Sick time and confidentiality

flashpoint · Feb 9, 2009

I've seen similar graphs posted but they don't name names or anything...that doesn't seem right to me. Since I am a bit of a smart aleck, I would start calling in with complaints of "nasty smelly diarrhea" or "exacerbation of pubic lice" or something equally embarassing.

js408 · Feb 9, 2009

Hi
I am feeling like my personal confidentiality has been broken. Our sick time hours that we used last year has been posted in the open with a big FYI on it. Along with that a graph of all us nurses showing who used what sick time last year. Isn't this information personal and not to be shared with others? I had already discussed my sick time in private with my supervisor so I didn't need it displayed to everyone else. If she has a problem with anyone don't you think this should be discussed in private. What do you all think?

My office makes everyone update a public calendar with all time spent out of the office. All vacation days, all sick days, even if you step out for an hour because of some appointment. It's not confidential information. I don't like it either.

Batman24 · Feb 9, 2009

If it's just that you were out sick on certain dates that wouldn't be a release of confidential information. If it is including what you are out for that would be a breach of confidentiality and should be stopped immediately.

Equinox_93 · Feb 9, 2009

Hi
I am feeling like my personal confidentiality has been broken. Our sick time hours that we used last year has been posted in the open with a big FYI on it. Along with that a graph of all us nurses showing who used what sick time last year. Isn't this information personal and not to be shared with others? I had already discussed my sick time in private with my supervisor so I didn't need it displayed to everyone else. If she has a problem with anyone don't you think this should be discussed in private. What do you all think?

... Wouldn't your co-workers kinda know when you were out sick anyway? If they were really interested in that information- they could just keep a journal of when you were/weren't there- so it's not really "private" info... Now- if they were posting a chart of exactly WHY you claimed to be "sick"- that I could see as a privacy issue... But just a chart of when? No.

js408 · Feb 9, 2009

... Wouldn't your co-workers kinda know when you were out sick anyway? If they were really interested in that information- they could just keep a journal of when you were/weren't there- so it's not really "private" info... Now- if they were posting a chart of exactly WHY you claimed to be "sick"- that I could see as a privacy issue... But just a chart of when? No.

The reason employers do it is because they want to try to shame people into not taking sick days. First they want to turn employees against eachother because in every workplace, there's people who take no sick days and people who take a lot of sick days. Putting it all out there makes employees resentful of eachother. It's a sleezy management tactic...

In other countries, people get MONTHS of PTO. In the U.S., we either get no PTO or very little. My company gives 10 sick days per year and that's actually the most generous amount of sick days I've ever gotten. Usually I get something like five per year.

Think about 10 sick days per year. That means I can get sick less than one day per month. Last year I used ALL of my sick days when my baby was born. I didn't get paid leave so the company was generous enough to let me have 10 days of sick time. That's two weeks for me to be with a newborn baby.

Equinox_93 · Feb 9, 2009

Two weeks paid- which is nice. Under FMLA you have an additional, what is it, 12 weeks one has a right to take?

It's a stupid management decision- sure- I agree 100% but I just don't see a confidentiality breach here.

The reason employers do it is because they want to try to shame people into not taking sick days. First they want to turn employees against eachother because in every workplace, there's people who take no sick days and people who take a lot of sick days. Putting it all out there makes employees resentful of eachother. It's a sleezy management tactic...
In other countries, people get MONTHS of PTO. In the U.S., we either get no PTO or very little. My company gives 10 sick days per year and that's actually the most generous amount of sick days I've ever gotten. Usually I get something like five per year.
Think about 10 sick days per year. That means I can get sick less than one day per month. Last year I used ALL of my sick days when my baby was born. I didn't get paid leave so the company was generous enough to let me have 10 days of sick time. That's two weeks for me to be with a newborn baby.

js408 · Feb 9, 2009

Two weeks paid- which is nice. Under FMLA you have an additional, what is it, 12 weeks one has a right to take?

12 weeks of unpaid leave. Unfortunately my landlord doesn't give 12 weeks of unpaid rent for having a baby. But he did give me a few free bagels (he also owns a bagel store).

dorimar, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

I think this is a breech of personal information.

ANnot4me · Feb 9, 2009

It is definitely sleezy if not violation of any law.

patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 9, 2009

That is an example of a poor manager.. who does not know how to lead people.. I pity the nurses who work under that manager.. This person can not lead from the front, so he or she decided to post sick leave that people have taken. Poor excuse as a manager. Tell your manager that posting that as a FYI shows poor taste in management. If a person abuses sick leave, then the manager should take that up with that individual.

If I were you I would contact the local newspaper and media outlets and let them take a look at it.. Not in good taste at all.

Abuse of staff...

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 9, 2009

My department has a central calendar where all time off is recorded: PTO, vacation, Comp days, lateness, fill in's, overtime etc. Posting general schedule info without details is not illegal.

Posting amount of sick time used without posting other info above is not really giving the staff total picture of department budget. Agree that high use of sick time needs to be discussed with individual and viewed against total years employment picture. Finger pointing doesn't help.

Looking for ways to decrease sick time? Encourage flu immunization, strategically placed alcohol gel containers around unit = make sure getting replaced, gloves well stocked, no bare bones staffing,use temp agency when needed, periods of high stress conditions: multiple patient deaths/obnoxious customers give stress day off so staff can regroup.