What repercussions for calling off of work without replacing your shift work are successful at your job?

Question

I am a 28 year old manager at a corporate fabric store where the average age of an employee is 45. They have all been calling off of work sick (some genuine) with nice weather disease without replaceing their shift. We have had a mature policy of trust to be timely and only call off if it's really not possable to work. What kind of policies do you have at your job, or if you're a manager do you have any advice?
Thanks

Answer 1

We are suppose to cover our own shifts. But at the same time if someone is really sick i think there is a thing such as common courtesy, I was actually really sick the other day with the flue and was not about to cover my shift, but I have been at my job for 5 years and considered reliable so my boss was happy to help me out!

Answer 2

Employees have 12 sick days and year and if they burn them up when not sick, then they will not get pay when they call in for really being sick.
There is a limit (4 X per year) for calling in (since genuinely ill people are out several days or if injured , maybe a week or 2) , and then you get written up for abuse of the system.
Warnings are given with each call in that they are approaching a write up. (which can lead to termination)
Please be aware , however, that some states allow use of sick leave to care for a child or elder . .
So they can call in to take care of a family member or take them to the doctor.

Answer 3

I often have the same problem with my employees, but I think it's usually more of a hangover sickness. It's really hard to change policies, or to implement a new policy to replace a non-working one. I have considered requiring a doctor's note when someone calls off sick, but that would be a financial hardship on most of my employees.

I had a friend tell me that when one of his employees called in sick, they were required to come in anyway. If in his opinion they were too sick to work, he would send them home with three hours pay. But I don't know that I want retail employees coming in sick and passing it on to other employees and customers.

I usually make my employees either come in or find someone to cover their shift themselves if they give me less than 3 hours notice.

Answer 4

Well, if you work at AC Moore or something, there's probably a corporate sick day policy. But, if it's up to you, tell them that they have like 7 sick days a year, and anything after that they need a doctor's note.