Perspectives on the Terry Nugent Case
Just recently a case has come to the attention of the local news media, concerning a state trooper who took several sick days off, and was later found to have spent his sick time on commercial (and perhaps leisure) fishing trips. To examine the details read WBZ TV 4's recent news report on the case. There is a corresponding video link here.
After reading the WBZ4 article please read this one, which comes from the e-zine anxietyculture.com -- This article presents a different view of sick-time. It asserts that employees can and should take as much sick time as possible because that's the only way to 'register' a worker's demand for free time (because the 40 hour work week is apparently too much to be healthy for the average worker).
With this information, what is your perspective on this matter-- the nature of employee sick-time? Did Mr. Nugent abuse his privileges as a state trooper? What is your perspective on the article about Phoning in Sick? Please comment.
Note: After you comment, please respond to one or more classmates' statements. Check or proofread your comments before you post them. Be persuasive, be respectful, be specific and clear. Use "quotations" for extra credit.
Thank You!
About Me
- Florence
- I'm a writer, teaching critical reading and writing in Boston, and now in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've studied English and Economics and am interested in liberal arts education and academic support.
55 comments:
First
If you are sick then it is harder to perform your job or duty. Taking sick time dishonestly is obviously wrong, but if your are stressed out and tired its best to take some time off.
When people pay your salary and when your job is to protect the citizens of a state, you shouldnt abuse your sick time. I'm sure that if the roles were reversed, the state policeman would be mad.
It is obviously up to employers to maintain a fair ammount of sick days a year to be fair to its employees. Allowing them to take the ammount of time necessary to recover from being sick without being worried about being bankrupt. On the same argument it is not their right nor ability to be able to argue or press some sort of charges when they find out that their employees are misusing those days in order to do something else that they want to do. If the employees feel those things are important enough to waste a sick day for then they should go ahead and do them. Because they know that once they have no more sick days left they arent going to get paid for staying home sick if they catch some sort of illness.
I agree with tzuridis up to a certain degree. You can be stressed out from work and it is better to go ahead and take some time off than to not do your job as well. Also i would rather have gun carying police men not be stressed, as it is right now its illegal to tap them on the sholder to ask them a question you dont want them pistol whiping you in the face just because you sneeze across the street. They should take a day off.
Every knows once in a while people take "sick days" and aren't really sick. Just say that to take the day off to do something wether for pleasure or necesity. In this case it seems as the trooper was some what abusing the idea of "sick days", especially that he was going fishing and is having us waste our money on paying him for just taking sick days. In some way he isn't doing anythign wrong but the fact he has taken more than just a couple days off to go fishing seems unfair to people who have to work and don't get that opportunity.
Using our authority in the wrong way is that what the society's expectation?If all of us breaking the rule of the society, it brings the society confusion.And totally destory our world.
Taking sick time in a dishonestly is wrong but I believe that being a state trooper it’s a very hard job. I think he did it to get some time off and go fishing so he won’t be stress in his job.
I read the second article and I agree that when you dont abuse your sick time, an employee should be able to call in sick. When calling in sick will help them with stress and depression, they have the right to call in sick. I actually think that we, as students should be able to call in sick to school. In winter while I am stressed about finals, I am not going to come to school and take time off for leisure, to relax and play some Madden, lay on my couch and watch TV.
I think this article overreacts a little. Every one is entitled sick days in a full time job, its part of their benefits. My point is let these workers take their sick days even if they are not really sick. Either way sick days are entitled to them.
This news report only mentions this officer taking like 5 days in the past year and a half. Thats hardly worthy of "Destroying the world".
I think that people should sometimes call in "sick" to their jobs because sometimes a break is good for you. I don't think that you should do it as much as that state trooper did though. I admit that I have called in sick just because I didn't feel like going work.
Everyone is given a certain amount of sick days in a year. If they called in a fake sick day, they should not of left any evidence that others can track down on.
i agreed with alex its really up to the employers to mantain and explain there sick days to everyone.
Man sze, is right man, when you have authority you shouldnt abuse it because it throws everything off. As an important figure you should be responsible, and you should use your authority in the right way.
It's necessary for sick time to be allowed for people who hold steady jobs. It's wrong, however, for sick time to be abused, especially for your second business. In this case, the state police officer was being paid through tax payers money, while still earning revenue from his fishing business.He should be fired.
As well i agree with what tzurdis says about being sick and it is hard to perform your job, but when you aren't really sick its unfair to those who may really be sick and are still coming to work as well. ALso Jorge makes a good point the fact that he is some one proctecting the citizens as his job is another factor as to how important it is for him to be at work unless an emergency or an actual sick day. By him abusing his sick days doesn't make me think that he is even taking his job seriously , which puts me at some concern.
For the first one
I think it was wrong to do what that man did on the job.
I think they need to supervise and review information about why people take here sick days in the future.
Alex,
what if something happen WHILE they were on their sick leave? Sometimes, a few days off for fishing can ruin someone elses life.
I agree with alex. People should be able to use their sick days as they want, when they use them all up they probably wont be getting paid for the extra ones for when they really are sick. I think it works out that way.
I think that this guy should not be basically paid to go fishing. Why should my tax dollers pay for that? He should go fishing on his own time.
i think that maybe the officer did not want to tell his job that he had another job because it might affect the hours they give him in a week to work maybe he don't want a lot of days off he juss wants the days he needs off everyone calls out of work to do something that they want to do. Buh at the same time he is taking the risk of losing his job.
I agree with the second article. Most employees are afraid to approach their boss on things like asking for a raise and when we do they either deny our request or just never get back to us. As a result we do things like call out on friday night shifts or we tend to slack on the job a little. Honestly who here has not done this??
I think that it is no one bussiness that he is not going to work. people act like they dont call out of work to hang out with there friends. i know i do it. and at the same time people who liter on the train and busses, are tax paying money pays for that so we are even.....Asia
I agree as well when a person is tired they should have the right to call out sick, showing up at work in this condition can effect the person's ability to perform the duty they are suppose to do.This man taking off work to go fishing is not right, yes we all deserve days to ourself but making it an ongoing habit is not fair.He should be thinking more about his duties and protecting the citizens and the community as a whole.
Taking time off when your a state trooper is definetly wrong. But, many people try to get away with these types of things. Sick days should be taken when your actualy sick not when you want to go fishing.
In responce to Jorge S...
Come on Jorge! lighten up a little bro... you never called out sick before with out really being sick? Dont lie Jorge...
ffirst of all, lying is not right and if you are callingsick, one must know that you are relly sick. Dishonesty shall not be mixed with the performance of your job your job. the guy should be paid to go fishing only if he is in the necessity.
i think elmo212121 should mind there business....he acts like sometimes he doesnt call out sick and partying. cause he told me he did that the other day
If you have a big reaction over this trooper calling fake sick calls, then why don't you take over his position. People like to complain about stuff, but not many people do stuff about it.
i agree with the fact that working long hours all the time causes stress and that this can cause other problems. these problems can be mental and physical. Creating these problems can create workers to not be able to function properly on the job which can cause mistakes and accidents. Employees deserve to have these phone in sick days but not be abusive to the fact.
I think that cookie should wrap herself in plastic and sell her self for 50 cents at the local corner store. I do what i want
My boss is understanding when i had another boss she wasnt so i left that job and got a new one where my boss was understanding to my school schedule
Brandon, i agree with you that taking sick time to fishing is relaxing himself. It could be a big effort that push his productity in his job. Then his student maybe learn more this time,so it maybe good.
Abusing sick time at your job is wrong. If an employee is sick or stressed out, they would be no help at work, and it would be best for them to stay home. If someone is calling in because of the dreaded "Monday morning", however, that's not right. If everyone called in because they simply didn't want to go, a business would be out of employees.
i think people should be able to have sick days,although i do no believe it is fair that he be allowed to use his sick days for his fishing business. To my knowlegdge he is taking away from other people, while still making a profit..This is is unfair to everyone else.
WE DONT LAUGH IN THE HOOD!!!!!!!!!!!! watch u know where i am from.......thats all i am going to say about that homie.
Its not wrong to judge or be curious about something, just the majority of time you will probably be wrong. If someone is missing from work alot, I would like to know where they are also. Not many people mind their own business unless specifically told to.
U dont have to say. Dem highlights tell me already
This is one of many examples of system abuse. This man should be suspended for his actions because who knows how many people he might have helped over his "vacation" time.
I disagrre with will's comment. sick days are entitled to workers if and only if they are sick according to the state law.
This privilege or right shall not be put in used injustly.
for the second one
Hi all who read this
This one seems to controdict the first one
It talks about how that to phone home sick for a relaxing time is good
I disagree I think if you need time off you should ask not lie.
im sure a boss wouldn't mind if your a hard worker. If he does then you should try legal actions.
well honestly i agree that 40 hours a week is to much.When your working with heavy loads of work you tend to get fustrated and depressed.Which can lead to becoming ill. So when you start to feel ill "phone in sick". These days are your free days, so you should be able to do what you feel with them.Every one calls in sick once in a while.
Everyone who has a job, need to be reliable for their commitment. That one action of yours can change a whole system's way of operation. However, I feel it is acceptable if you can help find a backup to replace you. People in the right minds, would know their limits of using their 'sick days.' Sick days shouldn't be used only when you're sick because IT is consider part of your benefits. The state trooper is very excited about something he has an interest in, it's hard for him to ignore the anxiousness. His anxious to go home that day could results in bad judgemental actions.
Complications though Mike Powell, Legal actions take a very long time.
In response to the second article I believe that if you are sick you should be able to take the day off. But, when you abuse the system and take days off to go fishing it is wrong. So I believe that the second article is wrong and we should be responsible, especially when you are a police officer and you are suppose to protect the community.
About the second article, I think that people shoukld take sick days only if they really need it. If they are truly sick. Not to go fishing
I agree with jeansalom
i think lying is wrong and should not be done. especally when your in that kind of position
After reading the second article, i believe that calling in sick is necessary even if you are not physically sick. There are times that you dont feel mentally well and a day off can do you good
when someone is stressed, it is an indication that the body has somehing wrong. That problem may be physically or psycologically
i believe that it is important that your boss manages to keep the job with a time for stress relief.
I agree with Allison that if you are calling out of work just because it is Monday morning then that is not right.If it gives one person the right to call out then so doesnt all the other employees. then who would be there to work ? noone! i know for fact at my job there are people who constantly week after week call out sick.
i agree wit my man tzuridus,because if you are stressed out and tired you wont be able to work at your best ability.
I agree with Chelsea, she said "I think that people should sometimes call in "sick" to their jobs because sometimes a break is good for you. I don't think that you should do it as much as that state trooper did though." English teachers say that it is good to write/or do homework for a bit and go back to it with refreshed eyes. Everytime you go back to it, you might be able to interpret something in a different way. The breaks help you get through with the job that is tiring and requires you to be alert while on duty.
if you are having a very crucial time at work and you fell like you might harm someone or yourself, then I agree with this article and you should defenitly call in sick.
The state trooper needed a break in order to be fully concentrated on the work ahead. Employees should be able to use their limited days wisely, either because they're sick or for personal reasons. In legal handouts, they're given days that they can take off; they're going to be used either way.
I will have to say that Almo is right about the fishing cop not getting pay. If you pick a field of work, you should be happy with it and not fooling around like this jack#ss.
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