Call in sick -- please

As you know, I'm struggling with an attendance policy for an employer. I want people at work, but I don't want sick workers working and infecting everyone else. So, how do you create a balance that allows truly sick people to stay at home without penalty? Yet, controls are needed for the employees who delight in missing work by calling in sick - for no real reason. Here's an interesting concept: "Presenteeism" — the practice of showing up to work sick — is now on the agenda of human resources departments across the country. "But when sick workers come to work, it's no bargain for employers. Presenteeism (the opposite of absenteeism) costs companies as much as $150 billion in lost productivity, higher healthcare expenses and cascading absences due to contagion, according to a recent report in the Harvard Business Review." Read the relevant article: Call in sick -- please. Find out more about attendance policies: Attendance Policy and Absenteeism Policy Samples and Examples.