Today, I am reminded of a story. Something that happened a number of years ago, that illustrated to me, for the first time, the sheer stupidity of the human race.
I was in highschool, and walking to the bank one day at lunch. I happened to see a guy that I knew, let’s call him Greg, ride his bike past me. He said “hey” and kept riding. I thought nothing else of it.
When I got home later that night, I was speaking with my dad, who was a foreman at the local mill. He was complaining that a number of people called in sick that day, resulting in a lot of extra work for him and the people on his team. One of those people, he said, was a continuous problem – calling in sick a lot, and not really doing any work when he was there anyway.
You guessed it, that was Greg.
So I mentioned that I saw Greg riding his bike through town, looking perfectly healthy at lunch. When confronted, Greg admitted to trying to pull the wool over his boss’ eyes, and was promptly terminated.
You’d think that if you were using a sick day to get out of work, you’d either go far away, or stay at home. Especially in a small town, where everybody knows everybody, and it’s likely to get back to your boss that you were skipping out on work should you be seen out on the town. At the very least, I’d think that you wouldn’t go waving at the boss’ daughter!
I just have a lot of people calling in sick to work lately. And sometimes I really wonder if any of them are that dumb as well. Also, if I did happen to catch someone in that kind of lie – would I be able to avoid bursting out laughing in their face at their idiocy?
What would you do? Or (and perhaps more interesting) what have you done after being caught on either side of this fence?
I’ve taken the occasional mental health day, but I usually label them that way. Conveniently, my coworkers already know that I’m mildly insane, so that’s okay. However, I’ve occasionally lied and said that I was physically ill so that I could take a mental health day. That’s about as far as I go with lying about it. 🙂
If I ever caught one of my staff out and about when they’d called in sick, I think I’d do two things. First, I’d laugh at their stupidity. Second, I’d give them a serious talking to.
I never leave the house when I’ve called in sick, unless I’m going to the doctor or to the pharmacy. If I’m taking a personal day, I’ll stay home and sleep and watch movies. I wouldn’t go out and about. I’m just not that stupid.
I *HATE* the way people are so bloody irresponsible. My ex-roommate messaged me the other day on MSN at a time when she was supposed to be at work. I asked her about work and she said “I don’t go to WORKPLACENAMEHERE anymore.” I said “wtf!? Did you just call in and quit or what?” She responded that no, she’s just not going to go anymore. She’s so irresponsible she can’t even be bloody bothered to call and say she’s quit. I was flabbergasted. She’s had this job for the past five months, and it’s not one of those jobs from hell where your boss is molesting you or something stupid.
I just can’t believe that people are so inconsiderate as to do something like that. Yes, i’ve taken a few personal days before, in a job where we were allowed 5 a year. Sometimes you really just do need to take a day off or you’ll go insane. I’ve only ever done that in one job though. I felt guilty for having done it at the time, too. Does nobody else feel crappy when they do shite like that? Arg.
People are so stupid, and so irresponsible :/
Hah, I’m not so stupid – I have taken one or two mental health days, but stayed at home. And out of sight.
A coworker was not so bright. He took a sick day every month but would call his wife (who also worked at the same company) AT WORK to ask what he should get while shopping. The phone was in a public place and it was obvious to whom she was speaking.
We’ve also had commuters who call in sick when they miss their rides (no bus goes near where we work). Very obvious.
For the most part, people get a slap on the wrist, “you were found out”, and depending on the manager, a note in their personnel file.
When I am home sick I’m afraid to even venture to the drugstore, lest an off-work coworker see me!
I wonder if these people playing hookie realise that it affects everyone around them; right down to the very clients/customers that these companies deal with. It’s a matter of work ethic man…..