A supermarket worker's alleged demand for a week's notice before taking a sick day has sparked significant backlash online. The incident, which reportedly occurred at a Coles Supermarkets location, began when an employee informed their manager they were experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis.
Screenshots shared to Reddit depicted the employee stating, "There is an ongoing gastro outbreak at my other job and now I am symptomatic of gastro. Not sure if I can work tomorrow." The alleged manager's response was, "No way. You need to manage it. As you know we are short staff here. You need to let me know 1 week in advance. It doesn’t work anymore like this here."
Further screenshots appeared to show the manager sharing the exchange in a workplace group chat, reiterating expectations for employees to complete rostered shifts and update their availability weekly. The original post, titled "I should have planned getting gastro a week in advance," garnered substantial attention on Reddit, with many users criticizing the manager's stance.
Critics raised concerns about the impracticality of forecasting illness and the potential for further staff absence if colleagues contracted the stomach bug. Some also noted that the conversation seemed to occur within a deli team chat, raising food safety questions, though the exact location and identities involved remain unverified.
The Fair Work Ombudsman advises that employees who become unexpectedly ill should notify their employer as soon as practicable if they need to take personal leave. They may also be required to provide evidence, such as a medical certificate or statutory declaration, that would satisfy a reasonable person.
Coles declined to comment on the matter. The authenticity of the screenshots and the identities of those involved have not been independently verified.