Jewellery store Pandora asks staff to avoid taking sick leave over Christmas Some workers at jewellery retailer Pandora have been asked not to take sick leave over the Christmas period because it was a busy time for the business. In a video sent to staff, the head of The Howley Group, Joseph Howley, Pandora’s franchisor of some New Zealand and Australian stores, said because the company was going into a “very busy” time of the year, staff should not call in sick for the next three weeks. “You are very important to this business. Don’t call in sick. If anyone’s calling sick, cancelling shifts, I need to know about this. You need to talk to me directly,” Howley said.