Yesterday, Mandy gave blood for the first time. She did it at school and was able to get some free junk food and get out of second period. After giving blood, she started to feel poorly. It got worse after lunch. Finally she called her work and told them that due to the fact that she gave blood and was feeling woozy, dizzy, nauseas...she wouldn't be able to work. They told her to get a dr.'s note. This really upsets me.
It is rather difficult to get a dr.'s note at one in the afternoon. It is also a waste of a dr.'s time for us to come in for a note when Mandy is not in need of medical assistance. Luckily we have free health care and luckily Jeff works at the hospital. Otherwise we would have to go to an emergency care place and wait for hours to see a dr and get a note. Paying a lot more out of our pocket than Mandy would earn in a day of work. I cannot believe that they do this to minimum wage employees. They certainly aren't paying Mandy health care.
I wonder if they do this to all their employees? Is it some sort of don't call in sick or we will fire you policy? Mandy doesn't get paid for her sick time. They are just short that night or have to call someone in. I wonder if the store manager knows this is happening or if the Winn Dixie corporate offices know about this or if it is something they all do to intimidate the employees. I wonder if this is only something they do to teens?
The momma bear in me wants to go down there and give these people a piece of my mind. I don't think that would be helpful for Mandy and her job. Maybe I should encourage her to find something else. I guess I should let it go, chalk it up to a learning experience. Teaching Mandy that working for $7 an hour in retail is not a way a person can earn a living in our country today. I feel so bad for the people working there that do so full time and depend on this job to pay rent.
Hopefully Mandy was able to save a life today. I did make her a dr.'s appointment for later int he week to test for anemia, since it runs in the family and donating blood was so hard on her. Glad I have medical insurance.
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6 comments:
They don't just to it to teens. I've had it happen to me, too. I was a 22-year-old college graduate, working retail because no other jobs were available in my grandmother's teeny (1,000-person) town. I had to live with my grandmother for a year to take care of her because her health was failing and she had no family nearby.
I missed ONE day of work that year because I was in the hospital, and they gave me hell about it. I was never late to work, and I covered for so many coworkers who didn't show up for work that I ended up working 50+ hour weeks for 6 months, even though I was only scheduled to work 30-hour weeks. Not to mention that I sold more $ worth of merchandise per hour than any other store employee. And they still gave me a hard time.
I hope that Mandy is feeling better soon! She's so brave to give blood -- I can't do it. Needle phobia.
Good for Mandy. I am glad she did that. I do have a question though. I thought that if you were in Europe with in so many years that you were not able to give blood because of all the mad cow stuff? That is what I was told the last time I went to give blood, which was a while ago. Maybe that is past? Who knows? I was just wondering.
And we wonder why medical costs are soaring when we have to waste a doctor's time on this crap.
Maybe send an e-mail to the corporate offices. I'd be interested in any reply you might get.
This is such a shame Marsha. Mandy went to give blood and did something to help others and then her employer treated her so badly. Unfortunately this seems to be the norm for most employees here in England too. If you are sick, you have to provide a note and even then you don't get paid but usually have to forfeit a day's holiday. It's disgraceful! Hope Mandy is ok. She may well be anaemic, maybe that was why she felt ill after giving blood.
Unbelievable! I know some places require a doctors excuse if you are out more than 2 or 3 days but never have I heard about this for ONE day.
Isn't Winn Dixie a grocery store?!? Forcing employees to come to work sick (especially since most can't afford frivolous drs. vists) and putting them in contact with food products is a public health nightmare! There are other ways to prevent habitual abuses of sick leave forcryingoutloud.
I don't understand some of the policies. Maybe Mandy has enough experience to find a better job now. My younger son gave a lot of blood starting as soon as he was old enough. It really made him feel proud to help those in need.
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