Flu season is still in full swing, but if you think you're a hero coming to work sick, think again. A new survey from Accountemps found:
- 76 percent of workers surveyed said they go to work when they're sick
- 34 percent of workers surveyed said they worry about being exposed to their sick colleagues' illnesses
- Only 8 percent of workers surveyed said they are impressed by their co-workers' dedication for coming to work sick
"In sickness and in health" may apply to marriage, but it's also an increasingly common workplace vow, a new Accountemps survey reveals.
Colleagues aren't the only ones who wish their ailing coworkers would stay in bed. Half of employees said their managers encourage them to remain at home when they are unwell. Only 11 percent felt their bosses discourage them from taking time off.
The survey was developed by Accountemps, a global specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on interviews with 437 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
Workers were asked, "How frequently do you go into work when you're feeling sick?" Their responses*:
Very frequently.................................................. 42%
Somewhat frequently......................................... 34%
Somewhat infrequently......................................... 16%
Never...................................................................... 7%
Don't know/no answer............................................. 1%
Workers were also asked, "Which of the following best describes how you feel when colleagues come into work sick?" Their responses:
Worried about being exposed to their illness............ 34%
Concerned about their welfare........................... 31%
No opinion/doesn't affect me................................ 26%
Impressed by their dedication................................. 8%
Don't know/no answer....................................... 1%
Finally, respondents were asked, "Does your manager encourage or discourage workers to stay home when they are sick?" Their responses:
Encourages strongly............................................ 21%
Encourages somewhat........................................ 29%
Neither encourages nor discourages...................... 36%
Discourages somewhat............................................ 7%
Discourages strongly................................................ 4%
Don't know/no answer.............................................. 3%
"Some professionals come into work sick thinking it shows dedication and will impress their managers, but that's not necessarily the case," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies. "Most people are well-intentioned they show up even when they aren't feeling well because they don't want to fall behind in their work or burden colleagues who cover for them. However, they risk spreading their illness to others and affecting the entire team."
Messmer recommends that employers encourage staff to stay home if they are under the weather and provide tips on what employees can do to prevent the spread of illness in general.
Accountemps has more than 350 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com. Follow Accountemps for workplace news at twitter.com/accountemps.