Stop giving the plague to your coworkers!

Justin H
Jan 12, 2017
3 min read

So this topic is by request of one of my coworkers, and so as I mentioned in my last post, here we go!

Let’s take this “hypothetical” situation… You are sick with some type of stomach bug. Let’s call this bug something smart sounding…I don’t know, like maybe Norovirus. So you have this “norovirus” (as if that’s a real word) and your company is hosting a pot-luck event of some sort, like maybe a holiday party. You committed to bringing a food item to this holiday party and you recognize and realize the uproar that would occur if your promised item isn’t ready. You begin to tough it out. You start making this food item, like a boss. You suck up the pain, you clench your teeth through the cramps and you get this food item done. Hooray! Your food is made and you can slowly groan your way to the next day where you have to bring this item to work for the event.

The morning arrives, you want to die but gather up your gumption and get into the office, food item in hand. The party goes off without a hitch, you are sick the whole day and elect not to eat, but you are there, doing your part for the company’s overall success, you good employee you. Thankfully, it’s Friday so you have the whole weekend to rest up, which you proceed to do when you leave work. Monday arrives and you feel much better, a whole new you! And three of your coworkers call out sick with a stomach bug, maybe even called “norovirus” because you were stubborn and stupid and just HAD to present your food item so people were happy.

Going to work sick has a huge impact on the business, beyond just you earning a few extra dollars in your paycheck. Forbes estimated in 2012 that the impact on the US economy of illness was $576 BILLION (with a B) dollars. A lot of that impact is from lost (when you don’t come into the office) or reduced (when you do and can’t perform at your peak) productivity, but other costs are medical expenses, replacement employee costs, long/short term disability and worker’s comp.

A few tips if you are sick, but your job doesn’t offer sick time, or aren’t tenured enough to accrue it and you really need that paycheck…

Dear Lord, don’t prepare food for anyone to eat. Because duh.
Don’t go near (6 feet) anyone, and don’t let them come near you.
Wash your hands. Frequently. For at least 20 seconds each time. This is like brushing your teeth, people, time really DOES make a difference here.
Sanitize any surfaces you might touch in a communal area, like a doorknob or microwave door, countertops, phone receivers or even door frames.
If you have a cough, wear a mask. If you aren’t willing to do that, cough into the crook of your arm, not your hand.
Wash your hands (Honorary second mention because of how important it is).
Warn your co-workers that you are sick. Forewarned is forearmed, as old(er) people (than me) I know would say.