Thursday, October 20, 2005
A Sicknote or a prize
The real test if someone is ill enough to take time off work is not to pay them for the missed time. Of course there are times when you just can not force yourself to get up and get ready to go to work (no, not the hangover mornings, LOL) but when you are self-employed I am sure you look at work differently to when you work for someone else.
It should not be necessary to take the bribery or should I call it an "encouragement" route some employers have to take. It is not something you have done above and over your duties for which you should be awarded a bonus or a prize.
In the countries where sickness payment is not so generous the absentees due to sickness is greatly reduced. In the jobs, mainly heavy manual labour, where payment is made by the days or hours worked the sickness leaves are not present at a noticeable rate. To put it bluntly when you have a family to feed you cannot afford to be ill. People should count themselves to be lucky that they have a job and an income. Sure they have to work very hard perhaps for the amount they receive but at least they are able to put food on the table and are contributing to the nation they live in.
I am not saying that those who are unfortunate enough to be ill should not be awarded their right but what I am saying is minor illness some times self inflicted should not be rewarded by no loss of pay what so ever. When self certification of sickness came in effect it became very easy to report in sick for up a week's sick as you don't need a doctor's note.
It is sad that companies have to resort to gimmicks like giving prizes to stop their employees claiming days off through sickness. On one side it is the fault of the employees for abusing the system but on the other hand perhaps it is the employer's fault for causing the low moral, stressful work places and the feeling of no appreciation to their workforce. One thing I know for sure that when it is your own business you have to carry on regardless of minor illness which never feels minor when you have it.
It should not be necessary to take the bribery or should I call it an "encouragement" route some employers have to take. It is not something you have done above and over your duties for which you should be awarded a bonus or a prize.
In the countries where sickness payment is not so generous the absentees due to sickness is greatly reduced. In the jobs, mainly heavy manual labour, where payment is made by the days or hours worked the sickness leaves are not present at a noticeable rate. To put it bluntly when you have a family to feed you cannot afford to be ill. People should count themselves to be lucky that they have a job and an income. Sure they have to work very hard perhaps for the amount they receive but at least they are able to put food on the table and are contributing to the nation they live in.
I am not saying that those who are unfortunate enough to be ill should not be awarded their right but what I am saying is minor illness some times self inflicted should not be rewarded by no loss of pay what so ever. When self certification of sickness came in effect it became very easy to report in sick for up a week's sick as you don't need a doctor's note.
It is sad that companies have to resort to gimmicks like giving prizes to stop their employees claiming days off through sickness. On one side it is the fault of the employees for abusing the system but on the other hand perhaps it is the employer's fault for causing the low moral, stressful work places and the feeling of no appreciation to their workforce. One thing I know for sure that when it is your own business you have to carry on regardless of minor illness which never feels minor when you have it.
# posted by butterflyuk : 10/20/2005 10:13:00 pm
