Coworker who is always sick

LordThing Golden Member. Jun 8, 1, 0 0. I have the same problem here. There is one person that seems to take at least a few days off a month. Almost always a monday or friday. He has gotten better, but it really sucks sometimes cause we are short handed as is. At least his excuses are rather funny to hear. Oct 6, 0 0. Sep 2, 2, 0 Honestly I don't care what people do.

I always tell them the angry : 1. On the other hand several of the angry employees are the type that have no lives, take no vacation are single, live alone, with parents etc and I feel that alot of the anger they express is due to their jealousy that these folks the absentees have lives, go on trips have children and spouses I go to work and I take my days off vacations. I usually end the year with days owed because I rarely get sick.

As far as being burdened with an extra workload, I do what's put in front of me. When I'm on vacation somebody has to pick up my slack. I do my job, short staffed or not. I understand that chronic, abusive absenteeism should not be tolerated however if you don't like the company's attendance policy you should seek employment elsewhere. Oct 9, 20, If it continues, it affects their evaluation in the areas of Integrity, Commitment, and Teamwork. Those are three of the five main areas so it has a big impact.

I don't look at the total number of sick days used as much as the number of different times they are claiming to be sick. Triforceofcourage Platinum Member. Feb 21, 2, 0 Amused Elite Member. Apr 14, 54, 7, My employees must have a Dr's note for any sick day past 3 days a year. Sick days are not there to give employees 3 day weekends.

They are there if you get sick. There is a walkway between us, but the space probably isn't more than 10 feet. She's gotten several people in my department sick before, including myself. I work in Accounting, so things are usually pretty busy for us.

I understand we all have deadlines, but I don't see why she can't take a few days off, rest at home and then come back to work when she's feeling better, rather than spreading her germs everywhere. It's also pretty bothersome and distracting to hear someone coughing and clearing their throat every 30 seconds. Sorry for venting, but it's just such frustrating situation and I don't feel like I can do anything about it.

I'd love to hear any advice, especially those who work in management or HR. Do I even have a right to complain about something like this? How would you deal with this situation? I wish they could just move her desk down to the basement, but I know that won't happen :shame. Jan 8, 1, 0. I have no experience in jobs whatsoever, but this is really bad especially now that we have cases of H1N1 going around. So I guess you 'can' complain about this, especially at these times.

I really dont know what to advice you, hopefully someone who really knows what to do can tell you. I am commenting here because I hate it when you get stuck with someone who is sick. I know it sounds rude, but we have to take care of ourselves. Apr 21, 14, 5, I think it is within your rights as an employee to discuss this issue with your supervisor and your company's HR rep.

Obviously her constant illness and related noises are interfering with your work too. Let the HR Rep and her supervisor handle it from here. Jun 18, 11, 3. You could always be a passive aggressive jerk and leave some Airborne and Purell on her desk, hoping she takes the hint. May 6, 5, 12 Texas. I am sick often.

I don't have enough paid sick days to do it. Just try your best to not infect yourself. I totally understand. I fell into extreme sickness and got some weird flu because of a stupid co worker who intentionally came to work with flu, although he was allowed to work from home until he recovers. I suffered a lot of illness during this pregnancy because of this. Can you ask your boss and switch your desk temporarily to a different place away from her?

The best prevention is not sharing stuff like phones and diligent handwashing. I'm an RN and literally around contagious bugs all the time.

Is there any way to ask to move desks? Workplaces need to offer accommodations and I don't think you're being unreasonable asking for some sort of alternate arrangement that doesn't put you right in the line of fire. Maybe she has allergies?? Maybe her immune system is weak. I know someone who is always sick due to immune system and heart condition. I work in a hospital so I cannot avoid sick people unfortunately! I got sick once this pregnancy and it was awful.

Just make sure you wash your hands frequently, after touching door knobs, bathroom, shared items. Rbeaulieu13 Original poster. To be clear here: part of the problem I have with this coworker is that she is always taking sick days, paid or not, and I am her back up. I also cannot ask to move my desk because we are a small office and we are both the only members of the same department and need to be within talking range. I quickly Lysol wiped my desk and sanitized my hands.

Had a guy work for us who called on average twice a month sick…. Funny thing was it was always a Friday or a Monday he was sick.

I am not a manager, I am a lower-level employee, but my co-worker calls in sick almost every week, and my company is not doing anything to fix this issue because of COVID. My co-worker calls out every week, and our company is not doing anything about it.

His calling out has caused a lot of scheduling problems at my workplace, and this results in our branch being short staffed most of the time. Some employees even ended up changing their personal schedule just to cover for this person.

As an employee, I feel like I have no power to bring this to management. I understand that every employee should feel comfortable calling out during sickness, but it is NOT okay to take advantage of lax calling out policies. How to deal with employees rotation sick days? This day one takes a sick day the next day another takes a sick day so your always short staffed. I have quite a few construction employees who, in order to avoid no-shows because that will get them in trouble call in sick on an almost weekly basis.

One gets the flu every week for a few days but is fine before and after. One vomits blood once a week. Another got flu, vomiting, and all of the above on a regular basis. Another one had dental problems that lasted a week he did a short term job for the competition, I know it because he left his gear there and I never sent him to that site. If they start complying with doctors notes or prescriptions for advil, or are very tardy in getting the proof they were at the doctor, which they inevitably will, I do this:.

Very diplomatically explain your concerns with their repeated sicknesses and are concerned for their health. Explain all the littany of excuses that they have given you. If you have first aid training, come up with some possible serious causes or get someone who does know how. Preferrably stuff that requires blood tests. Sick too often? You are concerned they may have undiagnosed HIV. Vomiting all the time? Perhaps they have hepatitis.

All of the above, suggest all of the above. The key is to get the doctor to send them to the lab to get blood work. Nobody likes needles. Do not allow them to return to work until the doctor has read the letter and taken whatever action they deem necessary.