Sick of being sick: Employer tips for dealing with illness in the office

Published 2 Min Read

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With all the attention on return to office policies, employers should reassure workers that they can stay home if need be, especially as cold and flu season approaches. 

Despite an increase in attention to wellness, the majority of employees are still struggling with the notion of taking time off for an illness, according to a recent survey by BambooHR. Almost 90% have worked while sick over the past year, with 15% saying they don’t ever miss work while ill. Moreover, one in four say they have been pressured or outwardly asked to work while sick. 

Having a clear policy in place can help put employees at ease when they can’t make it into the office, Grantham says. Forty percent of employees said they feel stressed over requesting time off for illness, 39% said it makes them feel anxious, and 17% go as far as to say it makes them feel fearful, according to the survey.

To further put employees in a good place should they need to be absent, Grantham makes sure to add “just in case” time to everyone’s deadlines and consistently checks in with her team to make sure things are on track. She also recommends having a backup employee who can step in at times when a coworker is unexpectedly out.

Lee Hafner
Editor

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN's popular Benefits in Action and … Read full bio


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