When you pull a sickie, hopefully you're doing it because you're actually sick. It certainly doesn't look good if you're not coming into work after a long weekend because, let's be honest, you're probably just hungover.
But then again, you might have copped food poisoning from that dodgy Thai joint on the Monday night and now you can't come in. Bosses have to work out whether you're being honest or just faking it but also have to find cover so that they're not caught short.
However one New Zealand man was shocked when his boss told him to 'harden up' when he called in sick.
Jack Lane received a message from his superior saying: "Harden up or no more job...don't bother turning up. Over you wasting my time."
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The Palmerston North roofer took that as a serious threat and didn't turn up to work after going sick, according to the NZ Herald. He didn't get any enquiries from his bosses to see if he still wanted to come in after getting better so expected that his employment was well and truly terminated.
An Employment Relations Authority hearing heard that when Lane asked for remaining wages, his boss told him to 'fuck rite off mate [sic]'.
Lane took the matter higher as he felt he was entitled to his back pay and holiday pay and the hearing has ruled in his favour.
"This affected his dealings with others and forced a decision to relocate in order to start anew. He spoke of falling into a dark hole especially as the dismissal brought an end to the first time things were going right," the decision read.
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Incredibly, the bloke has been awarded a little more than $20,000.
That number includes $3,300 in unpaid wages, $12,000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings and the money left over was for outstanding holiday pay and court costs.
So next time you're thinking of telling your employees to harden up, you might want to think twice.
Featured Image Credit: Dana Dean Roofing Company/Creative CommonsTopics: News