Sick days

Soon enough, now that summer is coming quickly to an end, the flu and other illnesses will resume their place on the hot topics list. As if being sick isn't enough, we frequently face the added dilemma of what constitutes being ill enough to stay home from work. So I came across an article in CanadianLiving.com entitled "Am I too sick to go to work?" that I thought might be useful to share.

I don't think my husband has taken a sick day in years simply because of the guilt-factor. I've witnessed him in conditions I know warrant a day off to rest and recuperate, but he is too worried about what needs to get done at work............and off he goes. But beyond a person's own health and well-being, illnesses that are contagious also become hazards to the work environment. Here is some interesting information from the article related to the unhealthy workplace:

"Dr. Richard Stanwick, an epidemiologist and chief medical health officer for the Vancouver Island Health Authority in Victoria, cautions that the day you're simply feeling bad – usually the day before symptoms start to show – is when you become infectious. Here's what could happen if you go to work anyway.

• You could infect 10 to 15 per cent of the people you come into contact with during the day, if you're in a service industry (for instance, if you’re a bank teller).
• A simple cold can turn into something more serious if you have an underlying chronic disease.
• You may be ignoring your overall health in a significant way. Working when you should be at home could be a sign that your work-life balance is off-kilter.
• Your illness could affect your company's bottom line. You won't be as productive as you normally are, and if you infect some coworkers, they might also have lower productivity"

And what if you have kids? The article also provides suggestions on how to read your child's symptoms when making a decision about whether they should stay at home or go to school. And if your child does need to stay at home, the dilemma of how and when to use your sick days becomes even more pronounced. An article in BlueSuitMom.com advocates creating a Sick Day Plan, In "Sick Day Savvy: How to Take Care of Your Child and Your Career", Dr. Jeanette LeBlanc states it is critical to create these emergency plans. It is better to evaluate your available options well ahead of time so that you are not scrambling at the last minute to figure out arrangements. Whether illnesses happen frequently or infrequently in your home, you can never choose when they may occur, and it may be at the most inopportune time.