Load More Replies...It's America's problem. I live in Poland and if you're sick then the only thing you need to do is visiting a doctor and getting a note from them. And then you stay home as long as the note said you need to. If you get fired because of that you can actually go to court and sue the company so if you're working for a legitimate one there won't be any problems at all. I once stayed on a sick leave for over 4 weeks and generally never work while sick - my boss always tells me to go home if I report that I'm feeling unwell.
In the USA, many states have at-will employment laws. You may quit with no notification, but your employer may also fire you with no notification or stated reason.
Load More Replies...Yep I have had jobs where sick days were offered but if you used it on a day where too many others were already off (planned or not) you got written up. The excuse? The sick days can be scheduled in cases of doc appts or whatnot , but using it when your actually sick ? yeah youre gonna get points for that.
When I was younger, a forklift ran over my foot and crushed it AT WORK. Boss drove me to the emergency room, company (large company) paid my medical bills, but I never missed a single day of work. Before that, I worked with a broken kneecap. Never saw a doctor. Never had it even x-rayed until 20 years later while being treated for arthritis. Had arthroscopic surgery on both knees 6 years ago. I still make payments on it every week. I'm an executive with "decent" insurance.
I suffered 3rd degree burns when hot coffee was spilled over me, and my employer made me work anyway. I finally told him that I HAD to go to the hospital. He gave me directions to the bus stop where I could catch a bus to the hospital. (I was a teenager, young and naive, and didn't have a car.) They covered my medical care, but my Dad told me I should sue them. The worst part is that my co-workers laughed when I spilled the coffee. One man apologised later, saying he didn't know I was injured.
Load More Replies...When people can't get paid sick days, and they have bils to pay and mouths to feed, they go to work even when they are sick as dogs. One sick employee can play Typhoid Mary to not just his/her place of work, but also to public transit. One infectious person gets on a crowded bus, and those passengers who catch the disease will spread it farther.
Yes, its just wrong. I always told my people to stay home if they are ill. Stay home with your kids
Load More Replies...I have private health insurance. It sucks. I get sinus infections annually in the wintertime. I go to the pet store and buy fish-mox. It is amoxicillin for use in aquariums. I mix a packet with ketchup(it's gross tasting) and eat it. Repeat everyday for a week and it's usually gone.
I think che complete lack of welfare is the opposite of what leaving in a community means. Welfare is not democratic republican or socialist or whatever. Basically in the US you live to work, and the correct way should be "work to live." Furthermore you'll pay for test, i read yesterday about an US citizen was charged 3000 USD for a cotton swab and related test; you'll pay for the vaccine, once available, and according to your pure-capitalism based nation, the more it will be required the more it will costs. Basically in the US if you're not rich or very good-insured( that means to be rich) and seriously sick, you can choose to die for the disease itself or starving on the street after losing antything, to pay the medical expenses. Politicians are very clever to make people fight each others for unrelevant ideological questions; it's time you fight togheter for the real issues that have great impact in your whole life. and the healthcare system is the main one. Good luck everybdody
It would also be great if we could ever get a politician to ACTUALLY ever do what they said they would do, while on the campaign trial. Trump might not be the best person, or president, but he has actually managed to fulfill some campaign promises. At least as many as the Democrats would allow. Just think... if we could split all the tax payers money that’s been spent on trying to impeach Trump, and all the money that’s been spent on investigations... I think every citizen in the USA might just have made enough money to actually move into another tax bracket! If the two parties would just try to work together fir once instead of just trying to fight about everything, then our country might get somewhere good! I’m so SICK of all the hateful remarks, the fights, etc., etc. Just do your jobs politicians... show up fir the meetings, sessions, and actually (both sides) OPEN your ears and listen to what the other party has to say! Good to be a lawyer in DC!
Load More Replies...It's not going to be China, the Middle East or Africa (well maybe) that will cause a global pandemic, it'll be the US. Because of the above exact reasons. Most people won't take a day off, won't go to the hospital as they'll be lumped with a $3000 bill (or more) and/or get sacked. Why isn't Trump enacting an emergency plan to deal with mass infection?? Set up free testing clinics that won't thousands?? Oh and btw, it's illegal to sack people in Aus for being sick.
This is why I get angry when people complain about illegal immigrants in the U.S. having access to health care. So, these folks don't want everyone who has tuberculosis or measles or other communicable diseases to see a doctor? Sick folks not seeing a doctor is a contributing factor to a disease becoming an epidemic or even a pandemic.
Chris, I think it all goes back to money. I think American workers are sick to death of paying taxes for anyone who wants to come here (sick or well) but either doesn’t have a job, or has a job, but doesn’t pay income taxes, etc., etc. A good example is CA. People are moving away in droves, because taxes have become too much to bear for most of them. The homeless population is growing by leaps and bounds, and soon there may not be enough people working and paying taxes to keep up the demand. The governor of CA wants to give immigrants free housing, free medical, free food, free education. That’s all very good, and a noble gesture, but someone has to pay for it all, and it’s breaking CA’s back. If our government is going to give one class of citizen free medical care, then it should at least lower the prices for those who are paying for everyone else. I don’t want to see anyone sick, and I don’t wish to see hard working, tax paying citizens get the total tab either.
Load More Replies...Honestly? It's not much better here in Canada. Most of us, in most provinces, also only get 3-7 paid sick leave days a year. Sure, we can drag ourselves into a hospital (where you'll likely be waiting hours to be seen), but what happens when those three sick days have been used up, and you're incredibly sick? You're still back at work, spreading whatever you've caught, because you can't afford to stay home. And while the law states that you cannot be laid off for taking unpaid time off for being sick, it still happens. And we have to pay into an extended health care system, because many services aren't free. You heard me right, my American friends. Our Conservative governments (our version of Republicans) have been chipping away at health care for decades. The whole of North America needs to overhaul its health care policies, and soon, to match those in Europe. I foresee many preventable deaths due to these slave-labour conditions we're all being forced to work with.
Spot on Bunzilla. Where I work you won't be fired for taking unpaid time, you will be fired for "failing in your commitment to provide the best service to the customer". Which you failed to do because you were home sick.
Load More Replies...It'd help if the US gov't didn't fire pandemic response teams to "save money" (for whom!?!) or ignore CDC/WHO recommendations. With that kind of "leadership"... who needs enemies?
Unfortunately, this is the same for nurses - even if we do have the sick days available, there often isn't anyone to work for us and we are guilted into working.
Capitalism at it's finest. There is hope for it jacked health system though. People in power recognize the problem and the older generation of politicians is slowly being replaced. Not that that helps much in this circumstance...
This policy of working when you're sick, especially in customer facing or food prep roles kills. Anyone with a lowered immune system who comes into contact with fairly minor illnesses runs the risk of ending up dead as what is a minor inconvenience and a few days feeling rubbish for "healthy" people can result in life endangering medical situations for them. I'm on long term treatment that lowers my immune system so I have to be so careful. Friends and family know how to help keep me safe, and I rely on those I come into contact to at least have decent hand hygiene.... but so many people don't even do that. Luckily in Europe sick leave us better but it's something that always worries me. Thank God im not in the US!
I think we get 2 weeks sick leave in Australia, or a week. My job is casual so I don't accrue leave of any kind, but I seem to remember having 2 weeks available. Even without sick leave, I'm absolutely fine to go to the doctor. A GP visit at my preferred clinic is $73, and about $40 of that is instantly refunded. My anxiety medications cost $16 a month. My Aunt was just treated for cancer at no cost. My mother was treated for cancer at no cost. My father had a heart attack and was not charged. They pay for medication, not treatment. But tell me again how America is great.
While I also think that this system of fire at will and sick days is not a good one, even American employers must at some point realize an epidemic is dangerous and sick workers should stay home?
I’m sure the American employers realize what this epidemic is very serious and dangerous, but right now, it’s not to the point of shutting everything totally down. I think companies are biding their time, trying to make the best decisions they can, while also trying to keep profits up, so our stock market won’t totally crash, sending the US into a total meltdown, where too many people lose their jobs, homes, insurance, etc., etc. Our CDC has issued emergencies before, and they’re very good about getting vaccines out as quickly as possible. The first vaccines for trial were shipped to Virginia last week, and will be tested before investing in mass doses, that could possibly fail. One very important thing to keep in mind; if this virus strain is replicating and changing, like many flu strains do, then getting ahead of the potential risk of a mutation is going to be a very daunting task. If things become too bad, then I’m positive we’ll have forced quarantines, incubation period
Load More Replies...Unfortunately, this is the sick reality in America. Taking days off is frowned upon. The human side of you has been slowly killed in here (although many other factors play a role as well). I know it’s hard to believe for a lot of you who don’t live in the U.S, but a lot of bosses make you feel bad for taking time off when you are sick. There is always that sense of guilt lingering. You always feel like you are doing something wrong. Not to mention that a lot of people don’t always get paid on days off. So, between not getting paid and being made to feel like c**p, most people just show up to work no matter what.
Why does everyone ignore those of us in gig economy who are forced to be self employed but still report to a company that can fire us? I am a dog walker and work for an individual yet am legally self employed. If my clients all cancel , I have nothing . I can not take off sick days or get any benefits. People discuss the governments requiring sick pay but ignore all of us. We also are penalized with higher taxes. We are also in the service industry but overlooked .
I've worked for Apple in Ireland and while they're saying "your health is a priority", you also can't miss work more than three times in 6 months (for whatever reason, sickness, car broke down, kid sick, etc.) you'd face consequences. Everybody who'd be unlucky enough to fill that quota would come to work sick and infect everybody else.
Glad I don't have "sick days". When I'm sick, I stay home and go to the doc, for free. So exactly how are you the greatest nation on the planet?
Is US a 3rd world country? I don't get why you guys don't have street riots and torch gatherings near the white house or something idk.
I'm lucky to be working in a Singapore company where seeing a doctor is free (coz' of medical insurance the company bought for her staff). As a office worker, we are entitled 14 days sick leave. Given current COVID-19 situation, if you have flu-like symptoms, the doc will give you 5 days of medical leave. I'd always heard about the medical 'situation' in US and reading this post just makes me more sad. Again, hopefully this COVID-19 situation will get better and over soon.
I never got paid sick leave at my "good" job, and was extremely overworked so I always came to work sick because I couldn't lose the pay and didn't dare fall behind. I always get bronchitis after a cold (if I can't rest up) so I would get everyone else sick and customers would hear my seal-bark looking before they saw me. I took great pleasure in telling any customer that asked about how I had no sick leave, or help with my work. My crowning achievement was giving my immediate superior a gnarly cold that permanently destroyed his sense of smell and taste. He was salaried and could stay home sick, I could not. Plus I was doing several jobs (shuttle driver, auxiliary service writer, receptionist/cashier etc) where I not only touched every computer keyboard and phone in the service department, but handed customers change/cards/pens all day long. My coworkers used to call me "The Outbreak Monkey."
I worked at Sam's Club years ago. I got written up for being sick too many times, even though I went to the doctor on each occasion I was sick and had notes for all of them. I should not have gotten the flu and bronchitis in the same winter, so selfish of me. They were a**hats about calling in, but funny thing is when I got written up again (they'd removed the manager in my area of the store, I told them by myself it was too much work and I couldn't do what they were asking, they said that they'd see what they could do to help- apparently "help" meant corrective action to them) I was sent home for a "decision day." Decision day being a PAID day off to... think about what you've done I guess?? Weirdest thing. You can't get paid sick days half the time, but get written up and you can go home with a full days pay.
Are you two different people posting form the same account? Your comment above makes it seem as though you missed the entire point of the discussion and blame people not companies for causing this problem. Then you write this personal story showing how you were affected by terrible company policies. Are you really that self unaware?
Load More Replies...Again and again I'm puzzled on the US healthcare system. Sick days? Come on, serious? That cannot be true ... how should anyone plan this? How can it be legal, in one of the most advanced societies ever to be known. This is so damned ridiculous, ridonkulis, whatever ... and, as always, there will be some blabla about how a public healthcare insurance makes everyone a slave and other b******t I can't imagine being said without a bad and exploitative intention. The working people's rights are not only in question where stuff like that is legal - they're broken. They WERE in question, and the answer seems to be no. So sad!
Imagine healthcare workers. We are in the frontlines. Majority of us get sick, and we often do not have a choice but to come into work sick for fear of losing our jobs. Like everyone stated, we are only allotted so many sick days. If you have a change of circumstances, we are required to get health insurance or we will be penalized. That makes absolutely no sense. Don't get me started on prescription drug costs either.
Oh Lory, you’re so right about the RX charges!! Heck you can get the same meds. made by the same pharmaceutical companies in other countries for $5.00! Now tell me, how can a country that makes the drug, sell it for so much more, in the country where they make it, than a country that imports the stuff and sells it for a measly $5.00??? Big Pharma has big crooks! They say the $ goes into research, but if we can buy it out of the US for $5.00, then we should be able to get it for $5.00 here as well!
Load More Replies...Just for clarity's sake, Deliveroo is an English company with sites in countries with universal healthcare. The top photo is badly chosen.
What lack of sick days? I don't know of any company that doesn't offer them. In California it's the law.
And California enforces it's laws all over the US? Is that what you are trying to say?
Load More Replies...3 sick days in Canada, too. Can we talk about how s****y Canada is, please?
Healthcare accessible to all. That's not s****y. I guess the number of sick days you get depends on where you work. Do you only get 3 sick days a year? Or in a row?
Load More Replies...This is certainly true. Unfortunately, the US has no care for its citizens in need, especially from the health system point of view. In any case, as far as Europe and Italy in particular are concerned, please do not believe the exaggerations (made up!) of the press that tell of a country in chaos, of plundered supermarkets and things like that. We live as usual, with a few more worries but without drama.
This is very common in the office environment too. In fact, my boss just threw a fit like a child the other day when he found out our state required him to give us paid sick days.
We get 6 sick days a year, 1 float day and our PTO. However our dept makes it very hard to take time off if you are sick or to see a doctor. Coming back here the day after calling out is like getting caught sneaking back in as a teenager, and there will be consequences. Around here they just treat you like s**t for a while. So they give it to you but wont let you use it. People around here are always sick especially since the top lady keeps this place so cold we are usually at our desk with blankets over us because its that cold.
If you are in Ontario and need a consult at the doctor's office, it's $20 - $30 for the visit. If you live close enough to the border, drive or be driven over here and get your needs seen to! (Yes, I know this is a bad idea that will overload our already strained medical system, but really! People are dying right next door in a wealthy nation!)
A regular 10-20 minute with a doc costs $$ in Ontario? Or just for a full physical? Are you going to a doc who's "opted out"?
Load More Replies...An American worker above said she was taxed at 21%. In the lowest tax bracket? How is this even possible?! Many Americans fear Socialized Medicine bc they think their taxes will go up. They are already paying enough taxes to pay for it, IMO. Who is responsible for this tragedy???
All of our money goes to bloated military and expensive military contracts so politicians can keep rich friends happy.
Load More Replies...I made a different comment about working- but felt I should say something separately. If you are sick- you shouldn't go shopping for new glasses, pants, mattresses, etc. Just. Stay. Home. If you're sick and your kid has an eye exam- reschedule. Don't come in and make everyone sick just because you want your kid to have contact lenses for football. You make all of us sick and then the doctor ends up having to call in and now nobody gets an eye exam because you needed to go in on that one day. I literally had a little girl turn toward me while I was pretesting her and cough- in my mouth. I was explaining something, and she coughed in my face directly into my mouth. Shockingly I had to call in to work a few days later. Stay the hell home. Please. For real. Keep your germs to yourself.
If they are.sick. Be responsible. Don't take advantage of my kindnesses .
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Hahaha!! An article attempting to hate on capitalism by using a virus that started in a COMMUNIST COUNTRY as an example of why capitalism is bad. Now THAT is short sighted!
Scandinavian? Lol. Go look at a map. I shan't suggest educating yourself about socialism as clearly the concept is beyond your understanding.
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