I'm sitting here coughing and sneezing until my ribs hurt. All because someone came to work sick. We do a pretty good job of enforcing it at my office, but a couple of days ago I visited a client. His receptionist was sick. She apologized and was trying to be careful. I took extra precautions and washed my hands when I left, but it wasn't enough. Now I'm sick - and working from home so I don't infect anyone else.
So why do sick people come into the office and infect the rest of us when they should stay home? Sometimes it's because they fear being fired if they take time off. For others, they feel they are just too busy, or too valuable to the company, to be gone. Still others want to save their paid time off hours to use for vacation.
For the former, you need better communications and a more stable employment level. For those who just feel they can't stay away, you may need to adjust workloads, or provide some counseling. However, for the group that thinks spreading germs is an acceptable way to accrue additional vacation time, read Sick Leave vs. Paid Time Off (PTO) to learn how you can limit this behavior and the risks associated with it.
I have been in sales for 29 years primarily in the Financial Business. I not only enjoy your comments and letters but I think they are right on. Keep up the good work as there are many people out there that can/should learn from your lessons.
I read your associated article about sick leave vs PTO, and I would love to have the days off you metnion. My small company has decided that 10 days PTO for all vacation, sick time, and personal days is quite sufficient. And, if we take time off, we’re still expected to make up our work time. I was out of town for Christmas 8 total days (including two company holidays and a weekend), and I had to work four of those days, but I get no credit for that, only charged for being out. I’ve been sick this week (because someone else was sick and passed it on). Tell me how this is supposed to work?
I finally emailed everyone in the office and asked them to stay home when they’re sick because it is making me sick too often.
I slated to have a meeting with my manager regarding my attendance, or should I say my inattendance due to illness. My illnesses follow my visits to our office, when one or several office employees is working when they’re sick.
My email basically said, stop coming to work when sick because it is making me get sick. Especially when they have hundreds of hours of sick leave and I have none. I have to see patients and wouldn’t think of exposing them when I’m sick.
So frustrated. Our work policy states that one shouldn’t come to work sick but many do.. but if I call out because of exposure to my coworkers illness, then I’m in trouble.