I just read the following article, “Half Your Staff Have Pulled a Sickie” It claims that a recent survey indicated that 54% of employees had called in sick when they were not actually sick. I was shocked, I tell you…absolutely and utterly gobsmacked by this. 54%??? ONLY 54%? Someone, or lots of someones, is lying here…I would have put this figure up around 90%. I do not believe that this is due to my cynicism with respect to the human race but based on experience and my own method of gathering intel.
While I cannot guarantee that this is the case, based on my own informal surveys, every single mother I know has taken a sick day when one of the kids was sick. 100% of my informal survey participants admit to taking a sick day when they were not actually sick. So maybe 46% of the people surveyed in the article referenced were not mothers, this is possible.
However, how about the concept of defining what constitutes being “sick”, and what justifies calling in sick. I will generally go to work with a cold, I have been known to go to work with a fever…don’t judge, I warn people and keep the Lysol handy. There are others in my immediate family who will sneeze in the morning and immediately seize upon that opportunity to call in sick. Not pointing fingers, and not passing judgment but this video says it all.
While I cannot guarantee that this is the case, based on my own informal surveys, every single mother I know has taken a sick day when one of the kids was sick. 100% of my informal survey participants admit to taking a sick day when they were not actually sick. So maybe 46% of the people surveyed in the article referenced were not mothers, this is possible.
However, how about the concept of defining what constitutes being “sick”, and what justifies calling in sick. I will generally go to work with a cold, I have been known to go to work with a fever…don’t judge, I warn people and keep the Lysol handy. There are others in my immediate family who will sneeze in the morning and immediately seize upon that opportunity to call in sick. Not pointing fingers, and not passing judgment but this video says it all.
RSS Feed
