Results: Communicable Diseases and the Workplace
Published on 08/26/2016
Although, I am retired, I recently went to a luncheon with my former colleagues for the first time in a few years. I had the most enjoyable time, but left feeling quite distraught. There was a buzz going about the group that one of the employees had been diagnosed with "shingles." One of the young women in the group was very upset as she had a young baby and a four year old at home that she was concerned might contract the virus. On the other hand, I am a senior citizen and have never had chicken pox and I can not take the vaccine. I too am worried. How do you feel about co-workers who come into work sick? If you are retired or unemployed at present, please answer this survey from your most recent employment experience.
QUESTIONS
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Comments
1.
1.
Have you ever gone to work knowing that you have a contagious medical condition? Yes
20%
356 votes
No
80%
1438 votes
2.
2.
Has someone come to your place of employment with a contagious disease? Yes
37%
661 votes
No
34%
609 votes
Undecided
29%
524 votes
3.
3.
Why do people go to work when they might endanger the health of others? Sick leave is unpaid for in the workplace
55%
978 votes
The work they are currently involved in is important and has a deadline
25%
445 votes
"Presenteeism." This is a term coined by recent scientific researchers. According to the analysis, the strongest link to presenteeism is the severity of the organizational policies used to monitor or reduce staff absences, a.k.a. your company time off pol
20%
355 votes
Lack of trust in another employee's ability to do the work correctly
14%
259 votes
Some individuals are just hard workers
29%
520 votes
Some people are selfish and only think about themselves
32%
572 votes
Other (please specify)
6%
111 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Na | 0.62% | 20 |
| 0.52% | 17 | |
| n/a | 0.31% | 10 |
| they need the money | 0.06% | 2 |
| need the money if not paid | 0.03% | 1 |
| bosses dont believe you unless they see. such as pink eye | 0.03% | 1 |
| you can't stay at home forever | 0.03% | 1 |
| Any of the above ma be possible. | 0.03% | 1 |
| They think the work & themselves are more important than they are | 0.03% | 1 |
| People need money | 0.03% | 1 |
| for sympathy | 0.03% | 1 |
| Always short handed and bosses complain about people calling off sick | 0.03% | 1 |
| They will lose their jobs | 0.03% | 1 |
| HUH? | 0.03% | 1 |
| No opinion | 0.03% | 1 |
| Managers dont care and want u there sick or not | 0.03% | 1 |
| out of sick leave | 0.03% | 1 |
| ... | 0.03% | 1 |
| ' | 0.03% | 1 |
| Maybe that is the best they can do,. | 0.03% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.03% | 1 |
| where i work if you miss more than 5 non vacation days per year you are fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| Businesses with very few employees. Taking a sick day could mean leaving someone by themselves for hours. | 0.03% | 1 |
| save sick days for when they want to do something special | 0.03% | 1 |
| a combination of the above reasons | 0.03% | 1 |
| Some employers are not tolerant of absences | 0.03% | 1 |
| job wont let | 0.03% | 1 |
| some people are workaholics | 0.03% | 1 |
| Greedy for money overtime | 0.03% | 1 |
| some people need the money | 0.03% | 1 |
| points | 0.03% | 1 |
| avoid burdening others with schedule change | 0.03% | 1 |
| ????? | 0.03% | 1 |
| Need money to pay bills! | 0.03% | 1 |
| desperately need the money | 0.03% | 1 |
| do not want to get fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| selfish!! | 0.03% | 1 |
| Some people come in to do their job instead of having others have to fill in for them | 0.03% | 1 |
| they're jerks? | 0.03% | 1 |
| Bosses/managers don't allow sick leave at that particular time | 0.03% | 1 |
| Stupidity | 0.03% | 1 |
| termination | 0.03% | 1 |
| They don't think they are contagious--denial. | 0.03% | 1 |
| may have poor attendance record and afraid of termination | 0.03% | 1 |
| They are told by their supervisor that they must come into work that day. | 0.03% | 1 |
| afraid they'll get fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| threat of losing job | 0.03% | 1 |
| I needed to pay bills. Finally, the boss, who was my brother, told me to go home. The medical agency gave me the 7 day pack. They did not work for me. Thd last day befofe tbe prescriptio. Ran out, i was told "no" to another antibiotic. I | 0.03% | 1 |
| lose my job if not | 0.03% | 1 |
| BOSSES DON'T LIKE PEOPLE CALLING IN SICK | 0.03% | 1 |
| How do you know there is any danger? | 0.03% | 1 |
| Boss won't let you take a day off even when sick | 0.03% | 1 |
| no one to replace you | 0.03% | 1 |
| Some cannnot afford health care. But yet don't make other sick either. | 0.03% | 1 |
| Some are just plain idiots | 0.03% | 1 |
| no idea.. believe the reasons are as varied as the individuals. | 0.03% | 1 |
| I had to go or be fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| fear of being fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| Some people don't consider the effects of spreading an illness. | 0.03% | 1 |
| fear of getting fired | 0.03% | 1 |
| My boss refused to let me get time off | 0.03% | 1 |
| some people cant afford to take off from work | 0.03% | 1 |
| people have bills and need the money | 0.03% | 1 |
| Depends on the illness, a cold is contagious but you can't take off just for a cold if you don't have sick leave | 0.03% | 1 |
| People might not realize that they are contagious | 0.03% | 1 |
| must have a doctors excuse to miss cannot afford to go | 0.03% | 1 |
4.
4.
Do you think that legislation needs to be passed to make it mandatory for employers to allow PAID Health and Workplace Safety leave for persons suffering from a contagious disease? Yes
46%
831 votes
Yes, but only if the EMPLOYER can be reimbursed through a public fund for the loss such as Canada's Unemployment Insurance Program
15%
269 votes
No, people need to be responsible for a
27%
487 votes
Yes, and I would sign a petition for such a legislative change
12%
222 votes
Other (please specify)
4%
80 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.43% | 27 | |
| Na | 0.79% | 15 |
| not sure | 0.58% | 11 |
| n/a | 0.53% | 10 |
| I don't know | 0.11% | 2 |
| undecided | 0.11% | 2 |
| Don' know | 0.05% | 1 |
| It would depend on a number of factors. | 0.05% | 1 |
| I think it depends | 0.05% | 1 |
| N/ap | 0.05% | 1 |
| No opinion | 0.05% | 1 |
| the government will make it worse | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont know | 0.05% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.05% | 1 |
| As long as they get a Doctor's approval | 0.05% | 1 |
| Employers need to realize that encouraging sick leave will save them money in the long run. One person staying home sick is better than them getting the entire team sick. | 0.05% | 1 |
| not applicable | 0.05% | 1 |
| Don't know. | 0.05% | 1 |
| other | 0.05% | 1 |
5.
5.
Do you think an employee should be "punished" for knowingly ignoring the safety and well-being of their colleagues? Yes, this should be an automatic ground for dismissal
11%
195 votes
Yes, they should be required to pay for loss wages due to sick time that any and all colleagues incur because of this
9%
164 votes
Yes, they should be given an unpaid work suspension, for example 3 days
9%
169 votes
Yes, only depending on the severity of the medical condition, not for something like the common cold or the flu
26%
460 votes
No
37%
655 votes
Yes, particularly if the offender works in an industry that they are dealing directly with the general public
14%
257 votes
Other (please specify)
5%
82 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.46% | 29 | |
| Na | 0.96% | 19 |
| n/a | 0.45% | 9 |
| Undecided | 0.10% | 2 |
| not sure | 0.10% | 2 |
| no opinion | 0.05% | 1 |
| Should be fired | 0.05% | 1 |
| the rule should be you're sick, stay home. If you come to work sick, you'll be sent home. | 0.05% | 1 |
| dontcare | 0.05% | 1 |
| only if there is paid time off whenever you are legitimitely sick | 0.05% | 1 |
| Employers need to be punished for penalizing workers who stay home when they're sick. | 0.05% | 1 |
| don't know | 0.05% | 1 |
| if no paid sick leave is offered sometimes it seems it's the only option | 0.05% | 1 |
| Who knows | 0.05% | 1 |
| If the medical condition is deadly, then definitely charged with knowingly putting people at risk. | 0.05% | 1 |
| need more info | 0.05% | 1 |
| No, since it is usually the workplace policies that force them to show up sick | 0.05% | 1 |
| if you need to not be fired, then you must go to work, and to be punished for that is further work-related stress | 0.05% | 1 |
| see above | 0.05% | 1 |
| not sure... | 0.05% | 1 |
| I went to the doctor they gave me the wrong antibiotic I did not get well i was miserable now I take herbs. I never seem to get help from a doctor | 0.05% | 1 |
| depends on what illness employee has | 0.05% | 1 |
| Strong warning should be enough--send 'em home. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Unfair to employee if management dictates they should still come to work! | 0.05% | 1 |
| How would you prove they are sick? | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't know | 0.05% | 1 |
6.
6.
If you have a paid sick leave policy in your place of employment, how does this impact on this general topic? People still come to work with contagious medical conditions
34%
608 votes
All or most people don't come to work if they are sick under these conditions
52%
931 votes
Other (please specify)
16%
292 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| na | 4.64% | 85 |
| n/a | 4.64% | 85 |
| 3.93% | 72 | |
| No paid sick leave | 0.22% | 4 |
| retired | 0.22% | 4 |
| n/a don't work | 0.11% | 2 |
| None | 0.11% | 2 |
| I am unemployed. | 0.05% | 1 |
| C | 0.05% | 1 |
| depends because we do get paid sick time but only 2 days a year which is never enough | 0.05% | 1 |
| N/ap | 0.05% | 1 |
| na retired | 0.05% | 1 |
| no | 0.05% | 1 |
| Don't know | 0.05% | 1 |
| N A | 0.05% | 1 |
| do not have | 0.05% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.05% | 1 |
| not working now but hated it when people came to work sick one lady came to work with stomach flu | 0.05% | 1 |
| Not working at present time (retired) | 0.05% | 1 |
| n/a-retired | 0.05% | 1 |
| there were only two of us ,if one got sick we both stay home | 0.05% | 1 |
| nil | 0.05% | 1 |
| no sick leave policy at work | 0.05% | 1 |
| I'm also retired, so I've no idea what the current employee population is up to. | 0.05% | 1 |
| No place I worked had this! | 0.05% | 1 |
| ,a | 0.05% | 1 |
| no paid sick time | 0.05% | 1 |
| If/when you use up all your sick leave...you HAVE to come to work or take vacation | 0.05% | 1 |
| doesn't | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont work | 0.05% | 1 |
| n | 0.05% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.05% | 1 |
| N/A I am self insured. | 0.05% | 1 |
| no sick leave allowed | 0.05% | 1 |
| I don't have sick leave. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Not working | 0.05% | 1 |
| i have no idea | 0.05% | 1 |
| I work from home so I have no idea. | 0.05% | 1 |
| don't sweat what you can't control | 0.05% | 1 |
| Not Applicable | 0.05% | 1 |
| do not work | 0.05% | 1 |
| am retired | 0.05% | 1 |
| A little of both | 0.05% | 1 |
| I no longer work | 0.05% | 1 |
| not employed | 0.05% | 1 |
COMMENTS