Tis the Season for Sharing...so stop.

It’s that time of year again. Time for the time honored office tradition. No, not choking down the boss’ wife’s inedible ginger bread cookies. Not even the annual dodging of the creep from three cubes down that insists on wearing that mistletoe headband in hopes of finding a date for the office party. No, this is the time of year where co-workers share the gift that keeps on giving; the plague.

The plague (by my own definition) comes in a variety of forms, from the common, but still obnoxious cold, to the kill-me-now flu. Co-workers who refuse to share their favorite Sharpe are more than happy to share their misery with anyone unlucky enough to use the same door handle. Tis the season for runny noses, coughing, and sneezing that drowns out even the loudest elevator Musak.

Surely no one means to germ swap at the office, right? Wrong. It’s become a badge of honor to show up to work running a 103 degree temp, or two hours post pneumonia diagnosis. It says to your co-workers and the boss, “Look at me. I am tough. I love my job so much I show up sick and miserable. Everyone wishes they had a work ethic like me.” And they make sure you know they are sick to. No suffering in silence for Mr. Tough Guy. “Man, my head feels like it’s about to explode!”, “My doctor told me I should I should see a specialist, but who has time for that?”

Let me clue you in: you’re not tough, you’re selfish. This is not acceptable adult behavior. My daughter goes to a reputable day care where they do their best to keep all the kids healthy. This means if your kid runs a fever, pukes, or otherwise seems miserable, they get sent home. Not only that, but they are not allowed back in the building until they have been healthy for a full 24-hours. Three-year-olds understand that when you are sick you stay home, why don’t 53-year-olds? Coming to work to prove how dedicated you are may show you care about your work, but it proves you despise your company. According to a 2012 study by The Integrated Benefits Institute, the US economy loses $527 billion (yes, that’s billion with a big ‘ol “B”) in revenue each year due to illness. More to the point, $227billion is lost due to lost productivity from absenteeisms, or what the report calls presenteeism. This is a term coined to represent the large group of individuals that show up to work, but do not perform at their best. If you show up to work sick, you are costing your company big bucks. This doesn’t even touch how far your plague can spread, first to co-workers, then to their families.

I know that there are some professions out there that make it near impossible to not show up. There are also employers out there that make it difficult for employees to take a sick day unless they’ve punctured a lung, or lost a limb. While those cases exist, most US employers will accept a doctor’s note as a valid exemption from work. So if you are going to drag you sick kiester anywhere, it should be to your local physician, not to your desk.

So this winter, feel free to share the eggnog, the Starbucks gift cards, even your great aunt Ruth’s fruitcake, but please keep the plague to yourself.

Sincerely,

Everyone Who Shares Your Workspace