10 Things You Shouldn't Do at Work

Here's a fun article on 10 Things You Shouldn't Do at Work.  I agree with all of them except #4 - calling in sick when you are healthy.  My personal opinion is that if your company offers sick days and you are a typically healthy person who never uses them up, it's okay to take the occasional "mental health day" to recharge your batteries. 

I'm not talking about shift work where if you don't show, someone else is forced to work a mandatory double. And I'm not talking about an hourly admin job where your co-workers get lashed to the telephone all day if you don't come in and do your part.  I'm talking about corporate jobs in the knowledge economy where our work output is in the form of deliverables vs. hours. 

Those of us who work in these environments have all had occasion to work with people who show up at work "no matter what" and make a point of letting others know they never miss a day.  The problem with this attitude is that it prizes face time over accomplishments and can limit creativity as a result.   To them I say:  "Most of us wish that you would miss a day once in awhile!  Take a break, recharge your batteries...come back happier! 

I know managers who have suggested that certain employees take a mental health day - they aren't impressed with their suggestion is ignored.  So if you've been feeling uber-stressed lately, and you haven't taken a sick day all year, and/or your boss and co-workers have been giving you subtle (and not so subtle) hints that you need to ramp down a bit, you haven't taken a sick day all year, why not do yourself and your co-workers a favor and take a mental health day?

Comments

[red jello]

I always suggest someone taking a personal day or a vacation day -- but not a sick day. Why? Just be honest with your boss and co-workers and take the day off! If you are overworked, believe me, those in the office will notice...

[The Office Newb]

Ha! It's amazing that people need to be told not to steal office supplies or look at internet porn on the office computer.

Folks I've worked with are terrible about staying home when sick (i.e. they don't). We have had office wide epidemics each winter, with germs spreading down row of cubicles after anoter.

I sometimes think that if my company had designated sick time, instead of pooling all time-off into one bucket, people would be more inclined to stay away if they are sick.