The quality of a given working environment depends on any number of variables – whether the work is interesting and stable, whether there is a reasonable amount of recognition or reward for good performance and, of course, the level of management on offer. It’s the manager’s job to create a working environment that not only allows themselves to flourish. but also nurtures staff talent and allows them to operate at their full potential. Here are three ways you can do just that.
If you’re sick (and contagious) and come Monday morning you ask yourself “should I go to work sick?” the answer should always be “no.” Unfortunately, a shocking 72 percent of workers go to work when they’re sick and 53 percent of employees say they have gotten sick from a sick co-worker. Only 12 percent of respondents to the CareerBuilder survey stated that they became ill from sitting next to a sick person on public transportation during their commute.
Besides the fact that this is one of the most irresponsible things a worker can do concerning others’ health, it is one of the most irresponsible things he can do concerning his own health. In a recent OC Register article, CareerBuilder’s vice president of human resources offered her opinion about workers that show up to work sick.
“It’s important for employees to take care of their health and the health of others by staying at home if they aren’t feeling well,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “Even if workers feel pressure to be at the office, they should talk to their managers about staying home if they are sick, or ask about other options such as working remotely. Most employers are flexible and understand that employees are more productive if they are feeling their best.”
Many employers offer paid sick days, so use them if you need to. If you are fresh out of sick days and you feel you absolutely must go to work, there are a number of steps you can take to minimize the chances of infecting your co-workers. However, Haefner still says, “if you are sick, stay home,” or just try telecommuting for the day.
If you must go to work sick, you should:
-Work in an isolated area so you don’t spread your sickness.
-Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
-Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer throughout the day.
If you are around sick people at work, you should:
-Avoid shaking hands with people.
-Regularly clean your keyboard, phone, desk, etc.
-Skip meetings where you know attendees are sick.
-Use hand sanitizer often.
-Wash your hands often.
To review the CareerBuilder survey, click here.
Hopefully, this is a topic that will become even more popular as the economy rebounds and more unemployed people start finding work. Naturally, this is important for anyone switching jobs or moving to a new career. The advice is simple – you need to figure out how to work with your new manager and adjust to what inevitably will be an environment that is different from your old work environment. Be flexible and helpful!
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