I decided to use the hassle surrounding the new virus to tackle a problem that has existed at least since I got my first job: how to resolve the conflict between business goals and health during flu season.
Important note
Remote work has its pros and cons. I graduated from an economics university, so I understand business needs. The content below considers both company objectives and developers' well-being.
Why do we even talk about this?
The topic might sound trivial or obvious. Yet, I believe everyone has been in a situation where they woke up feeling unwell but decided to go to work anyway. The excuses can be quite creative: "I have an important meeting today," "What if I need my sick leave days more in the future?" or "I didn’t perform my best last week; my boss will be angry." This list can go on indefinitely.
This type of thinking is familiar to me, but I believe it is a shortsighted approach. When you feel unwell right after getting out of bed, your coworkers will likely suggest going home after a few hours. Perhaps a better solution is to stay in bed. If you're well enough, take some vitamins and a blanket and try to work remotely. However, it may also be the case that you cannot do even that. In such a situation, be honest with your team and your customers. Putting immense pressure on yourself when you're really unable to deliver results won’t help your health or the project. Sometimes, it's better to ask someone else to step in, especially if something needs urgent attention. Also, don’t worry about all the possible sick leave days you might need in the future. Face the truth: with this approach, you're likely to use none until the end of the year.
Another crucial point is that health is everyone's responsibility. If you have a business meeting with a customer, will sneezing constantly help you maintain a good impression of your company? If someone catches the flu a few days later, you could be the one to blame. The same goes for your coworkers.
But I really need to go to the office
As I write this, nothing comes to mind as a good reason to be in the office while sick. But life is full of surprises, isn't it? If you must be sick in the office, take every possible precaution to mitigate the risk of spreading the illness or worsening your health.
During my trip to Asia, I had the opportunity to observe their culture. In Europe, we're bombarded with images of people wearing masks on the streets. In reality, people wear single-use masks primarily when they feel unwell. This way, they reduce the risk of making others sick when sneezing or talking. Unfortunately, I haven't noticed this habit in Poland. So, I want to encourage you: wear a sanitary mask in public places every time you feel sick. You'll be grateful if your neighbors and coworkers do the same.
Last but definitely not least, I urge you to wash your hands. I don’t mean the 0.000001-second splash of water that I sometimes hear, which terrifies me. Every time you leave the restroom, put something in the recycling bin, clean up, or come indoors – wash your hands. This practice can prevent you from getting sick while touching your face and keeps bacteria from spreading on various surfaces.
But business is business!
You just read how I encourage people to stay home, but it’s equally true that all company members are responsible for the success and achievement of business goals. So, how can we find a compromise between these two?
Take care of the remote work culture.
If you don't set any rules for remote work and treat remote days as exceptions, it is likely to result in mistakes that could harm the business. Even if your company operates in a field where remote work is challenging, you'll need to prepare for that possibility. Improving your communication flow is essential. Encourage coworkers to keep files organized and in a known location. Always confirm important decisions in writing (this has saved my life a million times). Consider the overall project management flow and identify areas for improvement. Ensure that there are no "information gaps" (e.g., does it happen that someone was supposed to relay information but failed to do so? Was any important info lost?).Risk of making sick more coworkers than already are is not worth it.
Feeling frustrated because a customer is pressuring you while a team member is sick is pointless. Even if that person tries to work, they likely won't be effective anyway. Furthermore, you risk temporarily losing more team members, multiplying the problem.Happy worker is efficient worker.
Maintaining good relationships with your coworkers makes it easier to manage projects and achieve success. If someone is grateful and happy, they will do their best to compensate for any inconveniences.Know your team.
Sometimes, some employees take sick leave often just to avoid responsibilities. If you notice that a team member is absent more frequently than others, it might indicate an underlying issue. Pressuring that person to come to the office may just worsen the situation. Instead, try to identify the real problem and work on a solution together.Customers are also human :)
While there are situations where significant amounts of money depend on project success or deadlines, we often imagine customers being angry with us. In reality, customers are human beings too; they may catch the flu and will likely understand your situation. Postponing a deadline by three days will probably be easier to manage than making a coworker unhappy or possibly making your customer sick (as discussed earlier regarding meetings).
We have just one health
In my opinion, human well-being should be our top priority. Personal health impacts all areas of our lives, including business. It is not feasible to push our bodies to the limit and expect to succeed. All the thoughts mentioned above apply to mental well-being as well.
Wrap up
- Forcing yourself or others to work can often do more harm than good.
- Explore the possibilities of remote work.
- If you must be in the office, wear a sanitary mask and maintain top-notch hygiene.
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