Yup, this is very timely! I was at half-mast all week and giving myself crap for being behind on client emails. Finally got them done today with a simple explanation that I was sick, turns out it's pretty straightforward without a little self-compassion.
This makes some really good points about the shifting dynamic. People seeing your red eyes running nose and low energy are much easier to detect in an office and the risk of getting sick is office based so the dynamic is totally flipped when remote.
The one thing I would add to your list is thinking about blockers. If you’re sick and have limited energy to do anything then focusing on unblocking your coworkers is by far the best thing you can do. That ensures the team and your company aren’t all stalled out because of it and removes a big chunk of the guilt that is easy to feel taking time to recover.
Oh yes such a good one. When I took a sick day, I did set up some meeting agendas and delegated meeting facilitation, which let me log off and focus on recovery
Wow! Thank you for writing this. This literally is me right now at work. Four separate sick cycles and a persistent cough for the last 2 months, and hoping to get some peace soon. The return to office/hybrid push is an additional challenge.
I like what you’re saying but it’s a bit idealistic. Many of my workplaces will penalize me for taking sick days if I don’t meet their quarterly goals. They don’t do it directly, it’s that leadership doesn’t magically remember or even know I was sick so something got delayed. So they just penalize or fire me for not meeting their goal by their deadline.
I can’t afford to lose my job so I work when sick, including today lol. No offense but I find it irritating when people try to tell me to take care of myself, make me guilty for not doing so, not realizing I’m not allowed to or the risks of doing so. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is Jen? Like kicking someone when they’re down.
Jobs are precious in this economy. We live in late stage capitalism, not a fairytale Jen. If I lose my job bc I took care of myself are you going to pay my rent? My food bills? My 401k?
What’s that, you don’t want to Jen? Then maybe you shouldn’t give people dangerous advice like this. Look, the world sucks, we’re all slaves of the elite and most people don’t care about your health anymore than you being able to make them money in the US. #Reality
I say work while sick, but do high priority things only. Work a lot if needed to not get fired. You job is very important, you need to survive in this world. Jen and everyone else aren’t going to pay for you if you lose it so put yourself first and forget what people who could care less about your financial security have to say. They just like feeling that they’re telling people to “be kind to themselves” or whatever non realistic BS they’re obsessed with peddling so they can feel like good people or whatever on their curated Instagrams.
Only take time off it it might seriously injure or kill you. Otherwise work at least a half day and rest, but make sure you don’t get fired. You must survive at all costs!! Only you pay for you $$$$ or maybe your family. Not the people here, they’ll tell you to make bad decisions and won’t give you a cent if you suffer financially for it. Trust them? I sure don’t. #Survive
Yup, this is very timely! I was at half-mast all week and giving myself crap for being behind on client emails. Finally got them done today with a simple explanation that I was sick, turns out it's pretty straightforward without a little self-compassion.
This makes some really good points about the shifting dynamic. People seeing your red eyes running nose and low energy are much easier to detect in an office and the risk of getting sick is office based so the dynamic is totally flipped when remote.
The one thing I would add to your list is thinking about blockers. If you’re sick and have limited energy to do anything then focusing on unblocking your coworkers is by far the best thing you can do. That ensures the team and your company aren’t all stalled out because of it and removes a big chunk of the guilt that is easy to feel taking time to recover.
Oh yes such a good one. When I took a sick day, I did set up some meeting agendas and delegated meeting facilitation, which let me log off and focus on recovery
Wow! Thank you for writing this. This literally is me right now at work. Four separate sick cycles and a persistent cough for the last 2 months, and hoping to get some peace soon. The return to office/hybrid push is an additional challenge.
Yeah I imagine hybrid complicates things even more!! Sending healthy thoughts your way, and hope you are able to rest.
I like what you’re saying but it’s a bit idealistic. Many of my workplaces will penalize me for taking sick days if I don’t meet their quarterly goals. They don’t do it directly, it’s that leadership doesn’t magically remember or even know I was sick so something got delayed. So they just penalize or fire me for not meeting their goal by their deadline.
I can’t afford to lose my job so I work when sick, including today lol. No offense but I find it irritating when people try to tell me to take care of myself, make me guilty for not doing so, not realizing I’m not allowed to or the risks of doing so. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is Jen? Like kicking someone when they’re down.
Jobs are precious in this economy. We live in late stage capitalism, not a fairytale Jen. If I lose my job bc I took care of myself are you going to pay my rent? My food bills? My 401k?
What’s that, you don’t want to Jen? Then maybe you shouldn’t give people dangerous advice like this. Look, the world sucks, we’re all slaves of the elite and most people don’t care about your health anymore than you being able to make them money in the US. #Reality
I say work while sick, but do high priority things only. Work a lot if needed to not get fired. You job is very important, you need to survive in this world. Jen and everyone else aren’t going to pay for you if you lose it so put yourself first and forget what people who could care less about your financial security have to say. They just like feeling that they’re telling people to “be kind to themselves” or whatever non realistic BS they’re obsessed with peddling so they can feel like good people or whatever on their curated Instagrams.
Only take time off it it might seriously injure or kill you. Otherwise work at least a half day and rest, but make sure you don’t get fired. You must survive at all costs!! Only you pay for you $$$$ or maybe your family. Not the people here, they’ll tell you to make bad decisions and won’t give you a cent if you suffer financially for it. Trust them? I sure don’t. #Survive
Hi, Jean, your article is helpful, thanks!