Sick of working sick, Jimmy John’s workers ‘quarantine’ sandwich shop

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4840

By Michael Moore
7 April 2011

MINNEAPOLIS - Micah Buckley-Farlee was born with a severe medical condition that results in the spontaneous partial collapse of his lungs. On a Saturday night last year, while working his shift at a Minneapolis Jimmy John’s, Buckley-Farlee began suffering severe chest pains.



“I went to my manager and said, ‘Hey, I need to go to the hospital. I think my lung is collapsing,’” Buckley-Farlee said.

His manager’s response: Find someone to work out the remainder of the shift, or you’re fired.

Fortunately for Buckley-Farlee, one of his co-workers was willing to work on short notice that night. But several current and former workers at 10 West-Metro franchises say the incident raises concerns about the health of Jimmy John’s workers – and the safety of the sandwiches they’re paid to make.

“Workers are disciplined for calling in sick,” said David Boehnke, who was fired from his job at a downtown Minneapolis Jimmy John’s after raising concerns about employees working while sick. “The new attendance policy mandates discipline for workers who call in sick or can’t find substitutes.”

FULL story and video at link.

[snappyturtle]

1. How awful! I haven't even looked at the video yet! nt

[xmas74]

2. Where I work at

we have a point deducted if we bring in a doctor's note for a call-in; two without a doctor's note. We have five points in one year before we are suspended and seven before we are terminated. I was almost terminated two years ago when my child was hospitalized with pneumonia and I missed ten days-even though the doctor's note called it all one occurrence. If I hadn't begged the general manager to please let me keep my job (and then kind of blackmailed him with a comment about how everyone at our church had me on their prayer list and how it would look, since we attend the same church) I would have been terminated.

Nothing like knowing that your food service workers are sometimes very sick while handling your food. Vomiting, diarrhea, fevers as high as 103 and we are still making your food, day in and day out, for fear of losing our jobs.

[KT2000]

3. this is why I rarely eat out

took the health department test for food service workers and when I saw the critical issues - I knew that big business is more concerned with money and shortcuts would be taken. Also, the threat of being fired hangs over the workers so they may cover up some things, especially the young kids. Lost my appetite for eating out.