Missed Work Days

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How do sick days, missed days and mental health days affect the employee and his workweek? INTRODUCTION Sick days, missed days, and mental health days are time off the employees take from work without losing their pay. During this time, the employees stay home and address their personal issues, and health, including mental health. The availability of days that the employees could miss work and still be entitled to salaries is dependent upon the facilities policy and procedure codes. The allowance of such days within the working schedules guarantee employees the necessary time they may need when sick without risking their employment. Some policies also allow days away from work to take care of issues affecting a close family member. Most employers allow up to one week of paid sick, missed, or mental health days. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that up to 39% of Americans, mostly in the private quarter, do not have access to paid sick, missed, or mental health days. In some cases employers suspend or fire an employee for missing work even when illness is the cause. How do sick days, missed days, and mental health days affect the employee and his workweek? When an employee has access to sick, missed, or mental health days they are more motivated to work and be productive during the time they are at work. Other than increased productivity, it reduces turnover, and enables greater employee retention. The availability of days an employee can miss work without losing pay enables those with children to take care of them when they are sick. Research indicates that children recover faster when their parents take care of them. Allowing workers to stay home when their children are sick is a great employee perk. This reduces the spread of the disease, especially if it is contagious. During the H1N1 outbreak of 2009, the government through the
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