Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Umm… Duh?
Lack of Paid Sick Days May Worsen Flu Pandemic
Public health experts worried about the spread of the H1N1 flu are raising concerns that workers who deal with the public, like waiters and child care employees, are jeopardizing others by reporting to work sick because they do not get paid for days they miss for illness.
You mean there are people who don’t realize those cooking and serving your food always come to work as long as their able to remain upright and stumble forward?
All I can think is, “no shit!” Where the hell have y’all been?
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November 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I’m reminded of an episode of Dharma & Greg where Greg’s father, which is sitting in first class on an airplane, goes to take cookies back to Dharma’s parents who are in coach. Once he moves past the curtain you hear him exclaim, “My God, they pack you in like cattle back here.”
Yep, there are people who just don’t know. And yep, I only get 2 sick days (and that’s up from 0 that we had for the first four years I worked here) and I already used 1 with the kidney stone. Guess what I’m going to do if I get the flu. (even though our HR people have posted signs all over the place, um, I don’t get paid if I’m not here, you’ve already cut my wages back, and if I didn’t work in a critically sensitive position I would be having rolling layoffs, yeah, I’m working for the money).
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Here’s the deal in the Powers family though… My kids (and wife) have had a low grade fever for a while. It’s 99-101. As parents we’re torn between keeping our kids home due to the possibility of sickness versus the downside of them missing so much school.
If the flu that is closing schools in Northern Michigan is like this for all parents, I certainly see why it’s spreading. It feels irresponsible to keep them home when they barely have a fever — yet they do have a low grade fever.
See the problem? :(
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Steve, you need to find yourself a less shitty job. :)
Shawn, low grade fever most likely isn’t the flu. Once temps reach 101 though, you’re likely into the flu range.
I know some schools are increasing the number of sick absences students can have, because of that issue. Better safe than sorry.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Yes — we have one daughter (8 year old) who has been steady at 101-101.5, 10 year old is 99-100, and oldest has about a 99. The oldest is at school, but since her temp always runs 1.5 degrees low, we know she’s really above normal.
It’s really at that border between “stay home” or not. And there are 40+ schools closed in Northern Michigan due to the flu, so everyone is on high alert. The schools are being more lenient with sick days, but still, kids learn best when they’re AT school, so we’re torn. I might end up staying home tomorrow with the 2 youngest, so Donna can come to work. I just wish it was Thanksgiving break this week. That would be 5 full days home for everyone.
Anyway, this is the odd situation we find ourselves.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I do realize this is slightly off topic though, because Donna and I both have plenty of paid sick days. It’s just the idea of kids not going to school that bothers us.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Shawn,
I thought about this for awhile (while at the gym. I do a lot of thinking while I’m walking.) and I think you are better to err on the side of caution.
A temperature is the sign of an immune reaction. Yes, there are cases where the reaction may be do to an issue that is not contagious, but you don’t know that for certain. So if you go out when you have a fever, chances are you are contagious, and you are sharing whatever cooties you have with those with whom you come in contact.
This becomes an issue when the people you expose are immune suppressed or come in contact with an immune suppressed individuals.
As an adult, you can take precautions and wash your hands frequently and try not to expose others. Kids in school? Not so much.
My opinion would be that if you are willing to send your kids to school wearing masks, which would reduce the risk of exposing others, that’s one thing. But I don’t know many kids who would enjoy having to wear a mask all day at school, and instead would probably be embarrassed by the entire thing.
In your specific case, the fact that all your kids are running fevers means that whatever they have is almost certainly contagious.
Yeah, it could be some mild bug that isn’t going to cause serious problems, but it could also be that they have a mild case of it, but there is no guarantee another who is exposed would be so lucky.
What I would like to see is schools making classwork and homework readily accessible to those who stay home. Yes, there are some concepts that can’t be self-taught or taught at home, but at least they’ll have seen it, and it shouldn’t take them as long to catch up when they go back.
So my recommendation is have them stay home, not for their health, as much as for the health of others.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I agree with what Michelle said. Patients should just stay at home to minimize the risk of spreading the sickness.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:42 am
As a followup, tomorrow is the first day my family will be at school. Temperatures eventually spiked for the two youngest girls. Everyone seems fine now. :)
This week will be “make up homework” week though, ugh.