by Tom Musbach
Sometimes your co-workers make you sick -- literally.
As flu and cold season sets in this winter, employers are increasingly concerned about "presenteeism" -- a phenomenon in which contagiously sick employees show up for work.
According to a November 2006 survey, 56 percent of employers report that presenteeism is a problem in their organization, up from 39 percent two years earlier. In addition to threatening productivity and employee morale, workers spreading illness on the job burden an organization's health-care costs. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for CCH, a provider of human resources and employment law information and services.
Don't Underestimate Germs
Most U.S. employees are familiar with the problem, as 98 percent of full-time workers admitted in a similar survey that they have shown up sick for work. That survey -- released in December 2006 -- involved more than 1,000 working adults and was conducted for the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc.
The most common reasons for the problem -- cited by respondents in both surveys -- were having too much work or fear of missing deadlines, not wanting to use vacation time, or saving paid time off for personal emergencies or unexpected events.
"I hesitate staying home because nobody else will do my work," said Doris of San Francisco. She and other people interviewed for this article did not want to give their full names or employers.
"I have my own office," she said, "which reduces the risk of getting anyone else infected."
Not necessarily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Germs can survive a long time -- up to two hours or more -- on surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, phones and tables.
Protection for Employees
To avoid infection, the CDC recommends that you follow some simple precautions:
* Cover your mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing.
* Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
* Stay home when you are sick.
Experts also suggest the following tips to battle presenteeism and avoid getting sick:
* If your company offers a flu-vaccination program, consider taking advantage of it.
* If you are a manager, set a good example by staying home when you're sick.
* Encourage fellow employees who have sore throats, fevers, or other flu symptoms to go home.
A Problem With PTO?
Some respondents in the Workforce Institute survey said they were upset with their employers for not actively encouraging sick employees to stay home. Others suggested their employers' time-off policies may subtly foster presenteeism.
"I don't get sick days, I just get paid time off that includes both sick days and vacation," said Taj, a software product manager in San Francisco. "If I didn't have the option to work from home, I'd definitely show up at work so as not to use up my paid time off."
"Employees are craving flexibility from their employers," said Stuart Itkin, chief marketing officer at Kronos, based in Massachusetts. "'Working 9 to 5' is no longer the universal employee anthem. To reduce presenteeism best practice organizations are providing employees with flexibility and rewarding them based on results."
Sometimes your co-workers make you sick -- literally.
As flu and cold season sets in this winter, employers are increasingly concerned about "presenteeism" -- a phenomenon in which contagiously sick employees show up for work.
According to a November 2006 survey, 56 percent of employers report that presenteeism is a problem in their organization, up from 39 percent two years earlier. In addition to threatening productivity and employee morale, workers spreading illness on the job burden an organization's health-care costs. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for CCH, a provider of human resources and employment law information and services.
Don't Underestimate Germs
Most U.S. employees are familiar with the problem, as 98 percent of full-time workers admitted in a similar survey that they have shown up sick for work. That survey -- released in December 2006 -- involved more than 1,000 working adults and was conducted for the Workforce Institute at Kronos Inc.
The most common reasons for the problem -- cited by respondents in both surveys -- were having too much work or fear of missing deadlines, not wanting to use vacation time, or saving paid time off for personal emergencies or unexpected events.
"I hesitate staying home because nobody else will do my work," said Doris of San Francisco. She and other people interviewed for this article did not want to give their full names or employers.
"I have my own office," she said, "which reduces the risk of getting anyone else infected."
Not necessarily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Germs can survive a long time -- up to two hours or more -- on surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, phones and tables.
Protection for Employees
To avoid infection, the CDC recommends that you follow some simple precautions:
* Cover your mouth and nose during coughing and sneezing.
* Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
* Stay home when you are sick.
Experts also suggest the following tips to battle presenteeism and avoid getting sick:
* If your company offers a flu-vaccination program, consider taking advantage of it.
* If you are a manager, set a good example by staying home when you're sick.
* Encourage fellow employees who have sore throats, fevers, or other flu symptoms to go home.
A Problem With PTO?
Some respondents in the Workforce Institute survey said they were upset with their employers for not actively encouraging sick employees to stay home. Others suggested their employers' time-off policies may subtly foster presenteeism.
"I don't get sick days, I just get paid time off that includes both sick days and vacation," said Taj, a software product manager in San Francisco. "If I didn't have the option to work from home, I'd definitely show up at work so as not to use up my paid time off."
"Employees are craving flexibility from their employers," said Stuart Itkin, chief marketing officer at Kronos, based in Massachusetts. "'Working 9 to 5' is no longer the universal employee anthem. To reduce presenteeism best practice organizations are providing employees with flexibility and rewarding them based on results."
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