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Can you explain why people are afraid to take a sick day? I'm not from the USA, so this might be a cultural thing or things just work different where I'm from.

by CWIZO 14y ago

Can you explain why people are afraid to take a sick day? I'm not from the USA, so this might be a cultural thing or things just work different where I'm from. Also, since I'm moving there, does this apply to the UK?

stdbrouw 14y ago
A lot of companies in the US either give you a fixed amount of sick days – they won't fire you if you go over, but you won't get paid – or they consider paid time off and sick days to be equivalent, and so if you're sick for a week, you're seriously eating into your vacation time unless you can afford to go on an unpaid leave (and your supervisor lets you). Dunno about the UK.
ghshephard 14y ago
Some companies, (I think Cisco is one) - gives you a "bucket" of days to use how you wish, Sick Day, Vacation Day, whatever. So, using up a sick day just means one less vacation day.
summerdown2 14y ago
It doesn't apply to the UK. If you're sick, be sick. You'll be paid, too. A few caveats: 1. The above is for permanent positions. If you're a contractor the rules are different. 2. The above is true once you're through probation, which might be the first six months. 3. I have no idea what it's like in startups. I've only ever worked for big companies or the government. But in general, sick leave is a benefit like a company car or flexible working. If it's in your contract, no one will mind you using it. A point about holiday leave, too. In the UK, it's usual to take holidays. Everyone does, and then we talk about them in the office afterwards. It's considered part of being a rounded human being. Most holiday entitlements don't roll over, either, so if you don't use your 30 days (for example), you lose the remainder. This means there's a bit of a scramble to get them used up before rollover day. Everyone does this, and you'll be looked upon as a bit peculiar if you don't use the holidays you're entitled to.

by CWIZO 14y ago

stdbrouw 14y ago

A lot of companies in the US either give you a fixed amount of sick days – they won't fire you if you go over, but you won't get paid – or they consider paid time off and sick days to be equivalent, and so if you're sick for a week, you're seriously eating into your vacation time unless you can afford to go on an unpaid leave (and your supervisor lets you). Dunno about the UK.

ghshephard 14y ago

Some companies, (I think Cisco is one) - gives you a "bucket" of days to use how you wish, Sick Day, Vacation Day, whatever. So, using up a sick day just means one less vacation day.

summerdown2 14y ago

It doesn't apply to the UK. If you're sick, be sick. You'll be paid, too. A few caveats: 1. The above is for permanent positions. If you're a contractor the rules are different. 2. The above is true once you're through probation, which might be the first six months. 3. I have no idea what it's like in startups. I've only ever worked for big companies or the government. But in general, sick leave is a benefit like a company car or flexible working. If it's in your contract, no one will mind you using it. A point about holiday leave, too. In the UK, it's usual to take holidays. Everyone does, and then we talk about them in the office afterwards. It's considered part of being a rounded human being. Most holiday entitlements don't roll over, either, so if you don't use your 30 days (for example), you lose the remainder. This means there's a bit of a scramble to get them used up before rollover day. Everyone does this, and you'll be looked upon as a bit peculiar if you don't use the holidays you're entitled to.