If You Are Sick, Don’t Go to Work!

It is that time of the year again, when, wherever you look, someone is fighting a cold or the flu.

I have a special request for all you folks fighting one illness or another this winter -- Please, don't go to work while you are sick!

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people show up to work with a cold or another ailment, risking my health and/or my family's. It is very simple, your daily paycheck, your saved PTO, or your desire to look tough for your employer, is not worth getting the rest of your workmates sick.

I don't care if you have a big project, a big meeting or whatever else must get done. Quit thinking your work is more important than your peers' health.

I hope that more business owners realize this and encourage their employees to stay home when they are even fighting a common cold.

Think about it, your one or two days of saved PTO could, potentially, turn into a dozen PTO days needed, for the rest of the people at your workplace, who catch what you brought to work!

I personally think (as do most medical professionals) that this would curb many of the sicknesses we see passed along so freely each winter.

What some don't realize as well, is the domino effect, and even though they may be able to fight through a cold or illness, if they pass along their illness to someone who has little kids, the ramifications could be much more severe, even deadly.

If a business owner thinks clearly about it, wouldn't you rather have a fully healthy employee for 8 out of 10 days, versus an unhealthy employee for 10 out of 10?

I work in an industry that relies on people being on live radio, but I encourage my own co-workers to skip the heroics. Stop thinking about the moment, start thinking about the long term effects of playing Superman, and take care of yourself before worrying about work.

If you do that, you will be more effective in the workplace, return sooner, stay healthier, keep your co-workers healthier, and their families as well.

I use hand sanitizer all day, wash my hands frequently and do what I can to try to combat all the stuff going around, but I can't stop what flies through the air and the best way to do that is to have those who are sick get better before returning to work.

We all need to be less selfish and strive to think about others when we find ourselves dealing with the inevitable health challenges that come with winters in South Dakota.

Now you can all go back to your regularly scheduled winter cold.