In every office there seems to be a diehard worker. We all know them. They are the employees who never miss a day from work, are always punctual, and who always have an opinion to share about world events: the ideal employee for any employer. Unfortunately for their fellow co-workers, they are also the individuals who would rather come to work sick than stay home.
Recently I had the pleasure of an encounter with such a worker. Upon first glance I had no indication that they were sick. It was not until I heard them cough that I thought their lung would immediately follow the discharge they chose to dispel from their mouth in front of the office staff. Alarmed, I expressed my concern and suggested that a visit to the doctor’s office might be warranted, at which time I was informed by the staff person that there would be no doctor’s visit because they had taken their spouse’s cough medicine and they would be just fine. By this time a crowd had gathered to determine where the uncontrollable cough was coming from just in time to hear this declaration. To say the least we were all in awe, not to mention worried, about contracting an unknown illness.
What do you do when someone decides to come to work ill, and how do you stay well in the midst of someone who is deemed potentially contagious? Unfortunately, as in this instance, employers cannot mandate that their workers go to the doctor or stay home when ill; however, they can encourage workers to consider the best interest for the company by choosing either to go home, or not come to work when ill.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest a few tips for prevention in the workplace that can be helpful to all employees, especially with the upcoming flu season:
1. Avoid close contact: Keep your distance.
2. Stay home when you are sick. Consider those you work with.
3. Cover your mouth and nose, especially when you sneeze or cough.
4. Clean your hands. Wash hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
You might also want to consider sanitizing your workspace and common areas that might be shared or touched by numerous individuals, such as door handles, computer keyboards/mouses, and phones. If you’re also an avid adventurer around St. Louis and frequent many attractions, you will want to keep these tips in mind when out in public. Needless to say, worrying about exposure to sick co-workers can also be stressful and annoying. Consider easing your emotional stress by lending an extended hand to co-workers in order to keep them confined to their work space, and remember, when all else fails you can always take an emotional day off to regroup.
Can’t get in to see the doctor? Consider these afterhours local alternatives:
- After Hours Pediatric Urgent Care
Aline Hanrahan is a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing in St. Charles and St. Louis Counties. She specializes in individual, child, family, and marriage counseling and has serviced the mental health and public school systems for 20 years. For more info, visit alinehanrahan.com.
