Should You Work When You’re Sick

The answer may surprise you

When we are under the weather, our productivity takes a massive hit. It may feel like our time is being wasted, and that the best thing to do is curl up under the covers and sleep until we feel better. After all, this is why companies give sick days.

However, if you are working as a freelancer or a solopreneur, your clients are not going to bend their deadlines just because you are not performing at your best. They expect results regardless of the situation.

I faced a similar dilemma recently when I launched a new course and had 30 new clients waiting for their first seminar. I could feel my throat tightening and my temperature rising. But calling in sick was not an option. And in most cases, it shouldn’t be for you either. Here are three reasons why.

Even at less than your best, you can still get some of the work done

You know what needs to be done and how to do it. Choosing tasks that require less mental power, and adjusting your priorities will allow you to get something done rather than having work pile up while you are away. That will make your work more manageable in the long run. While you may feel a sense of presenteeism in being a body at the desk, you are still getting something done.

Work from Home

Since the onset of COIVD, there have been more opportunities to work from home. For better or worse, this means that when you are in a contiguous state, you could theoretically work from home. Also, if you have sick kids, you could spend some time on the job even if that is from home. That’s better than zero production.

Most bosses expect you to work, even when you are sick

According to this article by the BBC, 58% of managers polled in a recent survey thought that employees should come to work with flu-like symptoms. Additionally, more than 60% reportedly expected employees to work while experiencing severe physical ailments like back pain or recovering from surgery. It may seem unfathomable that managers are so unsympathetic to their direct reports, but this is a byproduct of our results-driven society, where meeting deadlines is one of the most important performance indicators, KPI.

There are, of course, times you should call in sick. Manual laborers who feel dizzy or with high fevers that leave them disorientated are a danger to their projects. If you are infectious or have a high fever, you should, at least, stay home. There are some companies that want their staff to stay home from the onset of the signs of illness. But if you can be at all productive, do your best to make a contribution. Here are a couple of examples of why it is better to show up:

In game five of the 1997 NBA finals, Michael Jordan played despite having food poisoning. He had been throwing up all night, and he was feeling very weak at game time. Yet, he still found it in himself to suit up and play. When asked about being on the court for 44 of the game’s 48 minutes and scoring 38 points, including the game-winning three-point-shot, he said:

I didn’t wanna give up, No matter how sick I was or how tired I was, or how low on energy I was. I felt the obligation to my team, to the city of Chicago, to go out and give that extra effort.

Few of us will ever experience life on the level of a professional sports championship. We will all have times in which we are depended upon. Times when we can not bring our best. It is in those moments that we need to dig deep relying on the knowledge, skills, and intestinal fortitude that is inside to make a difference in our work. It may not seem like a big deal to miss time, and maybe you think it’s your right. We are allotted sick days every year. But the people you serve depend on you. What is your sense of obligation to them? For me, some effort is better than calling it in.

My 30 new clients were glad I did not call in sick.

Want to get back to work quickly? These food will help you.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this opinion is only my own. If you are not feeling well, you should visit a doctor.