Am I the only one?!!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

Ok, I know this is probably a "meany" post, but here it goes...

I am so irritated with the whimpy, whiney, "sickly" people. Why does it seem that NO ONE can suck it up and come on in to work? Come on... 4 days to get over a "cold" ? Really? What's even worse are the people that say "well, maybe they really are sick" and " you really should be more sensitive". WHATEVER! Yes, I understand if you have a fever and are truely sick. Please stay out. Do not contaminate the patients or the rest of us, but it seems it's the same one or two that are always "sick" with something. It seems that there is no work ethic any more. I was told recently when discussing this with a friend that we are of a different generation and that the newer generation sees working and calling out of work differently. Ok, I am not THAT old. I am still in my thirties, ok, latter thirties, not really the point. I don't get it. I have instilled in my kids the importance of dependability and responsibility.

Well, thanks for listening. I feel somewhat better. Now to work since I have more work to do sice 2 have called out today!!!

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I agree! There are always those people who seem to be calling in all the time. Then there are the people who come in sick all the time and get the rest of the staff sick! There doesn't seem to be a lot of in-between! :rolleyes:

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Not all the newer generation sees it differently. I dislike when the older generation labels all of us like that. Our generation has a lot of accomplishments that past ones don't like higher college educations and being a kick-a$$ working woman who juggles career, family, military service, etc. It would be nice for them to recognize that instead of always labeling us as lazy.

But back to the matter at hand, I have seen a lot of people act this way in my career as a manager and even when I was in the military. I would like to state that I have seen many people 40+ act this way too.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Lactation, Case Management.

You are right about all generations. One of the 2 I was eluding to in my earlier post is several years older than me and is one of the worst offenders. Sometimes I think she uses her age as an excuse!

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You are right about all generations. One of the 2 I was eluding to in my earlier post is several years older than me and is one of the worst offenders. Sometimes I think she uses her age as an excuse!

It sucks when people, of any age, do not care about the team. Everyone needs to help out their coworkers and always calling in is detrimental to team spirit.

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I hate to quote a Jeep commercial, but whatever happened to the thought that what you do says something about who you are? When did hard work get replaced with 'just enough to get by?'

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Specializes in Psych.

I think alot of it has to do with lack of consequences. For instance I live in the South and we had a very unusual winter with several snow and ice storms. Hospital management made it very clear that anyone that called out would be severely disciplined, possibly even terminated etc. They offered rooms for employees to come in the night before if they thought it would be a problem. Well to make a long story short in a unit of only 6 employees over two shifts 3 called in due to weather leaving everyone short. Was anything said or done to them? No. People will continue to call in because there are no consequences. I wish I could do it but I can't . I feel too guilty about leaving my team short and would worry too much about the patients. I agree it does always seem to be the same few calling in all the time and on my unit one is 25 and one is 50

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I think dependability, trustworthiness, and honor are things we should all strive for. They go hand in hand with how a person is defined by others. Sometimes, though, different people define these words differently.

This isn't an age thing, it's a people thing. Some people have more of the qualities listed above than others and some just see it differently. I remember my dad and my husband's dad talking about taking sick days so they could stay home and do things that were more fun. My husband and I grew up hearing that so we could have learned that was the thing to do. For some reason we went in the opposite direction and never call sick days unless we're nearly dying. Our dads were good men. They just saw work differently than we do.

I teach nursing. 99% of my students have a great work ethic and are extremely dependable. They are young. Being dependable is in their self-definition.

It always bothered me when someone called in sick, when he/she was going to take over for me, because that meant I would probably have to work a double shift. I was more sympathetic if the person wasn't someone who took days off often. There were some I could count on to be there and some I knew would call in on Friday or Saturday night. If I can't count on someone, I don't trust them to have my back, if I need them, catch what I mean?

It's up to management to do something about repeat "offenders." Otherwise the absent ones' method works and those who have to continually cover for them develop negative feelings and there goes the teamwork...

So, sometimes it's a personality flaw, sometimes it's a different way of thinking, and to me, it's not at all related to age.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree about the lack of consequences -- not just about absenteeism, but about a lot of things.

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I am a team player but I need to be able to be close to 100% for that to happen.

btw-the last cold I had lasted 2 weeks-it was one of the worst I've had in years!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Peds, Cardiothoracic/Stepdown.

No, your are not the only one.I have seen in both extremes. It was just last week that some coworkers had the flu and my boss had to place in our weekly updates if you flu please stay home. I can't tell you how many times I have picked up some respiratory virus that has been going around. If I am sick or even cough on thhe pghone example I clean it off with bleach.

As for the coworkers, we routinely have coworkers who call off every weekend to the point we have one coworker who came into work and asked to go home because of she placed two different shoes on that day. I swear I kid you know as it was witnessed with my own eyes. This person calls off soo much that at times we try not to count her in our staffing. Have they did anything.....NO! This is really frustrating. Also, not just being absent but a lot of people get away with all kinds of pathetic crap. We just had a senior charge nurse who was suspended for over a week for a confrontation, which I have seen this poor display of leadership go on for over 3 years. It was about time that something happened!! She even told the UD that she sucks as a UD (which she also applied for the position) and at times asked to be placed as free charge so she can do her homework. This is pathetic and I am tired of people not following the rules I truly ask when is enough enough???

Unfortunately, by law employers can not force their employees to come to work or to work unless they force the consequences yet most hospitals need warm bodies so they don't hence why there is a high turnover and an increase job dissatisfaction. Often at times, I wonder about going to the ICU because half of this crap would not be tolerated.:down:

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Instead of taking it out on the coworkers who are sick, blame management for not planning ahead and having enough folks available just in case someone has to be out. There are some of our coworkers who abuse the system, I know. But so many times those that staff don't even plan for known absences, much less emergent absences.

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