Happy Hour: Sleek and Sophisticated
Nov 16, 2012
Apologies for having to cut back on some of the posts this week. I’m fighting the cold that one of my coworkers brought to the office and needed the extra sleep. So nice of him to share his disease with us. He’s been sick for over a month, and now everyone is succumbing to his germs. Why don’t sick people, you know, use their sick days?
I’m buying him a bio-hazard suit for Christmas. Maybe a decontamination shower for the rest of us, or a year’s supply of Emergen-C and Zicam.
Burberry London Short Sleeve V-Neck Dress ($850)
This dress is perfect. It’s sleek with clean lines and seaming that hugs the body just so. The lightly puffed sleeve provides just the faintest hint of 1940s glamour. So why not a classic, 1940s cocktail?
I was searching for cocktails from the World War II-era when I found this gorgeous looking drink called Aristocrat Punch. The recipe combines Burgundy, brandy and Champagne with fresh fruit, and while the directions are a bit detailed, they’re not overly complex. I think this fresh and fruity drink would be lovely for a holiday party or perhaps to serve at a wedding.
If you like the dress and are searching for something similar, I am sorry to disappoint. Unfortunately, comparable dresses in lower price points are few and far between. Black Halo makes a few dresses that are similar, one short sleeve, one three-quarter.
The only retailer who sells anything close in a wallet-friendly price range is ASOS. Their pencil dresses come the closest, I like this square neck dress, this v-neck pencil dress and this tailored sweetheart neckline dress. I’m not sure if the lengths on all of the dresses are work appropriate, but ladies cannot live by work alone.
If your coworker has been sick for over a month you should cut him some slack. Maybe take the first week off but I can imagine most would try and tough it out after that.
Heartbroken that the dress doesn't have a comparable option for Staff Assistant budgets!
purplepear: He never took a single day off. He never went to the doctor. He won't take any medication. He hasn't been sick because he's desperately ill, he's been sick because he refuses to rest or treat his condition. I could understand if he was out for a few days at the start and then back, but he refuses to take a day or two.
I actually found a similar dress at Ann Taylor a while ago –
I can't find it online anymore, but I've seen similar pieces at J.Crew as well from time to time.
It doesn't have the slight puff on the sleeves or the exposed zipper in the back (which I actually prefer), but it's a similar dress.
I agree that those of us lucky enough to have health insurance and sick days should use both, especially in this era in which mobile devices make working from home a viable option.
A lot of people don't use their sick time because:
They don't have any
They are concerned about losing their job
They aren't billable when they aren't at work
They don't realize they are contagious
Etc.
There are a lot of reasons. What is the likelihood this person got sick from someone else at work? Probably very good.
QIE: He got sick from a relative. He was the only sick person in the office of 10. He has hundreds of sick and vacation hours, so much he has to be forced to take them or lose them.
I know that for hourly employees or ppl without time taking time might be impossible, but this guy is not in that boat. And now four people are sick, their families are sick or have been sick, and one employee, a woman in her 60s, was out for nearly a week very ill.
What is worse for the business one employee gone two days or several employees working at 50% or missing days of work?
I agree, Belle. Presenteeism is not good for a workplace. If one has the benefit of being able to take time off, one should be courteous to one's fellow employees and stay home or at least out of the office. Unless one abuses their sick leave, I find it highly doubtful that one would be in danger of losing their job due to taking an occasional sick day.