Being unwell can be a burden, and obstruct you from doing many tasks – both in your personal and professional life. Sometimes even simple tasks like finding the energy to make yourself a cup of coffee can seem near impossible while unwell. It can be even harder when you find yourself in the workplace, struggling to cope with everyday jobs. But should you really be coming into work when you’re sick?
The general consensus
All of us, from time to time, have felt the pressure of needing to go to work despite being unwell. Whether it’s the accusatory looks from the rest of the office, your manager being less than sympathetic or the guilt that you might experience from missing an important meeting, we all feel the need to come into work. In fact, according to a report by Aviva, seven out of ten employees have come into the office despite being unwell. In fact, more than 40% of those surveyed said that they were afraid work will pile up if they took sick days.
However, it’s a well-known fact that if you continue to work while feeling unwell, you’re likely to be much less productive. As being at work while unwell can strain you, it will take you longer to get better. One sick day can very easily mean you continuing to be unwell for the rest of the week. Not to mention that coming into work while you’re unwell will spread your germs to your co-workers.
There are of course times where you’re unwell and it becomes more acceptable to continue to come into work. This could be when you’re feeling only slightly unwell, are not contagious, or feel as though you should be able to handle the lesser side effects and are still able to complete your everyday work tasks. Or if it is a high priority circumstance that you are solely in charge of.
Looking after yourself
An alternative to coming into work while ill could be to work at home. If your workplace is open to you working remotely, consider this as a suitable substitute. Working from home means that you’re much less likely to make yourself worse or spread your germs and make the rest of the office unwell. Something to bear in mind is that if you are too unwell to get out of bed, you are also too unwell to work from home. Looking after yourself and ensuring that you properly recover are imperative. In the end, your wellbeing is much more important than trying to stay on top of work. Those who are self-employed, however, may not be able to afford to take time off work, as not working often means not getting paid, so there is more to consider for those people.
At FluCamp, we research viruses like influenza and the common cold. Our belief is that the better we understand viruses, the more likely that we will be able to understand how they work – and that one day, we can eradicate them. To find out more about the work that we do contact us or learn more about our trials.
