I recently came back from a trip coughing uncontrollably. I wanted to be safe and not get anyone sick, so I called in sick for a few shifts and skipped a few classes. My time being sick brought me to an important realization: society frowns on people prioritizing their health over their work.
Sure, our society has become much more “self-care-friendly,” but it feels like a different story when we’re sick. Many of us feel the pressure of our responsibilities when we don’t feel well, so we continue to work or attend school because we worry that we’ll make a negative impression on our employers or professors.
You’re not alone if you feel like you must go to work when you’re sick.
After the COVID-19 pandemic began to stabilize, up to 90% of employees chose to report to work feeling ill. It’s almost like going to work instead of taking a sick day is the new expectation for employees everywhere. But sadly, this mindset seriously affects many workers’ mental and physical health.
On multiple occasions, after explaining that I was sick, my managers pushed me to come to work anyway. One supervisor even said that if I didn’t show up to work, they would consider my absence a “missed shift” unless I found a replacement.
But why do so many employers prioritize work over employee health? Sick employees often feel tired and achy, which would make them far less productive. The best way to recover from illness is to listen to your body and rest, and employees deserve that chance to improve their health before returning to work.
Of course, keeping a company afloat when employees are out sick is harder.
But denying workers the ability to rest could lengthen their recovery process and increase their time out of work. This mindset doesn’t help anyone, and it’s far kinder to encourage sick employees to focus on improving their health and allow them to return to work on their own time.
My time off of work taught me that I don’t give myself enough rest. I always want to arrive at work early and score the highest marks in my classes, and sometimes, it’s detrimental to my health. I’ve come into work and school feeling under the weather, but I don’t get much done those days and sometimes even have to leave early to rest. When I don’t respect my body’s needs, it affects me and can impact others too.
Don’t push yourself to go in if you can afford to take time off work when you’re sick. Focus on treating your health, regardless of what your employer says. When you stay home and take the time you need to get well, it’s better for everyone, especially yourself.
Featured image via destiawan nur agustra on Pexels
Your reflection hits a crucial point about the societal pressure to prioritize work over health. It’s unfortunate that despite progress in promoting self-care, there’s still a stigma attached to prioritizing our well-being, especially when we’re sick. Your experience underscores the need for a cultural shift towards valuing and supporting individuals in taking the necessary time to rest and recover without fear of judgment or repercussions.