To the Editor,
I met someone at work today who visibly looked like he belonged in bed. Out of concern, I asked how he was feeling, and he admitted that he really wasn’t well. When I asked why he came in anyway, his answer was simple: it was a busy day and there was work that needed to get done.
While dedication is admirable, this mindset raises a serious concern. Coming to work sick isn’t just a personal decision — it affects everyone around you. With flu, viruses, and other illnesses spreading rapidly this winter, showing up unwell puts coworkers at unnecessary risk and contributes to wider outbreaks that could have been avoided.
If you need to take a day off to recover, you should feel empowered to do so. Resting at home is not a lack of responsibility; in many cases, it’s the responsible choice. Preventing the spread of illness protects colleagues, families, and the broader community.
We all want workplaces to function smoothly, but that goal is undermined when preventable sickness is passed from one person to another. Taking health seriously — especially during peak illness season — benefits everyone.
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Yeah, all cool when the boss ain’t gonna give you problems. But when he claims you’re bluffing or not trying hard enough, he tells you the only reason he was successful is because he kept on pushing and didn’t let anything stop him blah blah.
You sort of feel compelled to show up!!!
If a boss gives someone **** for taking a day off for having the flu then they shouldn’t be working for that company or at least looking aggressively for a new job.
This is what happens when we have a society that honors the boss and spits on the worker
https://www.nj.gov/labor/myworkrights/leave-benefits/sick-leave/
There is mandatory NJ sick leave.
The person who came in to work did so not for lack of sick leave but not to fall behind on work. That’s just poor judgement and can get others sick and cause them to lose time at work.
In my 30 year career I saw one person close an entire facility by coming in with the flu. Since then I always make people feel comfortable staying home, especially if they are contagious or in severe pain or have been in a car accident. I also tell them bringing a note to their Supervisor helps to validate the absence.
Just because legally he gets off doesn’t mean that in the eyes of his boss, he isn’t perceived as someone who is a poor performer by slacking off. We already miss a lot between all our family obligations. It’s not so simple to just not come in and expect a boss to understand
Sad reality.
Torah values need to apply not just outside of work, but within business. The oft-used catchphrase of bosses saying “it’s business” makes me wonder if people think the Torah exempts bosses from following its directives and values.
In this economy, it’s a luxury to take a day off bc of an illness. Do you know how many places don’t give PTO?! And if they do, it’s so minimal that you end up using it when the kids get sick.
Time to change the law. There are states that have mandatory paid sick leave laws.
NJ *does* have mandatory paid sick leave laws: “Employees accrue 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, and they can use this leave for personal or family health needs, illness, or preventive care.” This applies to part-time, not just full-time, workers, including temporary ones. Employers are either not aware of it or choose to ignore it.
A thought: The culture has become so extremely hustle-minded that behavior often turns out to be quite mindless. It would be a great idea for organizations to start offering education and published material for employers to expand their awareness/knowledge of moral, halachic, and best-practice concepts/skills in managing employees and supporting healthy work environments – literally and figuratively. Many are simply not aware. (my vision for a better Lakewood)
New Jersey already does but only 40 hours
It’s not about the”law”, it’s about how the boss sees it
The hustle culture is all about the quick buck, and it causes the losses that we see just as it is a factor in the gains.
People need to learn that keeping employees happy is not just mentchlichkeit, you end up with greater stability. Yes, you might not make as much money now, but the money you have will last longer.
Worker: I have a fever, I won’t be able to come in to work today boss
Boss: Are you sure you can’t come in for a little? We’re behind on (insert x here) and really need you. You took a day off 3 weeks ago for being sick already. No you’re not working hard enough.
This is the real problem, these are all answers I have gotten from previous bosses when I was sick. Soop blaming the people who can’t control their fevers, blame the people pressure them to ignore it
I wish people would feel comfortable wearing face mask when sick just like we did when COVID was around. Unfortunately as soon as COVID passed most people threw out their masks. If it would be normalized people wouldn’t have to stay home when a bit under the weather.
Lol no I am not sitting at my desk from 9-5 in a mask. Not if you paid me. It’s not normal and shouldn’t be normalized (aside from the fact that it was proven useless as soon as the Covid hype passed)
Even Mengele Fauci admitted that the flimsy disposable masks did NOTHING to prevent the spread of Corona virus. Covid is spread airborne so the whole beat down demand to wear those ridiculous masks was FOR THEATER ONLY! Same for the “6” feet social distance rule and the immature plastic partitions by the bima.
Please, please. Do not compare Fauci to that Rasha. While I’m am not a fauci fan, comparing the 2 shows tremendous ignorance and insensitivity.
flu is spread by droplets, so these masks help
It’s never too late to fix your mistakes you might be the person to believe that masks worked
I completely agree with the article here. Although it might hurt your pocket if your employer does not give you paid time off or any sick days, et cetera ,think about it on the big scheme of things perhaps now you’re going to get your colleagues and your coworkers sick, put yourself in their shoes if it was in the reverse how you would feel if they got you sick. then it will have a ripple effect. A lot of companies allow working remote so if you can’t afford to take the day off without pay perhaps that could be an option. When I go to work and there are people around me who are visibly and evidently sick, it absolutely makes me feel some kind of way because I have to start thinking about my own Health if I’m going to be sick now.
This is the same reason people send the kids back to school/playgroup earlier than they should. They can’t afford to stay home another day to make sure the kids are really feeling all better.
Same goes for playgroups. If your kid has fever or isn’t feeling well don’t load them up on Tylenol or Motrin and send them into playgroup. It’s not fair to infect the other kids
I wouldn’t send a sick kid but guess what most kids are contagious before symptoms start so the probability that the germs are all over already.
This individual did not nessicarly go to work because of his boss being not understanding. But, rather his responsibilities at work would not get taken care of- it was easier for him to work through the day unwell than have a pileup the next day.
Same with shul. If you feel uneasy skipping minyan, ask your rov for an eitza. (Daven outside the shul window? Or stay home anyway. Yiddishkeit was never about breaking records; it’s about doing what is Ratzon Hashem at each choice.)
I totally agree and I wish I can keep by it. But you know my son had the flu this past thursday up until mid week and then I got sick. You think my work was fine that I took off??? Think again! I showed up to work sick.. sent a kid back to daycare on motrin. A bunch of things that dont seem right. And my work place still thinks theyre easy going with taking off. Was so stressful trying to figure out what the right thing is to do. Yes Im looking for a new job.
NJ law. Hourly employees,For every 40 hrs you work you get one hour of paid sick time.
Right, but there is a cap for how many hours you can earn and you need to use those hours for your sick days and for doctors appointments for both you and your kids. How far is it going to go?
1 hour per every 30 hours worked, with a cap to the total mandatory paid sick hrs per year being 40
THIS. 100%.
The agmas nefesh caused to a child. To the parent. Or the adult who is sick. Them having to take off of work and miss pay as well. SO many things. Too much to write
Know who else goes to work when they’re sick? Teachers. Taking off for teachers is not simple and requires a substitute. Which is in itself a job. Most teachers will come in unless they cannot pick themselves up off the bed.