Workplace warm and fuzzies -- note irony in subject line....

[greatauntoftriplets]

Absences make the firms grow tougher
More white-collar companies are adopting attendance policies that might make you think twice about taking a sick day

By Barbara Rose
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 18, 2005

Perfect attendance is such a virtue at Lawson Products Inc., that employees who go a year without missing work or arriving late are rewarded with extra paid days off.

But for some, there's a downside. At the distributor's warehouse and customer-service center in Addison, there are no excuses for missing work unless time off is scheduled in advance. Any unplanned absence, whether for illness, a flat tire or family emergency, is a black mark.

Punching in one minute to one hour late earns half a point. Missing one to two hours merits one point. A full day adds two points.

Six points results in a reprimand; 10 points, suspension without pay. Employees can be fired if they exceed 12 points within a year.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0504180161apr18,1,5132456.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[KitchenWitch]

1. No wonder I keep getting sick

When I am sick, I stay home. But when workplaces enact those kinds of policies, it encourages workers to come in sick, and spread it to their co-workers, some of whom may have weaker immune systems.

Thank you very fucking much.

[LosinIt]

2. Sounds like the GoodOleDays at Kodak - the 'frequency' system

Kodak used to love to brag about their great sick time allowance. The only drawback was that people didn't dare to use it because each absence was a 'frequency'. If you got too many frequencies you were spoken to, got less if any wage increase, or lost your job. After having a rough first year at work, catching every virus that came along in my new town of Rochester, my father had the nerve to die. On my FIRST day back my boss had the balls to take me into the cafeteria to talk to me about my frequency rate. It was such a sick company, not sorry to see it go down the tubes.

Edit to ad:
the problem was that each 'absence' was a frequency so people who could have been out sick for a day and then back the next NEVER took just one day. Hell if you're gonna get whacked for it, might as well, make it three days.

[RockaFowler]

3. My Company Is Just Like This

Except, we don't even get sick pay. So, you get "points" if you are sick and you don't get paid for it. There isn't even a personal day policy. We get points unless we use our vacation days. Yes I work in a Call Center, but I have worked in other Call Centers and they always gave you personal/sick days. My company sucks and I can't wait until I find a new job.

[Lugnut]

11. A lot of companies suck

The key is in finding the one that sucks the least. My daughter lost her job because she needed non-elective gallbladder surgery.

[LynzM]

16. You don't work for Aegis, do you?

Call center work sucks, been there and done that. I hope you find something better soon, or at least someplace that treats you better!

[fasttense]

4. Sounds to me like you folks need a Union. Remember them? n/t

[ariellyn]

6. Unions don't help if the policy is established, mgmt. has the

"right" to enforce the policy. These policies are common in unionized environments as well.

[fasttense]

10. And Unions can't organize to change unfair sick leave policies?

I'm not saying all unions are the best, but at least employees had the hope of changing policies when they negotiated contracts as a group and not as individuals who are perceived by management as whining misfits.

[bleedingheart]

12. but Unions will fight these types of policies and possibly strike to

get rid of them.

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. I remember unions all right.

Fortunately, the policies described in the article are not practiced by my company. In fact, I have been told to stay home when sick.

[northzax]

14. yup, me too

just started a new job and they told me "you have sick leave/personal days, please use them, we don't want the flu either. No note required." as for time in the office, somedays I'm 30 minutes early, some days I'm a bit late. It all comes out in the wash, since I'm actually being paid to do a job (and there's no OT for staying late to finish...

[Donailin]

5. and that is why I'm self employed

got kids? there will always unplanned rescheduling.

[shrike]

8. Hear, Hear

I don't know how people with "real" jobs do it.

[Samurai_Writer]

7. My company has a few sick days and personal days...

We get six sick days and three personal days a year. However, if you catch the flu ONCE, you could use all those sick days up. If you exceed six days a year, you get written up and it affects your performance review, which affects any raise you might get. And if you have a chronic illness such as asthma, they do not take that into account. They do not allow you to make up time or work from home. You have to be AT your desk, M-F, 8:30-5, no exceptions. It is the most repressive company I've ever worked for, especially as an IT professional.

Bella, who is looking for another job or considering just selling everything she owns and becoming a beach bum.

[bleedingheart]

13. Sounds like Robber Baron tactics..

[Misunderestimator]

15. Lovely... now EVERYONE can be sick when those with communicable

viruses come to work. And someone with a sick child who needs some special care a dozen times in a year causing them to be a little late for work, can be fired. Good grief.