The much-anticipated TEDx event in Toronto has come, conquered, and gone. You may have been one of the fortunate guests invited to attend and be inspired. I was – and I couldn’t go thanks to a head cold that was at its peak.
TEDx is a must-attend speakers’ forum for people who earn their living speaking and writing, and for those who aspire to do so. If your application to attend is accepted, you will find yourself in excellent company and share “ideas worth spreading.”
Much like my own personal debate about whether to attend or not because I was sick is the debate about whether to go to work sick or stay home. However this debate rages on, like a nasty cold.
There are times where your presence is not only expected, it is necessary to the successful outcome of a meeting, presentation, or event. You may be part of a key presentation or the event’s host, or perhaps you are a day away from a hard deadline for a pitch for that dream client you have been pursuing for a year. I never thought I would say this, but I was glad I was not on the speakers’ roster at TEDx on the day of the Toronto forum. That is the type of event that you can’t miss because it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
You may think nothing of it, but when you go to work sick, the following will inevitably happen:
- You will put others at risk of catching what you’ve got, which is selfish. The sickness will likely have a ripple effect on the rest of your colleagues and their families, prolonging a period with a lack of productivity as a whole.
- People won’t appreciate your dedication to your job, they will be awed by your lack of consideration of others and disregard for own health. Be prepared for some nasty stares throughout the day, especially as your mound of used tissues grows along with your pestering cough.
- Being sick can take a toll on you. It’s highly likely you will run out of gas, go home in the middle of the day and stay put indefinitely. Why bother with the extra travel time?
- You could make mistakes at work or be overly emotional due to fatigue and discomfort.
- There is an off-chance that you could impress certain misguided individuals with your equally misguided dedication and loyalty.
If you absolutely have to go in because you couldn’t move your meeting or your deadline, or you are giving a keynote address at a major event, remember the following:
- Get as much sleep as possible while you are sick. This will help you conserve strength while you are at work.
- Reschedule any meetings you can during the time you are at work to lessen the chance of spreading your germs in close contact.
- Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on your desk, and use it liberally.
- Don’t be afraid to take medication to treat the symptoms. You may have to be there, but no one really wants to hear you cough and blow your nose all day.
Chances are it is better to stay at home. It’s ultimately up to the employee whether they appear or not. But managers who discourage sick employees from showing up at work will ultimately deliver better results than if they presided over the progress of a nasty bug going through their department over several days or even weeks.
This article was originally posted on LinkedIn.
