What to do about sick people at work

[anonymous]

I don't know if I have ever seen this topic come up. I work in a pretty large office. I am an adult pwcf (42). What do you all do about people who are selfish and come to work when they are sick? It drives me crazy! I try to avoid them, stay in my office with the door closed, but then I am accused of not being "social" with my co-workers. Everyone knows I have CF, but I don't think they realize that their sickness could put me in the hospital or worse.... They just don't want to give up their vacation hours for a sickness. Do companys legally have to protect us? Do we have any recourse for this? Help I am so desperate - there are 2 - 3 people around here that are SO sick....

 

[anonymous]

i hate to be the jerk in this matter but im sorry obviously you are like most people and just want to be normal and go to work make a life for you and your family. obviously these people are simply going for the same thing you are. i really doubt its that of selfishness and that they are doing it on purpose just trying to do the best they can and what they need to. i personaly work in a health clinic what am i to do tell all the patients i see on a daily basis not to come ifthey are sick. i dont think so. Get Over It. either you chose to life your life normally and take those chances or you live like a hermit and live on disability those decisions are not up to the people only up to you. legally since illness is such a personal thing and protected by law there is no legal recourse to protect you just as there is not any to protect the others from you when you are sick.im sorry this probly isnt what this board would like to hear from another cfer but really its my opinionand i think this is what this board has always been about. I do understnd your concerns but the decisions and options are in your hands not in that of the other person.Understandly AppologeticJoe

 

[anonymous]

Well, to the second posting- I think it is a pretty awful thing to say that CFers should be hermits if they don't want to get sick. Anyone with any compassion would understand this persons predicament. To the first post- maybe you should try to explain better what you have to your coworkers. If they know more about CF and what their being sick can do to you they may think again about coming to work sick; or they might not say anything about your door being closed. I personally don't have CF but my boyfriend does and I try very hard not to get sick and bring it home to him. I also avoid any personal contact with him while I am sick. Good luck, I hope that you can get your coworkers to understand the situation they are putting you in.

 

[anonymous]

I am not a CFer but I am the mother of a young child with CF. I also get ticked off at people when they come to work sick, but I did that before I became a mom. Because it is even more important now I always keep away from people with colds and explain that I don't want to be near them when they are sick. It is known now that I have a cf child and people are very understanding. I do not shake hands with them, I keep as far away as possible and I always keep Purell on my desk. Keep washing your hands and let people now that you are high risk when they are sick. People are usually pretty understanding when they are given the right information. I hope that people will not treat my daughter any differently because of her CF but I know they will, and in situations like yours I hope they do treat her differently, but they probably won't.People do not live with CF do not know what it is like. It is a bonus that they look at you like any other co-worker and don't treat you different. With the right approach and information I'm sure you can help them to help you.Good Luck!REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AbsintheSorrow]

I don't currently have a job, but I'm a full-time student. I end up around sick people all the time. I have never had pneumonia, so that's lucky on my part. But as far as getting infections and colds and what have you, I just end up getting them. Colds don't end me up in the hospital. It's the pseudomonas that gets me. So when other people are sick, I just end up sick too. The only reason I hate it is because it tires me out even further, which I do not need. But I don't skip classes, so if people are sick, then I get sick. *shrug*

 

[scraviog]

Hi All,I am an italian CFer, and I work in an office (BTW, the italian office of an USA company). Just wanted to say that I have never thought about the possibility of getting sick when meeting other people, in other words when living within other people. I can say I realise it now, for the very first time, when reading the answers of this forum. And I can add that I do not mind if a colleague of mine gets cold. For me it is much more important that people understand why and when I cannot socialize because of therapies I have to do during the day, and that people consider as "normal" my absences (fortunately, not too many absences), exactly as it is "normal" for every person to take a permission from work for any reason. Have a nice day. Good night.Silvia

 

[anonymous]

Get some of that anti-bacterial gel fro your desk, and a little bottle for your pocket. Try to spray your work space with lysol or a water/bleech solution every few days to minimalize germs. Wash your hands after hand shakes and such. Be open about why you are doing it, I doubt that folks will be upset about it. You may inspire people to wash up a little more. CF is coverd in the American's with Disabilities ACt, but I don't think that sick co-workers can be kept home just for your sake. YOu should ask what accomodations can be made, and see if it is even possible to ask someone to go home. If you're really concerned, tell your boss that you'll be wearing a mask. I've worn one to class a few times, and people always understand.Debbie23 w/ CF