Here’s Why Working While You’re Sick Is a *Really* Bad Idea
You’ve been working SO hard to crush it at work, putting in long hours and leaving stress behind at the end of a tough day. You totally handled it when your boss made you REALLY mad and continue to make the effort to get along with your coworkers of all ages without missing a beat. That is, until you feel sick. If you’re someone who keeps at it through illness, know that you’re not alone — a recent study shows that working while sick is super common in the US. And this trend has been front page news this week, with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton working through a bout of pneumonia!
Presenteeism, a term scholars coined to describe showing up for work “at all costs,” is all too real. In fact, a survey shared in a recent article by The Science of Us shows that corporate managers in America found that they equate working longer hours with being more dedicated, hardworking and responsible. Eek! Unfortunately, showing up while sick time and time again can ultimately produce grave effects like anxiety, depression, disordered sleep and fatigue.
Though you might not feel it at first, working while you’re sick has been shown to lead to something called “depersonalization,” a state where you detach from yourself, which can lead to a negative attitude about work and eventual burnout. A Swedish study showed that workers who committed presenteeism were less healthy overall too — not such a shocking discovery when you consider that resting is the best way to recover and feel good again.
In the end, the best thing you can do when you feel awful is to REST. Not only will staying home save your colleagues from the risk of getting sick too, but it will also ensure you keep your love for the job and have the energy to accomplish all of your individual and team goals over the long haul. Have a boss who can’t understand that you’re just human? Well, girl, you’d best start searching for a new gig.
How do you feel about working while sick? Sound off with us on Twitter @BritandCo!
(h/t The Science of Us, photos via Getty)