Attendance Issues

08/04/2009 Human Observation
It’s time for the most important discussion of this new millennium: attendance inconsistencies due to flu symptoms. To reduce preventable contamination during the coming flu season, The Center for Disease Control recommends remaining at home “quarantined” from the working population if flu symptoms occur. However, corporations such as Walmart punish absences with disciplinary measures if three absences occur within a six month period. Three get a verbal warning, four get a written warning, five a punitive day off, and a sixth means termination. In short, if you get sick at Walmart you can either come to work or get fired! This corporate inflexibility should serve as an indicator of a problem that will proliferate as the flu season develops. Shall we live responsibly to prevent the spread of an infectious disease, or jeopardize the public health to protect our employment? In the words of the traveler Klaatu, "the decision rests with you".