During The Worst Flu Season In A Decade, Workers Across The Country Can’t Stay Home Sick

[KatyaR]

4. It's not just about sick leave.

Several people in my organization got sick over the holidays. My boss started getting sick before Christmas and ended up with pneumonia. The doc wanted to put her in the hospital but they decided she could rest at home just as well. She had a little over 2 weeks off and came back after New Year's still sick. She had 2 spots in one lung and still has one as of yesterday. She stayed home one day last week but is now back full time.

Another employee was in bed for over a week and came back to work still needing to be home, she could barely hold her head up. Her first 2 days at work? First day worked until 7 pm, the next until 9 pm.

My organization has enough people to assign work to but not enough to cover for someone if they're not at work. So people end up coming to work no matter what because the work has to get done. (This goes for vacations as well. I lost 4 days of paid leave last year because I couldn't take the time off.) And if they do stay home? If they are conscious, they're probably trying to work, not always because they want to but because somebody calls or emails them and needs something RIGHT NOW.

I pray to the heavens I don't get the flu. I have multiple major deadlines between now and April 1 and no one to cover for me if I'm sick.

Modern-day employment can suck sometimes.