Yahoo Finance Aussie cafe slammed over 'gross' worker act: 'Am I out of touch?'
An elderly customer has called out the Melbourne venue for allowing a staffer to work while they were sick.
An Aussie cafe has been called out for allowing a staff member to work while they were unwell. As winter takes hold, the number of Aussies catching viruses and illnesses is on the rise.
But an elderly customer at a Melbourne cafe was furious when they noticed an employee handling food and beverages who "looked and sounded awful". They said the worker was even "complaining to another customer [that] she was sick".
"I understand people need to open their business but also I’m really off put that she didn’t even have a mask on," they wrote.
"Am I an out-of-touch complainer for being grossed out by this? Is it just everyman for themself to try and keep well?"
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The customer sent an email to the cafe pointing out the issue of staff working while they were sick.
"I had to throw my coffee away after seeing her touch my coffee cup. I am elderly and do not want to get sick from other people's highly unhygienic habits," they said.
They received a reply from the cafe, who defended having the employee working while they were sick.
"Unfortunately on occasion, people do need to work when slightly unwell," the leaked email said.
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"I can assure you that there are no unhygienic habits being undertaken, as we take health and wellbeing very seriously with constant sanitisation happening and gloves being worn if preparing food.
"Unfortunately a mask is unable to be worn by this individual.
"I'm sorry you felt uncomfortable, however given ongoing sanitisation before handling you would quite possibly be more likely to catch something from another customer or someone standing next to you outside, rather than this interaction."
The cafe apologised that the customer wasn't able to enjoy their coffee and wished them well.
'I didn't have a choice': Some workers can't afford to be sick
The response attracted some criticism, with one noting it felt as if "nobody learned anything from COVID".
"I thought COVID was meant to teach us if you're sick stay home, but the incompetence of managers has gotten worse," wrote another.
Others defended the sick employee and explained how the cost-of-living crisis made it hard for many workers on a casual contract not to work.
"When I was on casual wages not working an 8-10 hour day meant I was short $200 for the week," one person said.
"If I’m sick and need two days off, that’s $400. That’s a huge chunk taken away from my groceries, rent.
"I think I worked sick every time I was sick. I didn’t have a choice."
They weren't the only one to point out how difficult it can be for some workers to take time off.
"Casual workers no longer get sick leave, people need to earn money to feed themselves," said another.
Even if Aussies wanted to get treatment for their sickness, it's not as easy as it sounds.
Finder research released earlier this year found 20 per cent of respondents have avoided going to the doctor because they couldn't afford the appointment.
A further 7 per cent of people snubbed the doctor or dentist because they didn't have time or couldn't get off work.
What are my rights if I'm sick?
Full-time and part-time employees are given 10 days of paid sick leave a year. Casual workers unfortunately don't have the same benefits.
But Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Sally McManus said employees should never feel pressured to come into work if they don't feel well, regardless of whether they are covered by sick leave or not.
"Even if you are casual or have run out of paid personal/sick leave, you are entitled to leave & your employer must not take action against you for doing so, even if you can't get a test," she said.
"You [employee] need to notify your employer as soon as you can. Every employee has a right to this leave, and employers must not coerce employees into not exercising this right.
“Employers can be penalised or fined, and you could be awarded compensation if they try and coerce you [employees].”
ACTU research released earlier this year found more than half of insecure workers, which includes fixed-term and independent contractors, casuals, and gig platform workers, have reported continuing to work while ill or injured specifically due to the absence of paid leave.
Everyone seems to be sick at the moment
This appears to be the sentiment across Australia right now.
Infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Paul Griffin told the ABC that it isn't a particularly standout year for the flu or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), but it's more the range of illnesses going around.
"We've got so many things circulating in relatively high levels simultaneously," he said. "It's a very significant thing for us to have to deal with and is creating a burden on our healthcare system."
There have already been tens of thousands of cases of the flu, RSV, COVID, pneumonia and whopping cough recorded so far in 2024.
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