Work ethic, what's your take on it all

[cardiacrocks]

Well, I work on a busy cardiac floor. It seems to me too many people call in sick. One girl she calls in at least once a week. Why the hec is management allowing this? I feel it's really non of my business but it affects staffing, I'm about to say something! It makes for being even more short staffed. I wonder what ever happened to work ethic. I only call in sick if i'm puking! I'm come in with headaches, diarrhea, etc. I learned growing up, you don't call into work. Now if I had a sore throat then i'd wear a mask, and suck on a cough drop. I don't want to make the patients sicker than they already are, but come on people what in the world is going on with this calling in sick. Please tell me your take on this and what you have experienced in your work place.

[sapphire18]

As in mandated ratios? Who takes care of the other pts if no one else shows up? (Not arguing, just don't understand how it works:))

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I call in for two reasons only: if I can't get my head off the pillow (or out of the toilet), or if I can't maneuver my non-4-WD car up my long, sloping driveway because there's 2 inches of packed ice covering it. Oh, wait a minute.......I HAVE been known to miss work after an outpatient procedure requiring a general anesthetic. But if I can "git-er-done" in an hour with nothing more on board than a shot of Novocaine, I'm good to go.

I do not take days off for headaches, sniffles, sneezes, coughs, wheezes, bellyaches, bad hair days, low-back pain, falls, blurry vision, high/low blood sugar, asthma attacks, plugged ears, sore throats, sprained ankles, twisted knees, doctor appointments, lab work,

I also will not call in because I had an argument with my husband, my kid/SO/sister/dog is sick, the washer/dryer is broken, the cable is out, the house is a mess, there's a breaking news story (I even went to work on 9/11), it's raining/snowing/sunny, I'm out of sorts, or my cat died.

I have known people to call in for all of the above, and then some. 'Nuff said. :)

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

The other day I took a phone call that went like this:

Me: Floor XYZ, can I help you?

Nurse: Oh hi Tokmom, this is Suzy. I need to call in sick. (this is an almost weekly event)

Me: So what is wrong Suzy? Are you still sick from last week?

Right there is where you went wrong. You have no authority (nor need) to ask them what is wrong, unless you're their PCP and they're seeking medical advice. In fact, it's none of the employers business. What if she had a herpes outbreak or was suffering from AIDS? Does she need to tell you that, simply because you're now obligated to find someone to cover your staffing?

All you need to know is that she's not going to be there, and you need to start looking for a replacement. If she's in violation of the company attendance policy, start documentation. But quit prying into people's personal health business. And I know you probably don't think she was sick enough to miss work, but newsflash: That's not within your purview either.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

The other has no excuse

That YOU are aware of, with limited knowledge I'm sure.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I worked with a habitual "sick" person and was very frustrated that management never even talked to her about it.

That YOU are aware of, with limited knowledge I'm sure.

Jesus, I'm glad I don't work with a bunch of busybody nurses that try to run everyone's lives.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

If I call in sick, it's really none of anyone's business why. All you need to know is that I'm not going to be there, period. If I am in violation of the attendance policy, it is up to my manager to address it.

As for "work ethic", my loyalty is to the people I care for while at my place of employment, not to the company to which I am a work-horse, expendable, and don't feel valued by. If I can't show up and be at my best for the patients because I'm coughing up a lung or having a migraine, then I shouldn't be there.

[2mint]

OP, you have a strong work ethic and a high standard of yourself. I used to work in a non-medical field where I have co-workers who actually bragged about their routine duties to the supervisor. To me that was just too perplexing--they didn't do anything above and beyond the call of duty...I digress.

The point is, you need to get acquainted w/ "The Prince." Yes, it's very "Machiavellian" (it should be), but it exposes me to a world that I never knew existed (a little background: I have no street-smarts at all).

It can be read freely on the web.

[vanburbian]

If I call in sick, it's really none of anyone's business why. All you need to know is that I'm not going to be there, period......

Exactly.

I used to be one of those who showed up while not feeling well, but after seeing how I, and other loyal staff members could be treated so poorly by management?

No more.

My "sick time" is earned, it is considered a benefit, and considering the ever shrinking benefit packages we're doled out, I will use it.

Seen too many layoffs, RIF's, restructures, reorganizations, and down right terminations where those "loyal" show up to work no matter what people were robbed.

And, again- why I call in is my business alone. All anyone needs to know is I am taking the day off, period.

[Palliative Care, DNP]

Where I work they always ask why we aren't coming in as well. In fact there is a form that is supposed to be filled out by the Charge Rn and sent to occupational health. I suppose it is to make sure it isn't something other employees could have come in contact with etc. In my opinion it is none of their darn business.

Also, I have 4 children and if I call out a few times in month it is quite possible it was passed around through my whole house. Not that I owe you or anyone else an explanantion. We have all had to work short and call others to come in. Unfortunately, it is part of floor nursing. Co-workers are co-workers not people that I share everything in my life with.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I'am reading this thread now because I called off. Thankfully I work for an employer that dosn't want us there when we are sick. They don't ask why, they just note that you won't be there. I did work for an employer that would ask symptoms but that was because they were tracking a bug that hit the whole hospital and we would have to cleared by employee health before allowed back to work.

[ANurseDivided]

I am like you. I only call off when I REALLY need to and even then I am stressing about the fact that I have left my coworkers one nurse short. But there are many nurses who have no problem doing that.

I used to really get upset at people when they would do that. I mean I think that I was getting mad them because they choose to not practice the way that I do. Should I get mad at someone because their work ethic is not like mine? I truly feel that management needs to deal with these people but for some reason, management has gotten soft about situations like this which are truly important...I mean that effects patient care. But then on the other hand they will fire someone because they went onto a forbidden website at work or followed someone out of the parking garage without paying (I know that is considered stealing but you get what I am saying).

I just think that people are more and more selfish and they do not think about how their actions affect another. I really feel that is something that is instilled in you at a young age. It can be taught but sometimes it is difficult to teach a old dog new tricks so to speak.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I hate it when people call out frivolously. Yes, things happen. I'd never called out on my current job until about 3 months ago, when all kinds of stuff happened, including both of my parents dying in a 6-week span. However, some people blatantly abuse call-outs.

In a previous job, one co-worker frequently called out for church events. Others called in for Valentine's Day (the busiest day of the year) and sporting events, especially the World Cup and the Super Bowl. In nursing, I've encountered quite a few people who said "I requested this day off, and if I don't get it off I'll just call in. "