Do employers/coworkers prefer if their employees go to work while ill?
Let's say hypothetical office employee Alice has come down with the common cold. She feels terrible, but not so terrible that she can't work. Her productivity might be half of what it usually is, but half is not zero. Should she go to work after all? Assume an office work environment - Alice isn't a professional pianist, chef, etc.
I've had people give me contradictory advice on this. The main arguments against going to work are:
- You're contagious. You could infect others. You could not only infect your co-workers, you could infect everyone else you come into contact with, e.g. other people on the bus.
- You stay sick longer. Because you're not resting, you take longer to recover.
- You are ill. You can't concentrate as well. Your work is more likely to be shoddy.
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and disdain you for not showing social responsibility.
The main arguments for going to work are:
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and admire your dedication.
- One is no longer that contagious when symptoms are visible (the most contagious period is before symptoms are visible). Plus, the common cold is not that contagious. The person who told me this gave as examples chicken pox and conjunctivitis - with these illnesses, one should avoid going to work.
- You feel worse by taking sick leave, as though you're abandoning your colleagues. Your work piles up.
- Even if you take sick leave, you'll probably only get one day of sick leave. You'd also have to visit a doctor, so it's not like you can avoid other people. One day is not enough to fully recover, so you end up going to work sick anyway.
I suspect whether employers/coworkers prefer if Alice comes to work anyway depends on the individual, but still: are there any possible general statements?
Related, but somewhat different: How soon should you return to work after illness?
sickness time-off
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
add a comment |
Let's say hypothetical office employee Alice has come down with the common cold. She feels terrible, but not so terrible that she can't work. Her productivity might be half of what it usually is, but half is not zero. Should she go to work after all? Assume an office work environment - Alice isn't a professional pianist, chef, etc.
I've had people give me contradictory advice on this. The main arguments against going to work are:
- You're contagious. You could infect others. You could not only infect your co-workers, you could infect everyone else you come into contact with, e.g. other people on the bus.
- You stay sick longer. Because you're not resting, you take longer to recover.
- You are ill. You can't concentrate as well. Your work is more likely to be shoddy.
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and disdain you for not showing social responsibility.
The main arguments for going to work are:
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and admire your dedication.
- One is no longer that contagious when symptoms are visible (the most contagious period is before symptoms are visible). Plus, the common cold is not that contagious. The person who told me this gave as examples chicken pox and conjunctivitis - with these illnesses, one should avoid going to work.
- You feel worse by taking sick leave, as though you're abandoning your colleagues. Your work piles up.
- Even if you take sick leave, you'll probably only get one day of sick leave. You'd also have to visit a doctor, so it's not like you can avoid other people. One day is not enough to fully recover, so you end up going to work sick anyway.
I suspect whether employers/coworkers prefer if Alice comes to work anyway depends on the individual, but still: are there any possible general statements?
Related, but somewhat different: How soon should you return to work after illness?
sickness time-off
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago
add a comment |
Let's say hypothetical office employee Alice has come down with the common cold. She feels terrible, but not so terrible that she can't work. Her productivity might be half of what it usually is, but half is not zero. Should she go to work after all? Assume an office work environment - Alice isn't a professional pianist, chef, etc.
I've had people give me contradictory advice on this. The main arguments against going to work are:
- You're contagious. You could infect others. You could not only infect your co-workers, you could infect everyone else you come into contact with, e.g. other people on the bus.
- You stay sick longer. Because you're not resting, you take longer to recover.
- You are ill. You can't concentrate as well. Your work is more likely to be shoddy.
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and disdain you for not showing social responsibility.
The main arguments for going to work are:
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and admire your dedication.
- One is no longer that contagious when symptoms are visible (the most contagious period is before symptoms are visible). Plus, the common cold is not that contagious. The person who told me this gave as examples chicken pox and conjunctivitis - with these illnesses, one should avoid going to work.
- You feel worse by taking sick leave, as though you're abandoning your colleagues. Your work piles up.
- Even if you take sick leave, you'll probably only get one day of sick leave. You'd also have to visit a doctor, so it's not like you can avoid other people. One day is not enough to fully recover, so you end up going to work sick anyway.
I suspect whether employers/coworkers prefer if Alice comes to work anyway depends on the individual, but still: are there any possible general statements?
Related, but somewhat different: How soon should you return to work after illness?
sickness time-off
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
Let's say hypothetical office employee Alice has come down with the common cold. She feels terrible, but not so terrible that she can't work. Her productivity might be half of what it usually is, but half is not zero. Should she go to work after all? Assume an office work environment - Alice isn't a professional pianist, chef, etc.
I've had people give me contradictory advice on this. The main arguments against going to work are:
- You're contagious. You could infect others. You could not only infect your co-workers, you could infect everyone else you come into contact with, e.g. other people on the bus.
- You stay sick longer. Because you're not resting, you take longer to recover.
- You are ill. You can't concentrate as well. Your work is more likely to be shoddy.
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and disdain you for not showing social responsibility.
The main arguments for going to work are:
- Employers/coworkers prefer it and admire your dedication.
- One is no longer that contagious when symptoms are visible (the most contagious period is before symptoms are visible). Plus, the common cold is not that contagious. The person who told me this gave as examples chicken pox and conjunctivitis - with these illnesses, one should avoid going to work.
- You feel worse by taking sick leave, as though you're abandoning your colleagues. Your work piles up.
- Even if you take sick leave, you'll probably only get one day of sick leave. You'd also have to visit a doctor, so it's not like you can avoid other people. One day is not enough to fully recover, so you end up going to work sick anyway.
I suspect whether employers/coworkers prefer if Alice comes to work anyway depends on the individual, but still: are there any possible general statements?
Related, but somewhat different: How soon should you return to work after illness?
sickness time-off
sickness time-off
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
edited 18 mins ago
Allure
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
asked 24 mins ago
AllureAllure
6831312
6831312
My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago
add a comment |
My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago
My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago
add a comment |
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My boss kicks out of the building whoever that comes ill (sneezing, coughing.. etc). He believes that getting rid (temporary) of a sick employee, is better than getting the whole team infected.
– Sandra K
15 mins ago
Can you indicate your location? For instance, you're talking about "only getting one day of sick leave", which suggests a US based location. But that doesn't make sense in many (all?) European countries.
– Abigail
9 mins ago