Think about how many times, legitimate and illegitimate, times you’ve missed work in year. Now 5 years. This guy didn’t miss scheduled work in 27 years. It’s actually insane.

You gotta admit, that kind of attendance is pretty unheard of. Everyone would have taken at least a few days of in a typical year.

Tbh there are times when he probably SHOULD have taken time off. It's certainly an achievement, but he probably sacrificed his health and that of those around him to get there.

I chewed on your comment for a while before writing this, but I think I (also controversially) agree with you. The employer-employee system is cold and uncaring, as per its design. No employee should expect some sort of 'special recognition' from their employer, and no employer should expect to receive more labor than they pay for. I think a lot of the replies you are getting are geared more towards how people think things OUGHT to be, i.e. an infusion of humanity and caring/emotion into a cold, mechanical socioeconomic system that treats people as cogs. I imagine you and I are approaching this from different perspectives, but at the end of the day your employer is NOT your friend. They do NOT have your best interest. An employee should NOT go above and beyond, unless compensated fairly for doing so. [Disclaimer: I am (probably clearly) one of those lefties that does not support the current socioeconomic system and I think things OUGHT to be different, but they arent.]

you sir have the perfect attitude to run daddy’s buisness!

I get what you're saying, and it's pretty much how I view my job. It's not a healthy view though.

Ahh, I think what your missing is something called perspective.

If you're in a good relationship with a partner then as the years pass you find yourself appreciating them more and more.

If you're a hardworking business owner or manager that's actually there doing the work alongside the employee, you gain the appreciation that even though their task may be different, they are just as dedicated and as hard working as you are (while also receiving less income).

If you're absent or detached from the process, of course you're only looking at the contractual obligations and if they're "holding up their end" of the deal. It takes time and emotions, hard sweat and tears. Not something you're just suppose to "get". It comes after those nights where equipment eventually breaks, A/C goes out, Rush times are beyond your capacity or anything your facility could handle, customers are literally in your face screaming at you. It builds a bond in hell that a contract could never really spell out properly.

If you don't feel anything after that especially with a romantic partner, you might want to explore the idea that maybe you're missing out on a part of life that wasn't emotionally developed in you and there are steps to rectify and address the situation.

Man, reading your comments is wild. I hope you find a heart sometime, it would do you good.

I'm sorry but there's absolutely no chance you typed that out "out of curiosity" or any other acceptable reason.

You typed all of that out to be an asshole, and to answer your real question, yes, you are an asshole.

You realize that almost every employee calls in sick a few times a year. Even the most dedicated employees.

Good employees should be recognised by employers to boost morale and encourage other. Keeping good employees who know the place and all the history is good for business. That's what's in it for the employee. Other than just being nice to someone who's been in your life for so long.

I agree that attendance isn't necessarily good and shouldn't be rewarded. He likely came in sick and employees without a healthy work/leisure balance are less productive so it's not a good example to set either.