Winter does not just bring cold temperatures—it also brings colds, the flu, COVID and countless other sicknesses. And illness can knock down an entire team if employees come to work sick and spread germs.
Inc. columnist Alison Green shares the following steps companies can take so their workers feel comfortable taking off work when they are sick.
- Offer generous paid sick time. Green said the average number of sick days in the U.S. is seven days per year, with more than half of employers offering five to nine, and another 25% offering 10 or more. Workers are more likely to come to work sick if they do not have many sick days to take, especially if they think they need to save the days they have for when they get a worse illness later. Green said: “For example, if you have a bad cold in January, are you really going to use half of your annual sick leave on it, leaving yourself only a few days for the next 11 months? And if you do, that makes it more likely you’ll show up at work when you get ill in October.” If employers want employees to stay home when they are sick, they should ensure the company is offering enough sick days for workers to do so without worrying.
- Have enough coverage available so workers feel they can take the day off. Employees will come to work sick if you are so short-staffed they feel they cannot miss a day of work without creating problems for themselves and the company.
- Do not just give lip service to the idea that workers should stay home when they are sick. Workers will not feel free to take sick days if they have a manager who grumbles when people call in sick; a manager who never takes any sick time; or a company that awards workers for perfect attendance. Be sure to back up what you are saying with your actions.
