h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Again...Europeans had a degree of Socialism/ Social Democracy. People got stroppy until we got holidays and sick pay. If employers don't offer sick pay for longer periods, the state pays some of it on their behalf.

It makes sense. I remain economically productive despite long-ish periods of illness in the past.

I'm curious. I have a certain idea of what constitutes "too sick to work". But I've calibrated that on the basis that I'm going to get paid when I'm home sick, and my sick leave doesn't cut into my holidays. As a result, when I'm in work, I'm healthy and productive.

I can state with absolute certainty that were I employed in the US, last week my employer would have had the dubious benefit of my presence on site when I could barely see for the streaming from my eyes, my sneezing was approximately once every two minutes, I couldn't breathe through my nose and could barely speak for the soreness in my throat. My fellow employees would also, therefore, have been exposed to my at my most infectious, antisocial and unpleasant. But if it was a choice between losing a day's holiday or possibly a day's pay and turning up to work ill, I would turn up to work ill unless I was physically incapable of moving.

How do American workplaces deal with people who are mobile, willing to work, but rampantly infectious? Can your employer *force* you to stay home without pay?

Perhaps it's not surprising that US pharmacies sell some heavy duty medications without prescription.

Which is another surprise.

(My Swedish friends take orders and come mack with suitcases full)

My fellow employees would also, therefore, have been exposed to my at my most infectious, antisocial and unpleasant

I would have organised a whip-round

We recently had a rather nasty cold virus run through our office. Only a couple of people stayed home for a couple of days. Personally, I medicated myself with a combination non-drowsy antihistamine and decongestant. I had to show my driver's license in order to purchase it because it can be used to make speed, not because I was likely to overdose on it. I topped it off with regular ibuprophen doses and a box of tissues.

What do you mean by "banking" bank holidays, Two bit? Does that mean you go into work on Christmas day and take the day off in lieu some other time?

That wouldn't work here - On Bank Holidays the place is locked by an electronic alarm system. I wouldn't get in!

"I medicated myself with a combination non-drowsy antihistamine and decongestant... I topped it off with regular ibuprophen doses and a box of tissues."

Can I just say, with the greatest of respect and affection...

EEUUUEEEeeeuuuw!

>What do you mean by "banking" bank holidays, Two bit? Does that mean you go into work on Christmas day and take the day off in lieu some other time?

When I say banking a holiday, I mean I retain it for later use. I have three kinds of leave: annual (vacation), holiday, and sick leave. The annual leave is my vacation time that I can take whenever I want. The holiday time is saved time from days when I've worked on holidays. For many public safety officers, you don't really get a chance to get holidays off when they occur. So you can opt to get paid extra for working them, or you can take them later. I also get one sick leave day a month. In my agency, most people also keep a comp time book. If you work over your normal hours, you can log it and flex it out later. Generally, I don't like that set up, but now that I'm back in school, I need the time more than I need the money.

I checked my pay stub, and I seem to get 15 days of annual leave, 12 sick leave days, and 10 or 11 holidays a year. Our annual leave is capped at 6 weeks, and our holiday leave is capped at 9 or 10 days.

I was surprised to read that some think our leave policies are stingy. We actually have a big problem in our county because employees keep accumulating leave time over the cap, and they wind up short in December because people have "use it or lose it" leave. It's especially bad with our senior guys who've been here 27 or more years. They have a really hard time staying under the cap.

The caveat is that I'm a government employee, so not everyone has the same benefits. Some have it better, and some worse. I suspect that my leave benefits are close to average for full-time employees across the country.

Can you book sick days? As in, if it's approaching the end of the month, and you've not been sick, can you take the day anyway, on a planned basis?

And "stingy" doesn't cover it. Compared to the conditions in my last job, "draconian" would be closer. To a French person, I imagine they'd seem flat out literally unbelievable - it's well known the English work many more longer hours than the French, and have fewer holidays. It's also pretty well known that you basically can't get anything done in France in August, because *everyone* is on holiday. And this is accepted, by them, because hey, everyone needs a holiday, right?

*draconian*. That's the word I was searching for . 'Barbaric', was slightly more emotive than I intended.

I don't normally go near 'yahoo answers' as it's usually less informative to me, than cremated remains are to a forensics team, however I found this page had a few interesting comments re. UK v US hols. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060903101834AAMP60I

I can accumulate sick leave up to some limit. I thought it was 700 hours, but I have about 755 hours now. I take maybe four to six sick days a year, but I still have a bunch of leave. I suppose it's a decent short term disability plan. If I'm hurt off the job, I really don't have to work for 3 months or so.

As for what qualifies for a sick day, it depends on the employer. Generally it's when you're communicable, too ill too work, or to take care of a sick family member. If I feel like crap, I stay home. If I need to see a doctor, I'll take the whole day. I once stayed home after I didn't feel sick after three days, but after taking bennadryl for three days, I didn't feel safe to drive.

You can take up to six weeks off after the birth of a child, and you can use sick leave for pay during that period. I took a couple weeks off after my daughter was born, but due to my assignment, I didn't want someone covering for me for too long. It all depends.

Hoo, there are people in the UK who will turn up at work regardless.

Doctors are one group, and IT contractors who don't get paid if they don't turn up are another.

B

I also went to work when I was ill, I was told to stay at home the next day.

I have 5 weeks of paid vacation per year plus 10 paid holidays, my birthday, and one day of personal leave available per month. As to sick leave, we earn one day per month and can accumulate up to 480 hours. Paid maternity leave here is 6 weeks, after which you have to use your vacation days first followed by sick leave.

Not surprisingly, none of you have ever visited my part of the country.

A clarification about tipping. In this area, wait staff make less than minimum wage. They make more from tips than their salary, so unless the service is really bad I always give them at least 15%.

"there are people in the UK who will turn up at work regardless"

Oh I know that. I was one of those people for a couple of years at the beginning of what I laughingly refer to as my career.

Maternity leave is SIX WEEKS? Good lord. We get six months, albeit not on full pay. How long are you allowed to stay off work and they have to keep your job for you? It's a year in the UK.

(And have you had a child since we last saw you, TwoBit (in which case congratulations!) or did you always have one, in which case, ignore me).

In my state, pregnancy leave is purely a disablility leave entitled to commence 4 weeks before the due date and continuing for 6 weeks after birth. You get an extra 2 weeks if you have a C-section. Under the Family Leave provision, you can take an additional 6 weeks, but it will be unpaid.

There is no provision for holding the job open. If the job has been filled, the worker can file for unemployment benefits.

Oh, if there are less than 50 employees, the employer doesn't have to give you the extra 6 weeks. There are several other exclusions, as well, including one for highly paid, essential employees.

It's depressing, ain't it?

No wonder there's such a tension between the stay at home mums and the working mums over the water. It's an extreme choice to have to make, that. Leave your job or your six week old baby.