There’s a lot of sickness going around these days. Hospitals are at capacity, and it seems like half the people we know are not feeling well. Nevertheless, a lot of them keep carrying on. Going to work, shopping, attending social events—which only prolongs their illness. For some reason, many people consider it a badge of honor to keep going when they’re sick. However, if you catch whatever it is they have, you will not agree. Toughing it out isn’t always noble.
Decades ago, I worked for a hospital that had a very generous sick pay policy. So generous that they paid you at the end of the year for whatever sick days you hadn’t taken. Consequently, many of the lower paid employees in dietary, housekeeping and laundry came to work sick. Because they needed that end of year pay out to catch up on their bills. Eventually, someone in human resources realized the folly of that policy, and stopped the non used sick pay bonus.. Which made all the healthy people feel like they were being penalized for taking better care of themselves. From an employer standpoint, it was a no win situation. Damned if they did, or didn’t .
Last month, the rail workers union was prepared to go on strike because they don’t get paid for sick days. I can’t say I blame them, and I find it appalling that any company would want someone with the flu or covid to come in and spread their sickness around to all their co-workers.
Aside from the sick pay issue, there is also the problem of people going out to parties and other social occasions when they’re coughing and sneezing in someone’s face. Why do they do it? Are they afraid their hosts will be offended if they don’t attend a birthday party? Or is their social life more important then their own health and the wellness of others who come down sick after being near them? Maybe they’re afraid their relatives will be offended if they don’t show up for Christmas Dinner or some other family event. If that’s the case, there’s something wrong with anyone who would wants a sick person sitting next to them or across the table. I think most hostesses would prefer you stay at home.