Stressed at work

A Canadian Press story posted to The Telegram website headlined “Worn out at work” centred around how benefit plans can help with mental illness, but that many employees are still afraid to use them. The story notes that about 30 per cent of shortand long-term disability claims are now attributed to mental-health problems and illnesses. The story drew more than 2,000 hits

and at least 25 publishable comments. Some of those include:

“If one of my employees starts acting a little weird, they’re gone. I don’t need the liability and if they start whining about ‘accommodation,’ they can go to Holiday Inn. I’m in business to make money, not mollycoddle a bunch of babies.”

— Another buisnessman

“It must be a real joy to work for you, minimum wage I assume, so you can keep the gas in your Vette.”

— WOW

“Bout time, people need to stop making excuses and start working. Stress? Everyone has it, you need to learn to deal with it on your own level. Bottom line, you don’t work, you shouldn’t get paid.”

— TJ

“I rarely hire full-time employees. Basically you are laid off at the end of each shift. My full-time employees are on contract — for a specific period of time. You are hired to do a job. If being absent from work prevents them in job productivity then they are gone. As a business person I am interested in the bottom line. I reward good productivity with above average pay and bonus.”

— James

“And you shoulden’t be entitled welfare or EI either.”

— Doug

“James, Another Businessman, TJ, and Doug have a little compassion. Maybe someday you will have a mental illness and looking for compassion and understanding from your

employers, clients and colleagues.”

— KD

“Wow, some harsh comments here from employers. I guess education is not a pre-qualifier for success. I would think they would value their employees more than that, and if they don’t they’re not worth working for, the door swings both ways.”

— MudderL

“I have two MBAs from two very prestigous universities. My employees are free to leave at any time if they feel they don’t want to work for me. I do keep them on notice that there are plenty of people who would gladly fill their jobs and I keep on display an ever-increasing pile of applications to remind them.”

— Another Buisness Man

“‘I have an two MBAs from two very prestigous universities. My employees are free to leave at any time if they feel they don’t want to work for me. I do keep them on notice that there are plenty of people who would gladly fill their jobs and I keep on display an everincreasing pile of applications to remind them.’ Malarkey. Anyone who has an MBA knows that you don’t get two of them. Just because you’re unemployed and sitting in your basement in Paradise doesn’t mean that you can play make believe. Employers take mental health seriously. Nobody wants to be sued for something that could be considered a disability. Nobody around here wants to piss off employees and push them to unionize either. At the end of the day, creating a positive work environment means less sick time, fewer employee turnover and thus a better customer experience. There are a few people here who actually work in the business world and don’t play make believe.”

— Booens