Bad times in Texas
May 28th 2009, 11:36 pm
#166
Junior Showtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,759
Re: Bad times in Texas
I'm not. I pointed out that the reason English employers are more inquisitive about absences through sickness is that, unlike their American counterparts, they typically don't restrict their employees to a paltry number of sick days per year. Given their larger exposure to having to pay employees whilst they are sick, it is perfectly reasonable to ask whether you also consider an insurance company asking for evidence of one's disability - particularly a short-term disability, where an employer in the UK is often financially on the hook for - is also an invasion of privacy.
This has bugger all to do with disability and why you should compare it to it is a mystery.
May 28th 2009, 11:46 pm
#167
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Bad times in Texas
The interviews were created solely for the purpose of making people think twice before succumbing to taking a day off when they felt a little low, rather than actually unwell. The interview is designed to be a psychological tool to control employees behaviour. Amerlisa's reaction is absolutely typical of anyone who has been "interviewed" - they are pissed off at having to explain why and what. It has been sold to managers as a tool to help employees deal with ill health. Both the managers and the HR departments know full well that it is just a way to intimidate people into coming into work.
This has bugger all to do with disability and why you should compare it to it is a mystery.
This has bugger all to do with disability and why you should compare it to it is a mystery.
May 29th 2009, 12:18 am
#168
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Bad times in Texas
The interviews were created solely for the purpose of making people think twice before succumbing to taking a day off when they felt a little low, rather than actually unwell. The interview is designed to be a psychological tool to control employees behaviour. Amerlisa's reaction is absolutely typical of anyone who has been "interviewed" - they are pissed off at having to explain why and what. It has been sold to managers as a tool to help employees deal with ill health. Both the managers and the HR departments know full well that it is just a way to intimidate people into coming into work.
This has bugger all to do with disability and why you should compare it to it is a mystery.
This has bugger all to do with disability and why you should compare it to it is a mystery.
:nods:
May 29th 2009, 12:21 am
#169
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Bad times in Texas
And here's another side of the problem in the US:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...ave/?uniontrib
Last edited by Giantaxe; May 29th 2009 at 12:27 am.
May 29th 2009, 12:31 am
#170
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Bad times in Texas
One more time... as UK employers typically don't limit people to a paltry amount of sick days, they are often on the hook for paying people in situations where in the US people would go on short-term disability (or go without pay). So it is perfectly reasonable to equate the two situations given their economic equivalence.
On the other hand, anal retentive could be a very good descriptive term....if one were using it.
May 29th 2009, 12:34 am
#171
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: Bad times in Texas
Whereas limiting people to a paltry amount of sick days isn't? Riiight.
One more time... as UK employers typically don't limit people to a paltry amount of sick days, they are often on the hook for paying people in situations where in the US people would go on short-term disability (or go without pay). So it is perfectly reasonable to equate the two situations given their economic equivalence.
And here's another side of the problem in the US:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...ave/?uniontrib
One more time... as UK employers typically don't limit people to a paltry amount of sick days, they are often on the hook for paying people in situations where in the US people would go on short-term disability (or go without pay). So it is perfectly reasonable to equate the two situations given their economic equivalence.
And here's another side of the problem in the US:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stori...ave/?uniontrib
May 29th 2009, 12:35 am
#172
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Bad times in Texas
On the other hand, anal retentive could be a very good descriptive term....if one were using it.
May 29th 2009, 12:53 am
#173
American Expat
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,598
Re: Bad times in Texas
I'll let you all in on a little secret...
Unless you're really messed up and in an iron lung or something, long term disability insurance is a scam.
You say: Hey Mr. Insurance Man, I have 20 doctors that say I'm disabled and can't work. Please pay me.
Insurance company says: "Yeh..... about that..... you seem okay to work to us... thanks for all of the premiums you paid now why don't you just STFU and GFY."
I'm not too fond of contributing to the sick bank. I know it's probably good karma to contribute, but I don't trust the way they distribute it. Too many people take a sickie to go golfing and then when they are really ill, they hit up the sick bank. One person hit the sick bank for maternity leave. "Complications" she says. She didn't have a lot of leave to begin with and *decided* to have a child. I'll take a pass on donating to that one.
Unless you're really messed up and in an iron lung or something, long term disability insurance is a scam.
You say: Hey Mr. Insurance Man, I have 20 doctors that say I'm disabled and can't work. Please pay me.
Insurance company says: "Yeh..... about that..... you seem okay to work to us... thanks for all of the premiums you paid now why don't you just STFU and GFY."
I'm not too fond of contributing to the sick bank. I know it's probably good karma to contribute, but I don't trust the way they distribute it. Too many people take a sickie to go golfing and then when they are really ill, they hit up the sick bank. One person hit the sick bank for maternity leave. "Complications" she says. She didn't have a lot of leave to begin with and *decided* to have a child. I'll take a pass on donating to that one.
May 29th 2009, 12:56 am
#174
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Bad times in Texas
I can well believe this bit from the article:
Now that's what I call an invasion of privacy... having one's food prepared and one's children looked after by someone who's sick.
Those least likely to have sick leave are low-income workers, particularly in fields such as food services, child care and the hotel industry – in other words, the people you most want to be staying home if they're sick.
Last edited by Giantaxe; May 29th 2009 at 1:02 am.
May 29th 2009, 1:08 am
#175
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Bad times in Texas
The interviews were created solely for the purpose of making people think twice before succumbing to taking a day off when they felt a little low, rather than actually unwell. The interview is designed to be a psychological tool to control employees behaviour. Amerlisa's reaction is absolutely typical of anyone who has been "interviewed" - they are pissed off at having to explain why and what. It has been sold to managers as a tool to help employees deal with ill health. Both the managers and the HR departments know full well that it is just a way to intimidate people into coming into work.
May 29th 2009, 1:28 am
#176
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Bad times in Texas
Who's insulting? I'm stating fact. You're going further then one sick day and Kate's very apt description of the "re-entry interview" and what it is designed to do.
May 29th 2009, 1:34 am
#177
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Bad times in Texas
Non-responsive as to my point on the need for non discriminatory sick policies or the financial obligations of UK employers for sick pay as opposed to their US counterparts... oh well.
May 29th 2009, 1:40 am
#179
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,583
Re: Bad times in Texas
I can well believe this bit from the article:
Quote:
Those least likely to have sick leave are low-income workers, particularly in fields such as food services, child care and the hotel industry – in other words, the people you most want to be staying home if they're sick.
Quote:
Those least likely to have sick leave are low-income workers, particularly in fields such as food services, child care and the hotel industry – in other words, the people you most want to be staying home if they're sick.
May 29th 2009, 1:42 am
#180
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865