Working while sick

[an anarchist]

In this age of COVID, the government and health departments and the such say to stay home from work if you are sick. But what if you can’t afford to call out and are sick? What do you do?

Is it wrong for someone with COVID symptoms to go into work, let’s say as a dishwasher or cook, if they need the money?

I remember a conversation I had with a boss before COVID. He was complaining to me how people would call out sick, grumbling that he had to come into work sick all the time.

This question is on my mind because I wanted to call out from work today because I forgot to take my anti manics last night but I don’t think I can financially afford to do so. But I know I’ve gone into work sick before, as well as many other poorer Americans.

I know people will say that the government should step in or the business should provide for their sick employees, but this simply isn’t the case or possible in all situations.

 

[Altfish]

In this age of COVID, the government and health departments and the such say to stay home from work if you are sick. But what if you can’t afford to call out and are sick? What do you do?

Is it wrong for someone with COVID symptoms to go into work, let’s say as a dishwasher or cook, if they need the money?

I remember a conversation I had with a boss before COVID. He was complaining to me how people would call out sick, grumbling that he had to come into work sick all the time.

This question is on my mind because I wanted to call out from work today because I forgot to take my anti manics last night but I don’t think I can financially afford to do so. But I know I’ve gone into work sick before, as well as many other poorer Americans.

I know people will say that the government should step in or the business should provide for their sick employees, but this simply isn’t the case or possible in all situations.

I haven't voted because I am split on this.
It is wrong to go into work if you have an illness that can be passed on to others BUT it is wrong to have a working environment that forces employees to make such decisions because they cannot afford to do otherwise.

 

[Koldo]

I haven't voted because I am split on this.
It is wrong to go into work if you have an illness that can be passed on to others BUT it is wrong to have a working environment that forces employees to make such decisions because they cannot afford to do otherwise.

Here in Brazil, people still get paid if they can prove they were sick. I find this very sensible.

 

[Koldo]

In this age of COVID, the government and health departments and the such say to stay home from work if you are sick. But what if you can’t afford to call out and are sick? What do you do?

Is it wrong for someone with COVID symptoms to go into work, let’s say as a dishwasher or cook, if they need the money?

I remember a conversation I had with a boss before COVID. He was complaining to me how people would call out sick, grumbling that he had to come into work sick all the time.

This question is on my mind because I wanted to call out from work today because I forgot to take my anti manics last night but I don’t think I can financially afford to do so. But I know I’ve gone into work sick before, as well as many other poorer Americans.

I know people will say that the government should step in or the business should provide for their sick employees, but this simply isn’t the case or possible in all situations.

If you can't afford to call out, what else can you do other than work while sick?

 

[dybmh]

If you're not contagious, you can go to work guilt-free.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I've been ranting about this subject for 20 years now, pretty much once I started working and realized coworkers coming in sick make other people sick. I get people can't afford to call off. But there are others you have to think about, like your coworkers who probably will not appreciate the germ sharing.
But, it's also an issue above that. Employers really need to give paid sick days, if no other reason than simply to help protect workers who aren't sick.

 

[Altfish]

Here in Brazil, people still get paid if they can prove they were sick. I find this very sensible.

Ditto in UK, if you are employed. But if you are self-employed you do not get paid.

 

[ChristineM]

Is it wrong for someone with COVID symptoms to go into work, let’s say as a dishwasher or cook, if they need the money?

Is it wrong? Yes, COVID is highly contagious and can kill.

 

[JDMS]

I pretty much can't afford to miss more than a day of work each month or I may not be able to afford rent. But when I got sick a couple times last winter and ran out of sick leave, I did end choosing not to come in, because many of my coworkers are also living paycheck-to-paycheck, and I'd rather just one of us struggle to make ends meet than all of us, even if that means I'm the one who takes the fall. I don't like zero-sum games.

I wish my coworkers were equally considerate. They are not. They've come in sick and without testing for COVID on a number of occasions. Always freaks me out.

 

[an anarchist]

Is it wrong? Yes, COVID is highly contagious and can kill.

It comes down to whether you look at for your own (providing for family) or looking out for strangers (customers). I can see why people make the wrong choice

 

[Shadow Wolf]

If you can't afford to call out, what else can you do other than work while sick?

Not potentially endanger other people or their kids? This is why we need paid sick leave at the federal level.
MIS-C and COVID-19: Uncommon but Serious Inflammatory Syndrome in Kids and Teens

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It comes down to whether you look at for your own (providing for family) or looking out for strangers (customers). I can see why people make the wrong choice

When I was at a gas station many years ago, almost the entire crew was *****ing that this one guy kept showing up to work sick and making the rest of us sick. It wasn't fair to us, because indeed when he would get sick some of us would also get sick, and pretty much everyone working there is living paycheck-to-paycheck.

 

[ChristineM]

It comes down to whether you look at for your own (providing for family) or looking out for strangers (customers). I can see why people make the wrong choice

It comes down to containing a potentially deadly disease *.

I see the need to pay the rent etc, i also see the need to not infect 70% of the workforce.

* So assume you take covid into work, that elderly gent who cleans the floor catches it from you. He has some mild health problems, nothing to bad until aggravated by covid, and he dies. Would you feel comfortable with that?

 

[an anarchist]

It comes down to containing a potentially deadly disease *.

I see the need to pay the rent etc, i also see the need to not infect 70% of the workforce.

* So assume you take covid into work, that elderly gent who cleans the floor catches it from you. He has some mild health problems, nothing to bad until aggravated by covid, and he dies. Would you feel comfortable with that?

I wouldn’t feel comfortable, no. But I can see a situation in which I’m hungry enough for that paycheck that I simply do not care about that old man. I could be cold at times. We are all trying to survive, me and that old man both. I’m not saying I would, but I can see a situation in which I would. It would be an extremely selfish move, but at times humans are extremely selfish, I know I have been at times. It’s hard to be selfless when it’s your living situation on the line. For some people at least.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Not potentially endanger other people or their kids? This is why we need paid sick leave at the federal level.
MIS-C and COVID-19: Uncommon but Serious Inflammatory Syndrome in Kids and Teens

Hey, SW, question from ignorance on US working conditions.
Is there no minimum sick leave consideration?

In Australia there is for full or part time work, but not for casual (which can certainly be problematic in the way the OP is referring).

How does it work in the US?

(I'm sure it varies state to state, so maybe more 'What is federally mandated?')

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes if no risk posed to others.
No if significant risk of contagion.

 

[sun rise]

I once called in sick but my boss asked me to come in because they had a big contract negotiation and needed time estimates on various jobs. The sickness was a cold and the only one at risk was my boss so I did and we got the contract.

But in general, my answer would be not ok.

 

[ChristineM]

I wouldn’t feel comfortable, no. But I can see a situation in which I’m hungry enough for that paycheck that I simply do not care about that old man. I could be cold at times. We are all trying to survive, me and that old man both. I’m not saying I would, but I can see a situation in which I would. It would be an extremely selfish move, but at times humans are extremely selfish, I know I have been at times. It’s hard to be selfless when it’s your living situation on the line. For some people at least.

The American system is at fault, sick pay should be a right.

 

[Koldo]

When I was at a gas station many years ago, almost the entire crew was *****ing that this one guy kept showing up to work sick and making the rest of us sick. It wasn't fair to us, because indeed when he would get sick some of us would also get sick, and pretty much everyone working there is living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Should have blamed your boss for not handling the situation properly.

 

[John53]

In Australia there is for full or part time work, but not for casual (which can certainly be problematic in the way the OP is referring).

I thought "technically" that sick pay was included in their hourly rate which is why casuals get more per hour. I don't really know just going on an assumption from things I've heard.