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County Will Fire Sick Employees for Working

Arizona municipality tries to put brakes on spread of swine flu

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – In a desperate attempt to curb the spread of swine flu, Pima County, Ariz., has notified its employees that they could be canned if they come to work sick. Any employee with a fever over 100.4 accompanied by any other flu symptom will be sent packing. “It seems like we are being a bit draconian,” allowed a county official, but “we want people to feel free to call in sick.” The local government is urging private individuals and businesses to adopt similar policies.

Sick at work? Pima County, Arizona wants you at home.
Sick at work? Pima County, Arizona wants you at home.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
cochiserocks
Oct 17, 2009 7:48 AM CDT
I agree but ook at it another way - Seasonal flu has a death rate of less than 0.1 percent - while swine flue current estimate is 0.007 percent to 0.045 percent. Check this article out - http://www.reuters.com/article...
passinthru
Oct 17, 2009 3:47 AM CDT
what a double standard...stay home if youre sick, but if you call in we'll fire you...jesus, corporations and their red tape can suck my ass.
schmidtkoff
Oct 17, 2009 3:35 AM CDT
actually, people are contagious before the show symptoms of the flu. or colds, for that matter. so one would be spreading it inadvertently.

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