SEOUL (The Straits Times/ANN): Unless he faints or cannot walk, administrative manager Peter Cha will report for work no matter what.
Calling in sick is frowned upon in South Korea, where"good work" equals long hours in the office. Workers fear that taking the day off would inconvenience colleagues and give their bosses a bad impression of them. In any case, the country also lacks a proper sick leave system.
The worst health crisis in South Korean history has called into question the lack of a proper sick leave system and the lax attitude towards common illnesses such as the flu, fever and cough. So while civil servants are entitled to paid sick leave for common ailments, most companies will cover only major illnesses such as cancer or a broken leg. Those who are sick and require a day or two of rest will have to use their annual leave to cover their absence.
Steve Kim, 50, has never reported sick for the past 27 years. His current employer, a government tech agency, allows three days of paid sick leave a month."Noonchi was a reason in the past. Now I'm too old for that. But it's good to know that we have paid sick leave, even though I've not used these welfare benefits before."
Sales support manager Kat Lim, 49, who used to work in a South Korean company in Singapore, recalled how her then Korean colleagues complained about Singaporeans faking illness and abusing the leave system.
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