Working Ill

Thomas Swick’s article (Editorial Pages, March 6), “ ‘A Bad Bug’s Going Around’--Thanks to Us,” presupposes employees feel duty-bound to trudge to work from their sickbeds.

What Swick failed to cite are intimidating company policies referred to as “absentee-control programs,” which, in effect, force employees to report to work ill lest they be reprimanded should their absenteeism fail to meet departmental expectations. Such disciplinary action may include verbal cautions, memorandums, suspensions, and, in some instances, termination.

Single parents, usually female, have no choice but to report to work ill. Often, their school-age children who cannot legally be left unsupervised attend school in the same condition as their parent.

Sick pay, incidentally, is not necessarily full pay.

ROGER B. HUNTMAN

Woodland Hills