Work ethic, what's your take on it all

[cardiacrocks, BSN, RN]

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.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I'm with you. I find it very annoying. I wish our management would crack down. They like to be family friendly and I appreciate that, but some people take total advantage of it and it makes our lives miserable. Like you, I come in under the weather, short of puking and high fevers.

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?

Nurse: Oh no. I fell at home and hit my head/face/cheek area and now I have a slight bruise.

Me: Good Lord, are you ok? How bad is the face and the pain? What happened?

Nurse: I have a bit of swelling and a light bruise. Make up covers it just fine and there is no pain, but I don't want to 'scare' the patients.

Me: Is your eye swollen shut? No pain? That is good and better that make up covers it up. We are going to be running short....

Nurse: Oh no, my eye is fine. It's right under the cheek bone. I just don't want to scare the patients.

Really? Now I have to spend a huge amount of time begging people to come in because some small facial bruise might scare the patients.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'll start off by saying that I almost never call in, primarily because I enjoy my money and want paychecks that are not smaller than usual.

However, I really do not blame the people who frequently call off. Workplaces, employers, and upper management have shown a grossly blatant lack of ethics when dealing with employees over the past few years. Why should the workers be loyal and display a strong work ethic when they do not work for ethical people? It's a tall order and a tough question to answer.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I enjoy excellent health, so I personally have not had to deal with this issue.

I suspect the decision to work unwell depends on a nurses worldview and beliefs.

Some nurses believe in "taking one for the team", and others try to get away with everything they can regardless of others.

Some nurses have a sense of loyalty to their employers and co-workers, and others do not.

Some nurses were raised to ignore illness and tough it out and others were put to bed by very concerned parents who showed worry over all illnesses.

So how does a person respond to illness, what do you owe your co-workers, employer and patients?

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

I'll start off by saying that I almost never call in, primarily because I enjoy my money and want paychecks that are not smaller than usual.

However, I really do not blame the people who frequently call off. Workplaces, employers, and upper management have shown a grossly blatant lack of ethics when dealing with employees over the past few years. Why should the workers be loyal and display a strong work ethic when they do not work for ethical people? It's a tall order and a tough question to answer.

Exactly! I rarely call off because I feel guilty if they have to work short but i don't fault others for doing it.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I rarely call off. We have some here that call off ALL OF THE TIME! It makes me crazy Somehow they have their doctors fill out FMLA paperwork for a "chronic issue" and my employer allows them to call off then however many times they want. I say if you can't work full time hours due to X,Y,Z then either make them part time or PRN. It isn't descrimination, it is just plain sense. No one should be punished for being "ill", but the rest of the staff shouldn't have to suffer because you don't want to work Fridays either. I am going to end things there otherwise I am going to rant and rave and work myself up.

[sapphire18]

I agree with this. However, if you work part-time or per diem, at my job, you don't get benefits. So that is one factor when wondering why those with chronic health problems continue to work full time. I have a chronic illness and NEVER call out other than when I am in the hospital, but then it is for a fairly long stretch of time. I feel terrible about it, but I wouldn't be able to survive without my income and benefits.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

maybe suzy's husband hit her and told her she couldn't leave the house, thinking that sooner or later she'll lose her job and be even more dependent on him. known it to happen.

[aboucherrn]

Most places I have worked have an attendance policy that states you get so many call-ins per year before you are terminated. The way around that is the FMLA act, which I have seen coworkers blatantly abuse time and time again. And recent rules have made it so you can't even ask why a person is calling in. Maybe that is what's going on with your coworker?

Calling in is one thing....work ethic while actually AT WORK is a completely different topic. Maybe I will look that one up!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think there are those that push the envelope and don't have the work ethic of "old" times. They don't really buck up and don't feel they should. Living where it snows, my favoutite ones are the local nuses that can't get in.....when their co-workers travel much further and get there on time......myself included.

I agree with GrTea......I think "Suzy" has issues at home..

[Flo., BSN, RN]

If you are lucky enough to be in excellent health be aware of the fact that some of your coworkers are not. They may not have discussed their health problems with you. If management is aware and not acting on it, then let it go.

It is managements duty to ensure that the floor is staffed even with call outs. That may mean a float pool, per diems, or the use of a staffing agency. If management is forcing you to work short staffed that is their fault not the nurse who called out.

[Scarlette Wings]

sort of funny how everyone posting thus far are not the ones who do the calling off. lol. i would like those guilty once in awhile to own up to their actions. (just saying if the shoe fits wear it proudly)

i have noticed many times that the ones that call off a great deal are frequently burned out or working two jobs. it does not make it easier for the ones trying to carry the load.