Would you want a contagious cashier???

United States
April 20, 2007 6:04pm CST
I am a cashier and I am sick. I have an upper respiratory infection. A bad cold virus. Anyway, for one, I don't feel good, in and out of a fever, and for two, I don't like the thought of making other people share the same air and maybe even touch my hand at work, so I called out. Even with a doctor's note it's unexcused!! I wanted to ask the manager, "Do you want me to ask everyone coming through my line if they appreciate me handling their food with a viral infection?!?" So, would you prefer a customer service employee--especially one that is touching your things and even your food-- to call in sick if he or she were contagious?
3 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Personally, I agree with you, you should not be at work with a contagious illness. However, unless your company has a policy about "sick leave" you can't expect to be paid for the time off either. If your boss REALLY wants you at work while you are sick , he would be the first one you see when you arrived at work and you should be sure to shake his hand, pat him on the back, and possibly sneeze or cough on him so that in 7 - 14 days he would understand EXACTLY what you had gone through.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Apr 07
LOL, no, I didn't expect to be paid at all. But Wal-Mart allows it's employees three unexcused days to call out in a six month period. I came back from Egypt ill, and then a month later catch the local virus. So, I am going to be penalized for missing yesterday, the fourth unexcused day. I am not too upset by it, it just makes me so mad that they want CASHIERS to come to work and handle peoples' goods with highly contagious infections--the first two-four days of it they say to have limited contact with people. This is my fifth day and I'm going to work.
@Mickie30 (2626)
20 Apr 07
I don't like it when I go into a store and the cashier is sick. The managers should understand it isn't hygienic and you are passing germs to others like children. That is wrong and you should not work with food when you are sick it is against food and hygiene. You need to stand up to your manager take him to a union or complaint against him somehow.
• United States
20 Apr 07
That's what I think. We are waaay too money-driven to even see that.
• United States
5 May 07
I would contest it. Seeing in a subsequent comment that it's Walmart, well, their employment practices have been questioned, & this adds to that reputation. Yeah - you should have hit your manager with that question. If you get fired, try to get a lawyer, & file a wrongful employment lawsuit. Here's one good piece of advice if it comes to that. If they try to make you sign anything upon getting fired, don't sign it.