I am not OOP, this is a repost community.
Original Title: my boss pressures me to take sick leave, but I can’t afford to
Source: Ask A Manager
Trigger Warning: ::: spoiler spoiler Workplace Bullying, minor public humiliation :::
Original: Apr 24, 2018
I work in a small office of less than 10 people, and even then, there’s usually only two or three of us actually working within it on any given day. I started off as an intern but have since been taken on as an employee – though I have never been given a contract stipulating annual leave or sick days. I just know what hours I work and what my rate of pay is. Recently I took time off for a planned holiday and was informed that I do not get paid when I’m not in the office – which is fair enough I guess, as the company is going through a bit of a rough patch, but is making my current conundrum that much more difficult.
My boss is very anal about cleanliness (to the point of overkill, in my opinion, but I accept that it’s not my place to say that), and it’s starting to affect me. I don’t get sick very often, and when I do I usually still come to work unless I feel awful – think a cough or a runny nose. We work in a single room and whenever my boss is in (she’s usually one of the ones out of the office), she complains loudly about my being ill and that I should take a day off in case I get anyone else sick. (I should note – that hasn’t happened yet, as I’m very careful, particularly because she’s so pedantic about this issue. I should also note that I have taken sick leave once, when I felt I was too sick to come in.)
I don’t want to take sick days, as I feel fine aside from the minor ailment, and there’s also the fact that I can’t afford to stay off as often as she expects me to. I don’t get paid for taking sick leave, and I’m finding the constant pressure to stay home when I’m not that unwell rather distressing, because it seems they are completely oblivious to the fact that not everyone can afford to do that! (Everyone – the bosses in particular – take days off willy nilly. I seem to be the only one with a regular schedule as I can’t afford not to work! I also earn the lowest wage in the office – minimum wage).
How should I address this with her? We’re not particularly close, and these occurrences have made me feel even more detached from her, as I find her rather unpleasant. I’m made to feel like I’m disgusting for merely coughing at work.
Update #1: Dec 26, 2018
Based on the advice I’d been given, I decided to knuckle down and focus on getting another job – any other job. I know a lot of people suggested I contact Citizen’s Advice, but I was honestly (and still am) a little wary of doing that, as my father has dealt with them in the past regarding a job issue that was a lot more clear cut and wrong, in my opinion, and that didn’t go well for him.
Anyway, it turned out to be really lucky I was looking for other work, as at the start of May (not even a month after I sent my letter!) they laid me off. It was in a really mean way as well, because my boss came up to me at my desk (in front of my coworkers), and said ‘We’re going to have to lower your hours’ and I was like, ‘Okay, what to?’ My boss: ‘Zero.’ And then she laughed. Yup. Seriously. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more degraded in my working life. It was as if the whole thing was just a big joke to her. I wasn’t the only person to get laid off that day, but I had also just published their new website days before, so my family and I are pretty sure that played a part in it as well.
Anyway, that sucked, but I had an interview the Monday after for a 6 month full time writing internship. The interview went well – it wasn’t exceptional or anything – but lo and behold, I got the internship!
I’ve now been here a week and it’s amazing. I have holiday and sick pay, and I’m even getting put through their pension scheme! (Though whether that’s worth it right now seeing as it’s just an internship, I don’t know. Any thoughts on that?) I’m also earning the highest wage I’ve ever had! And best of all, I’m doing something I’m really passionate about! Who knew things would work out so well in the end?
I am not OOP, this is a repost community.
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