I'm genuinely curious.

21 Comments

1. Desiree WolfeOctober 19,2021 at 2:59PM UTC

   If they are hourly it may be a money issue. If they are salary it’s because we’ve been conditioned to feel guilty about taking time off. People are worried they will look bad by calling out.

2. KatOctober 19,2021 at 3:09PM UTC

   There are a lot of reasons, some good, some bad. Depending on your company's sick leave policy, they may not be able to afford to take the day off. If your company doesn't offer paid sick leave or they haven't accrued enough hours to take a full day, then people will come in. Similarly, if your company's health insurance doesn't make doctor visits affordable (high co-pay, visit fee, and/or high prescription costs) it might not be worth it for them to take the time off and pay those fees. Some people also save their sick/leave time in case they need it to take care of a sick child or other family member. There are also plenty of bosses of the "whenever you're not here it's bad" mindset, so employees push themselves to come in when they probably shouldn't so the boss doesn't get mad or complain that they're taking too much time off - or deny requests for vacation/time off later. If there's a big project or deadline coming up, the employee might not feel comfortable taking time off for fear of letting their boss and/or co-workers down. There are some people who constantly minimize their symptoms and feel like "it's not that bad, I can handle it" and push through no matter what. More companies (and bosses) need to be flexible and understanding about the need for self care and make that time convenient and affordable for the employee.

3. Annie LimOctober 19,2021 at 3:37PM UTC

   This is more of a systemic issue, and I wouldn't be putting the blame or criticism on the workers. Of course, I do agree with you that it can be gross and inconsiderate, but this is a relatively common issue in the workplace, that people feel obligated to show up unless they're on their literal deathbed. Maybe they have too much work to do or worry they will look bad.
   I've definitely had instances where I was actually sick and could legitimately take a sick day for it, but I felt really guilty and even paranoid that the office will think I'm faking it, even though they never put that idea in my head, it's just a preconceived notion.

   Again, it's more of a systemic issue. Having said that, I certainly WOULD NOT be going into the office with symptoms like coughing in this day and age!

4. Meghan IrvingOctober 19,2021 at 3:58PM UTC

   In general, the reason people come in is because they don't have sick time to take so they can stay home. Or- in the case of the person on Week 2 of their cold, it would be very rare for a workplace to allow someone to take off that many sick days in a row without requiring them to take short-term disability. Even if a cold qualified one for short term leave, it requires a lot of paperwork and often means less pay. People often can't afford it. Places I have worked required a doctor's note if you were out for more than three days in a row. The doctor's note had to confirm you were ill and usually that you were unable to work. We used to laugh at the "stay home if you're sick" signs HR would put up in the breakroom because it was a joke- the company would claim they wanted people to put their health first but everyone knew it wasn't true- the hoops one had to jump through to stay home without repercussions were complex. A sinus infection/cold or general cough due to cold is not going to get you a doctor's recommendation that you can't work (unless you work in something like food services). It is also often the case that if you have a job that requires you to be in the office, you are not able to just "work from home" because you don't feel well. It's possible your position allows that but theirs do not (or their managers do not). I am certain that those people would love to be able to stay home when they don't feel well but (and I'm assuming you are in the United States) very few places in the United States offer that kind of sick time- businesses expect you to work unless you are in the process of dying. Taking time for "minor" things like a cold, even if you feel like crap, too often puts your job at risk and marks you as an unreliable employee. Don't blame your coworkers for coming in, blame the company for not providing good options for people to put their health before their job (without which they couldn't afford health insurance or health care).

5. Anne KrookOctober 19,2021 at 4:02PM UTC

   Because they don't have any sick time banked; because they are afraid their boss will hold it against them; because it gets them out of a small house / apartment / shared living space; because hourly employees can't afford not to get paid even for an hour.

6. yvette finley PHROctober 19,2021 at 4:12PM UTC

   Different mentalities:
   1. It wont get done unless I do it
   2. I have no back up coverage
   3. Im strong and can push through
   4. I wont be able to rest at home so I might as well go in
   5. It’s not as bad as it looks
   6. I need people to see me down so they feel bad for me
   7. Im scared I may lose my job if I don’t literally die
   8. Everyone else does it

   I’ve seen and heard a lot more but that’s enough for now

7. AnonymousOctober 20,2021 at 11:51AM UTC

   #6 is very prevalent.

   #1: I'm guilty. Sometimes missing is WORSE as I do the entire role myself

8. yvette finley PHROctober 20,2021 at 10:21PM UTC

   I remember being gone for 10 days and came back to a note from my manager that stated "I let you down". Omg... the anger I had.. then she ragged on me for 4 hours of OT that week trying to get myself caught up. I had no back up.. so I stopped taking time off for ANY reason

9. AnonymousOctober 20,2021 at 11:53PM UTC

   Oh wow!!

   I'd be angry too and I don't blame you for not taking off

10. AnonymousOctober 19,2021 at 4:31PM UTC

    Much of the time the company culture doesn't encourage working from home so people come in to avoid tapping into their PTO or sick accruals.

11. Rachel BulkoOctober 19,2021 at 4:35PM UTC

    Some people may have mounting bills or debt, which a fixed income (assuming the position is salary or hourly) simply cannot cover. Such people can't afford to take time off of work, even if they had unemployment assistance during 2020. There are many aspects of employees' lives that aren't easily apparent to coworkers. While the concern is understandable, there is probably a sense of urgency or underlying guilt for calling off. I used to work at a severely short-staffed hospital pharmacy from 2015-2019. During the 2018 flu season, I came into work sick because if I called off, no one would be able to cover my shift. As I recall, the tech manager on one of the evening shifts asked if I could stay until 4AM to cover (which I declined).

12. AnonymousOctober 19,2021 at 5:23PM UTC

    I get WHY people come in sick: bills, etc.

    But I wish they would not complain ALL day: "I'm so sick, I can't stay home"

    It gets old, FAST.

    It's one thing if rare, but some are every day wanting attention.

    I'm not trying to sound mean,boys just disruptive IMO

13. AnonymousOctober 19,2021 at 5:23PM UTC

    *but

14. AnonymousOctober 19,2021 at 5:15PM UTC

    Also not all coughs are contagious. Some people have conditions (or are taking medications) that cause them to cough, sometimes a lot, even though they are not contagious. Similarly, people can have other kinds of symptoms (nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy?) that come on quickly & that aren't contagious. This can be particularly troubling for people who don't wish to announce to all their co-workers (yet?) that they are pregnant or that they have cough-variant asthma. Just a thought.

15. AnonymousOctober 20,2021 at 11:26AM UTC

    I think people are sometimes just genuinely unclear on whether they are sick or have allergies, etc. If I were you and this is prevalent at your employer/company I would ask HR to clarify the rules so you don't personally have to get involved with policing. I would think that they would be very sympathetic to this during a pandemic, if only from a legal and public health point of view.

16. AnonymousOctober 20,2021 at 11:56AM UTC

    Everyone's situation is different. Not everyone has the luxury of putting their health first. Some are not paid for time off to stay home and recover, others need to safe their pto and sick time to attend to sick children over the winter. Others don't work for understanding managers or companies that allow for people to stay home when sick. Everyone I'm sure would love the ability to care for themselves and rest when sick but it's not always possible.

17. Rhianna WeilertOctober 20,2021 at 12:30PM UTC

    I've done this in the distant past and I know why others do this but I hate that this is the reality for so many STILL. I am extremely disappointed that a global pandemic did nothing or very little to change the culture and policies around sick leave. I'd also love to hear from a European person on how the average cold or flu plays out in the workplace overseas. I think it varies quite a bit country to country.

18. Chloe ShauckOctober 21,2021 at 3:31AM UTC

    When I had first started my job (for the first 3 years or so) I had come into work a few times that I felt a bit off but not super sick as I didn't want too "look bad" or for people to think I wasn't a team player. If I was as sick as some of the people at your office - I had stayed home.

    Now that COVID is a thing and there is more importance placed on general health and well being in the workplace, I am more willing and apt to use my sick time. Sometimes even to use them more as mental health days when I'm really feeling stressed or worn out.

    Maybe your work place needs to reiterate the importance of employee health and the safety of others in the workplace

19. AnonymousOctober 21,2021 at 2:53PM UTC

    OP here. My major concern is lack of masking in the office for people who seem potentially symptomatic with something like COVID. I have a coworker who appears to be getting increasingly ill and they don't mask even though they are coughing, sneezing, snifling, etc. I live with people who are at very high risk for infection and I mask my full shift. I just wish other people would too. We have no windows in this office. No air circulation, so even masked I'm certain I'm getting exposed to their germs. Maybe I'll stay away from home until I can confirm what illness my coworker has. I guess I'll get tested too just in case, even though it could be a false negative.

20. AnonymousOctober 21,2021 at 5:40PM UTC

    In my corporate world, if you are not in the office everyday, you are told you are useless. HR also keeps tabs and reports to department managers how many days in a row they do not have a full staff, either due to illness or any PTO. And, if you don’t kiss the proverbial ring of the company, you are not a team player. So once again, you are useless, given less raises or no bonuses and pretty much harassed or threatened with loss of job or removal of partial income. Sooooo…ya …people come in sick.

21. AnonymousOctober 24,2021 at 3:53PM UTC

    I was one given a monthly quota so high that it was NOT possible to fulfill it (mgmt knew this) but I had to keep trying b/c of the PIP they gave me. I had a stomach bug and/or anxiety and i remember working in my cubicle form, leaning over pierodically and puking in my office garbage can. Mgmt saw that as just fine b/c they did nothing to help. I felt bad for my colleagues who were not to blame, but honestly I felt worse for myself.