Should you work while sick?

Linda (No)

Soldiering through illness at work may appear admirable, but it has severe consequences for personal and public health. Despite pressure to stay productive, one's health and coworkers' well-being should come first.

Pushing through work while your body is fighting off an illness can obviously make you sicker for longer. Your immune system needs rest and resources to fight off infections, so ignoring that need can backfire and leave you feeling worse for an extended period.

Furthermore, working when sick presents a potential danger to both workplace efficiency and work excellence. Cognitive function can be compromised, leading to decreased focus and concentration and a decline in overall productivity. Tasks accomplished while sick can be subpar, resulting in mistakes, delays, and potential harm to one's profession. According to research from the University of Arizona, With just two to four hours in the office, one worker spreads germs to over 50% of routinely touched surfaces. If you go to work when sick, you can unknowingly transmit your illness to your colleagues or clients. 

Likewise, working while ill can have detrimental effects when your job requires you to connect with clients one-on-one. It may prevent you from giving your customers the kind of care and attention they need, which could result in a poor customer experience. Some customers can see the company as being negligent and, therefore, put the company in a bad light. 

Overall, working while sick harms personal health, workplace productivity, and public health. Instead, staying away from work while sick helps you recuperate and creates a better, more productive workplace.

Joanna (Yes)

Unfortunately, not all workers can take time off work when sick. According to a US Department of Labor report, only 79% of workers and 86% of unionized employees get paid sick leave hours. Additionally, when workers use all their sick leave hours, they may feel pressured to return to work while sick to avoid jeopardizing their jobs or to meet financial obligations.

Fortunately, people can safely go to work while ill by taking precautions to prevent spreading it to coworkers. Employees who are feeling unwell can inform their colleagues that they are sick and keep their distance from them and customers. Also, if the office has plenty of space to distance, the ill individual can self-quarantine by opting to work in the back office or a workstation away from others. In addition, some employers allow people to work from home when they’re ill so they don’t have to take any time off.

Despite taking precautions, it’s impossible to completely avoid contact with individuals who are ill in public or in office. Often, people unknowingly interact with unwell individuals, exposing themselves to germs. Moreover, sick individuals can practice keeping good hygiene in the office. For example, they can minimize the spread of germs by wearing a mask and washing their hands or using hand sanitizer often. Lysol can also be sprayed on surfaces to kill any influenza particles that land on them, offering peace of mind to others working. Therefore, individuals must take proactive steps to maintain their well-being, such as refraining from touching their face and ensuring proper hand hygiene.