44 Years, No Sick Days: Retiring Postal Worker Has Impeccable Attendance Record
Could you imagine working for 44 years with no sick days? While the circumstance probably sounds more plausible to the American worker than the European one, it still seems impressively long of a time to never call in with the flu, a sprain, or a very bad cold.
But Detroit postal worker Deborah Ford has indeed done the very, very difficult. The retiring USPS worker worked a straight 44 years without ever calling in sick, using vacation days to attend doctor’s appointments if need be.
And Ford also had another strategy to achieve her 44 years with no sick days. When the now 64-year-old retiree felt unwell, she says she’d “shake it off” and work through it instead of resting at home. A show of strength, to be sure — but we would also like to take this opportunity to remind contagious folk that, if you can stay home, you should, lest you infect your colleagues and reduce productivity for the whole office.
Ford referred to an old Post Office adage in discussing her amazing record of 44 years with no sick days. The Detroit Free Press quotes the resident as saying:
“You know what we say — rain, sleet or snow, [can't stop the U.S. mail] and that’s what I live by. I’m coming in.”
Postal Service district manager Chuck Howe had nothing but praise for Ford at her retirement bash, and the Lansing State Journal reports:
“As Ford stood with a dozen co-workers at a send-off luncheon in downtown Detroit’s main post office — 1401 W. Fort — Howe handed the woman in a purple sweater a retirement proclamation that cited her for never missing a day of work — ‘enabling you to retire with a sick-leave balance of 4,508 hours,’ Howe said.”
Of her achievement of 44 years with no sick days, Ford says “a positive attitude” helped her achieve the milestone.
Tags : 44 years with no sick days, 44 years with no sick days 2013, 44 years with no sick days USPS, 44 years with no sick days USPS worker, APWU, deborah ford, detroit USPS
Posted: January 29, 2013
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Jan 29, 2013
What they aren't saying is, how many times she went to work sick and gave it to everyone else for the sake of her perfect record.
Jan 29, 2013
May she be blessed in every way possible. If all people were so dedicated…
Jan 29, 2013
it also means she retired with over 2 years full salary in her hand, which I'm sure she'd factored in to her pension planning. she left with the equivalent of 26 months full pay – gives one a little incentive! well done, deborah!
Jan 29, 2013
"but we would also like to take this opportunity to remind contagious folk that if you can stay home, you should, lest you infect your colleagues and reduce productivity for the whole office."
THANK YOU!
Jan 29, 2013
Only in the Government could you do that. Everywhere else use it or lose it.
Jan 29, 2013
That's SICK!
Jan 29, 2013
I think I am going to puke!
Jan 29, 2013
heres the gig whiners. if your healthy, your co-worker wont get you sick…period. her record is not rare. many people go to work all the time. I'm 50 and have never used a sick day. stop blaming your weak immune system on doorknobs and sneezy people and do something about your lifestyle.
Jan 29, 2013
Thank you, doctor.
Jan 29, 2013
I agree..I think it's impossible for anyone to get anyone else sick….I mean who comes up with this stuff…lol
Jan 29, 2013
I take sick days even if I'm not sick! screw that! I'm not a machine!
Jan 29, 2013
On the one hand, way to go!
On the other hand, you're really not doing anyone a favor when you play the hero, show up sick at the office and "spread the love" around. Cough….sneeze…yuck…
Jan 29, 2013
I can bet my last dime she is a virgin.
Jan 29, 2013
Your welcome Kim. I also do breast exams…
Jan 29, 2013
I never understood why people have the need to be so negative. Every good story deserves a negative comment it seems. I wonder do these same people treat their family this way.
Jan 30, 2013
Robert! You still quack me up! lol
Apr 15, 2013
How wonderful for you that you are clearly a superior human being. Must feel great to be able to lord that over everyone else.