Work pet peeve # 2332344335234

[lex666]

I need to rant.

The girl that sits in the cubicle in front of me is sick. She has been for several weeks. All you hear is sneezing, coughing, nose blowing, and she moans...

For the first couple of weeks I was able to fight it off. Last week I took a week off of work for my birthday. Instead of partying down, I was sick for 4 days with the flu.

I returned to work a week later and she's still sick today. Still making all the same sick noises, coughing with her mouth open, sneezing, and blowing her nose at her desk. She makes weird body noises like moaning and weezing.

I want to tell her to either keep it down or go home. But something is holding me back.

I wanted to punch her for makign me sick during my birthday vacation. Now, I wanna pummel her face inside out.

Rant over.

[ErikH]

Go tell her supervisor or just be nice and say, "You don't sound good and don't need to be here. Go home and rest up." She might just agree with you.

[phil_104]

That sucks. The last week of school, I was sitting in class, and this dude comes up 2 seats next to me, with what was an obvious bad cold. The class being packed, I could not move.

Turns out I got what ever he was packing, and I was sick for the whole week before my finals started. I hate him.

[PFDarkside]

I still come to work sick, (not the flu) all one day off does is get me behind so I have to work extra the next few days. For some reason I stay sick for a week and a half, even with extra rest.

I of course try to be as considerate as possible, always washing my hands, not touching anyone's stuff, etc.

[lex666]

I just sent an email to her supervisor. I can't take it anymore. I think I've been patient long enough.

Hi Ricardo,

You know me, I’m not one who complains often, if at all.

But Kaye is still sick. She has been for several weeks. Coughing with her mouth open, sneezing, and blowing her nose at her desk. Don’t even get me started about the body noises.

I was sick for 4 days last week. I suspect I contracted whatever she has.

I don’t think its fair to others to have to come to work and be subjected to possible illness and having to spend the entire day listening to her body noises.

Is there anything you can do to please help?

Thanks,

[lpmarshall]

I'm always torn on the issue. Some people take a sick day if they have a headache. Some will go to work with the flu.

Recently they lumped together our sick time and vacation time into a Paid Time Off (PTO) pool. They allow 3 sick days, so anything over that cuts into your vacation. Unfortunately this encourages people to come to work sick, including myself.

There have even been a couple days where I've called in sick and end up at work because I get too many phone calls.

[ImmortalSix]

Ilumped together our sick time and vacation time into a Paid Time Off (PTO) pool... Unfortunately this encourages people to come to work sick

Us too --- with 0 sick days and simple you-get-10 hours-per-month-accrued PTO, taking 8 hours off to sneeze and drink gatorade is exactly the same as taking 8 hours off to fly to Bermuda for the weekend.

It's just time that you're getting paid without being at work.

I used to have unlimited sick days at my old job, and nobody abused it. I guess we have to quantify everything these days because you can't trust the population at large to have an ounce of intelligence or integrity.

-Hunter

[Zerberus]

After being in a hospital for 2 weeks because I cought something funky from a work colleague that just came off vacation, I have a very strong opinion on this subject. As a result it´s propably better to warn that none of this is meant as a personal attack on anybody, but I absolutely condemn this mindset with every fiber of my being...

I still come to work sick, (not the flu) all one day off does is get me behind so I have to work extra the next few days. For some reason I stay sick for a week and a half, even with extra rest.

Unfortunately, everybody thinks this way, which is IMO nothing but concieted, egotistical and reckless. Works great if you´re god, but makes you a pretty big liability if you´re not. Let me explain..

"OMG, I`ll get behind if I stay home for a day"

1. NO thoughts of the colleages that you´ll infect, causing the whole COMPANY to slow down. Or the dozen other people that are now behind 2 days because you wouldn´t take one off like any sane person would have. Either way, the project is now behind schedule, meaning more work for EVERYBODY. Thanks

2. NO thoughts of the Hot chick that just got off sick leave that is going to be fired next week for being sick too often, after you infect her with your strain. Too bad her Husband got laid off last week becasue the auto industry sucks, and now they have to go on welfare soon with their 2 kids... If all goes bad, they´ll end up selling their home soon, because nobody really want´s to employ an aging man from a dinosaur of an industry, or for that matter a young mother that´s "constantly sick". Thanks

3. NO thoughts of the families of other co workers who also can be infected. You had the bird flu, and didn´t stay home at first because you "thought it was a cold"... And Dan´s 2 year old daughter is now in intensive care with a near zero survival chance, but you didn´t catch that because you stayed home after you had infected the whole office. Thanks.

Food for thought... what is best for ME just may **** up everyone else around me. The question here is: am I an ******* that doesn´t care, or am I worthy of the air I breathe

[ricc]

After being in a hospital for 2 weeks because I cought something funky from a work colleague that just came off vacation, I have a very strong opinion on this subject. As a result it´s propably better to warn that none of this is meant as a personal attack on anybody, but I absolutely condemn this mindset with every fiber of my being...



Unfortunately, everybody thinks this way, which is IMO nothing but concieted, egotistical and reckless. Works great if you´re god, but makes you a pretty big liability if you´re not. Let me explain..

"OMG, I`ll get behind if I stay home for a day"

1. NO thoughts of the colleages that you´ll infect, causing the whole COMPANY to slow down. Or the dozen other people that are now behind 2 days because you wouldn´t take one off like any sane person would have. Either way, the project is now behind schedule, meaning more work for EVERYBODY. Thanks

2. NO thoughts of the Hot chick that just got off sick leave that is going to be fired next week for being sick too often, after you infect her with your strain. Too bad her Husband got laid off last week becasue the auto industry sucks, and now they have to go on welfare soon with their 2 kids... If all goes bad, they´ll end up selling their home soon, because nobody really want´s to employ an aging man from a dinosaur of an industry, or for that matter a young mother that´s "constantly sick". Thanks

3. NO thoughts of the families of other co workers who also can be infected. You had the bird flu, and didn´t stay home at first because you "thought it was a cold"... And Dan´s 2 year old daughter is now in intensive care with a near zero survival chance, but you didn´t catch that because you stayed home after you had infected the whole office. Thanks.

Food for thought... what is best for ME just may **** up everyone else around me. The question here is: am I an ******* that doesn´t care, or am I worthy of the air I breathe

+ infinity

[BigJoe77]

Zerb, I'm normally with you 1000%, but not on this one. For several reasons, but I'll just respond to your points with counterpoints...

"OMG, I`ll get behind if I stay home for a day"

1. NO thoughts of the colleages that you´ll infect, causing the whole COMPANY to slow down. Or the dozen other people that are now behind 2 days because you wouldn´t take one off like any sane person would have. Either way, the project is now behind schedule, meaning more work for EVERYBODY. Thanks

Since most of us don't live in communist countries (I assume) I don't really care if Jimmy or Bobby or Sue or whoever gets behind. They aren't sharing their paycheck with me. The day that everyone comes to work certified germ-free, disease-free, and outside drama-free, I'll totally agree with you. Until then, I have no guarantees that the cold I have came from the guy at work or the cart I pushed around the grocery store yesterday.

2. NO thoughts of the Hot chick that just got off sick leave that is going to be fired next week for being sick too often, after you infect her with your strain. Too bad her Husband got laid off last week becasue the auto industry sucks, and now they have to go on welfare soon with their 2 kids... If all goes bad, they´ll end up selling their home soon, because nobody really want´s to employ an aging man from a dinosaur of an industry, or for that matter a young mother that´s "constantly sick". Thanks

This hold no sway for me. If this was the only time she'd ever been sick, then that's not why she's being let go. If it's because she exceeded the limits of the company policy, it's because it maintains equity for everyone else in the office as well. Tying the failure of the auto industry to coming to work with a cold is sort of the untimate butterfly effect.

3. NO thoughts of the families of other co workers who also can be infected. You had the bird flu, and didn´t stay home at first because you "thought it was a cold"... And Dan´s 2 year old daughter is now in intensive care with a near zero survival chance, but you didn´t catch that because you stayed home after you had infected the whole office. Thanks.

Again, way stretching it here. Bird flu doesn't just appear out of nowhere. There is no logical reason for anybody to think, "I've got the sniffles, I wonder if it's bird flu." Correlation does not always equal causation.

The question here is: am I an ******* that doesn´t care, or am I worthy of the air I breathe

If these are the only options, then I guess my answer is yes to the former.

In this case, how do we know (as someone else mentioned) that Kaye doesn't have bad allergies? How do we know that she didn't just start cancer treatment that weakened her immune system? For that matter, how do we know that she doesn't have some other sort of immuno virus that makes her more vulnerable? There's a reason things like HIPPA laws exist in the US and it's because it's nobody's business but what is going on medically.

[lex666]

In this case, how do we know (as someone else mentioned) that Kaye doesn't have bad allergies? How do we know that she didn't just start cancer treatment that weakened her immune system? For that matter, how do we know that she doesn't have some other sort of immuno virus that makes her more vulnerable? There's a reason things like HIPPA laws exist in the US and it's because it's nobody's business but what is going on medically.

I respect all opinions posted here... And the above is a good point...

But I have to agree with Zerb's point. What if I'm the one with a weakened immune system or some sort of immuno virus? I came to work healthy today, but I could be in the hospital tomorrow just becuz someone didn't want to use their vacation time?

Regardless of what your reason is for being sick, you should avoid contact with others. If that means staying home at your expense, then do so. Its just a respect for other people thing.

[BigJoe77]

But I have to agree with Zerb's point. What if I'm the one with a weakened immune system or some sort of immuno virus? I came to work healthy today, but I could be in the hospital tomorrow just becuz someone didn't want to use their vacation time?

Regardless of what your reason is for being sick, you should avoid contact with others. If that means staying home at your expense, then do so. Its just a respect for other people thing.

Very fair question as well. There are dozens of hypothetical combinations we could go down and all of them have very reasonable arguments on both sides. Maybe she's got legitimate reasons...maybe she's just a nut.

Personally, I'm much less concerned with sick people than I am the ones that bring their personal lives to work. I'd gladly trade the personal life drama ones for the ones with the colds and allergies. But I respect that it's a big deal for you. Sorry you have to work in uncomfortable conditions. (No sarcasm intended at all.)

[Zerberus]

...
Since most of us don't live in communist countries (I assume) I don't really care if Jimmy or Bobby or Sue or whoever gets behind. They aren't sharing their paycheck with me. The day that everyone comes to work certified germ-free, disease-free, and outside drama-free, I'll totally agree with you. Until then, I have no guarantees that the cold I have came from the guy at work or the cart I pushed around the grocery store yesterday.

By that same logic, you also don´t care if Jimmy, Bobby or Sue get behind, as a result botch a new large customer, and thereby cost the company thosands to millions in revenue? I though part of working as a team was trying to achieve a common goal, in this case staying in business and growing as a commpany... I´ve seen illnesses botch high dollar (= multi million) business deals by some temp bringing in a flu that took out a key figure at the most unopportune time. Happened 3 times while I was working for GE, after that they sent written warnings out to ANYBODY that came in sick. 3 of those were a termination. But you shouldnt even have to see one to realize that you´re also directly putting your own job at risk. Companies don´t pay salaries after bankruptcy, and if it gets out of hand it´s not impossible by any means.

This hold no sway for me. If this was the only time she'd ever been sick, then that's not why she's being let go. If it's because she exceeded the limits of the company policy, it's because it maintains equity for everyone else in the office as well. Tying the failure of the auto industry to coming to work with a cold is sort of the untimate butterfly effect.

You missed the point. The point was that people that you do not work with or even know can be adversely affected, even have their lives destroyed, because someone´s negligent behavior produced the straw that broke the camel´s back.

Again, way stretching it here. Bird flu doesn't just appear out of nowhere. There is no logical reason for anybody to think, "I've got the sniffles, I wonder if it's bird flu." Correlation does not always equal causation.

Then I´ll use a differnet example: a wet cough. Is it from smoking, a flu, or something worse? The phlegm is the same color in many cases

To me it´s the same thing as driving while intoxicated, waving a loaded gun around on mainstreet, or tampering with someone`s food: you are knowingly putting others existence (financial or physical) at risk for no reason they would ever agree to, without their consent, and without any right to do so. And you´re doing it solely because YOU want to /feel it´s the more prudent choice to aid YOU. Any motivation is self centered, losing a job or having fewer days off are merely the excuses, because having 3 days more vacation in Tahiti is not worth risking another human.

Maybe it´s just me, But I feel that man shouldnt be complacent and lazy and just trty to get by with as little hassle as possible regardless tof the cost... after, taht mindset is exactly the reason the economy and envioronment are a fracked up as they are, because people did exactly this for centuries with no repercussions.

[ErikH]

That's all you had to do.

[LesStrat]

1. Maybe she's contagious; maybe not.
2. Maybe you contracted her illness; maybe not.
3. Maybe she suffers from seasonal allergies and is NOT contagious at all.
4. Maybe she carries the virus described in "The Stand" by Stephen King. If so, you'll be dead soon and it won't matter.

[sosomething]

1. Punch her in the uterus
2. Poop in her file drawer
3. Put Clorox in her lunch
4. Waggle your man-parts at her while singing Miley Cyrus songs in falsetto
5. Beat her arms with a sawn-off shovel handle

[Animal]

1. Punch her in the uterus
2. Poop in her file drawer
3. Put Clorox in her lunch
4. Waggle your man-parts at her while singing Miley Cyrus songs in falsetto
5. Beat her arms with a sawn-off shovel handle

Muhahahaha, I just noticed your new avatar also...heehee

[LesStrat]

Pfft. I work for the schoo' bored.

[blindedbysilence]

Germ Bubble

[PFDarkside]

I work in the auto industry and it's brutal, people being let go left and right. If I get my stuff done, it prevents ME from being let go! And like I said, when I get sick I'm sick for up to 3 weeks. (runny nose and whatnot) and NO company will let you take off a week sick for a stupid cold. The irony is the times I get sick is when we're working 14 hour days to complete things for a deadline. 8 hour days and low stress keep me healthy.