Why do people come to work sick?

[MoniqueU]

My husbands companiy's unsaid rule of thumb is that if we could do without you out sick we can do without you period. They don't have extra people to fill in for work and if you took a sick day you can bet they would hold it against you.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I can understand not staying home with a minor illness-I don't either. Nearly everyone at our company can work from home, and I utilize that for minor illnesses. Not having to commute in and be "on" all day reduces a lot of the energy you expend. Reading some of the stories on this thread made me think of this article.


April 23, 2004 -- Employees who come to work even when they're aren't feeling well may end up costing companies more in lost productivity than their employers pay for sick days and other medical and disability benefits.


A new study shows that work slowdowns caused by illness on the job, known as "presenteeism," may account for up to 60% of employer health costs. Researchers say the findings suggest that companies may need to take another look at their health care spending.


"In this day and age where employers are hesitant to hire because of skyrocketing medical care costs, it's important to broaden the view of health costs beyond the cost of patient care," says researcher Ron Goetzel, PhD, of the Cornell University Institute for Health and Productivity Studies, in a news release.


The study showed that for some common conditions, such as allergies and headaches, on-the-job productivity losses may account for more than 80% of the employer's total health care costs.


"If a company's health plan is poor, for example, disorders may not be well managed. Workers will continue to work and not be as productive," says Goetzel. "Employers need to weigh the costs of good medical care against the potential for on-the-job productivity losses, which we see are substantial in many areas."


Presenteeism Costs Employers

In the study, published in the April issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, researchers calculated an average as well as a low estimate for on-the-job productivity losses caused by common health conditions and compared it with other costs associated with the condition.


The estimates were based on a database of about 375,000 employees, which included information on insurance claims for medical care and short-term disability over three years. Researchers then combined this information with the findings of five published productivity surveys for 10 health conditions that most commonly affect workers.


The study showed that for many conditions, the costs of presenteeism were far greater than other employer-related health care costs, such as absenteeism or health and disability benefits. For example, presenteeism due to headaches accounted for 89% of the total cost of productivity losses using average estimates and 49% using low estimates. For allergies, the costs of on-the-job productivity losses accounted for as much as 82% and as little as 55%.


"All in all, this means that from about one-fifth to three-fifths of the total dollars attributable to common health conditions faced by employers appear to be the result of on-the-job productivity losses," says Goetzel.


When other costs were added to losses from presenteeism, absenteeism, and health and disability benefits, the most expensive condition for employers was high blood pressure, with an annual cost of $392 per employee per year, followed by heart disease ($368), mental health problems ($348), arthritis ($327), and allergies ($271). (http://www.webmd.com/content/article/86/98895.htm?action=related_link)

They don't address the situations brought up by the nurses on this thread-which are really scary. You go to the hospital to get better, and the staff is so short that sick people are working-how can that be good for the patients or the nurses?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I went b/c I accrued an astounding 4 hours per month of sick leave.

I had to be prudent about when to take time off. I did have my own office--so I could just lock myself away if need be.

With deadlines and such--sometimes it is difficult. When I am nonfunctional there was no question about staying home though.

 

[kilee]

The one thing that stands out in my mind is a cold can last days and even a week or two. Your co-worker is contagious that whole time. In any really world it wouldn't be feasible to stay out for the entire run of a cold. Now, if they're running a fever, or have a short stomach bug- then I agree it's time to stay home.

 

[Fitswimmer]

The one thing that stands out in my mind is a cold can last days and even a week or two. Your co-worker is contagious that whole time.

Really, I thought you were only contagious the first couple of days. That's always how I've played it. When I get a bad cold, I'll work at home for a couple of days until the fever goes away, then I'll go in. I always thought once the fever was gone I wasn't contagious anymore.

 

[MushyMushy]

Define sick.

If it's a cold where the person is coughing and has a stuffed up nose, well, what are you going to do? It's certainly no fun for anyone, but colds can last for a very long time. I've been student teaching for 13 weeks now and I've had a cold for 12 of those weeks! I get one, then just as it starts to go away, I get a different one. I haven't built up any immunities to these students yet.

But I have taken 4 days off (even though I only get 2). Two of the days I had a horrible stomach virus, and another 2 I had fevers. That's usually my guage as to whether or not to go in -- throwing up, diarrhea, fever. Stay home. Stuffy nose, coughing, sneezing. Go in and suffer, although if at all possible, I'd stay home for the first part of the cold when it's worse.

I'm so surprised at those who only have 5 sick days a year! I always had 10 at my jobs, and it didn't seem like those were enough when you've got not only your own illness, but kids' illnesses too. I feel bad for you.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm so surprised at those who only have 5 sick days a year!

That's not even the bad part, the real negative is the pressure NOT to take them. I was hospitalized last year in Florida, could not get back to NJ to work and I got grief for it. What was I supposed to do?? Yank out the IV and hop on the plane???

 

[luvwinnie]

That's not even the bad part, the real negative is the pressure NOT to take them. I was hospitalized last year in Florida, could not get back to NJ to work and I got grief for it. What was I supposed to do?? Yank out the IV and hop on the plane???

What is wrong with people?!?! How can they lack compassion when someone is so ill?

 

[Fitswimmer]

They treat all "sick days" the same. Whether you have a valid reason or not, they assume you're on the beach. I offered to bring documentation from the hospital and they refused to take it. It's not my manager, HR makes those rules. How come the Human Resources dept of most companies is the most inhuman dept in most companies???

 

[javaj]

Our company is switching policies. Right now, we have 12 sick days per year with carryover up to 30 days. Starting January 1st, we lose all our accrued sick time, and we will accrue only5 sick days per year with no carryover.

I stayed home 2 days last week from the flu...but starting January, with only 5 sick days per year, I'm going to be very careful how I use those!

 

[C.Ann]

DD's DH has a GREAT job - but he has NO sick days - not even one..

Of course he's a workaholic and would have to be on the verge of death to even consider staying home anyhow, but isn't it a little ridiculous for a company to assume that people never get sick?

 

[SeeDisney]

My husband just loves to work and can't stand missing a day from it. Sorry but coming from him, that would be the truth.