Have you had to work while you are sick?As I write this, I have that nasty cold and have in the past even been sick for a few months.
With the knowledge I would recover, I was able to juggle work and family with the help of a good staff and family.
The world went on, however, and the business of the day didn't wait for my recovery.
It did cause me to ponder, what if the pain or illness isn't going to "go away?" What if it continues day after day, or even gets worse?How do we deal with this at work? It is estimated that more than 50 million people living the U.
S.
suffer from chronic pain.
According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in July 2005, "nearly one in three workers suffers from pain that affects not only their health but their productivity.
"What's more is researchers surveyed employees of a major Fortune 500 company and found nearly 30 percent were in pain beyond the normal everyday aches and discomforts.
They added that the most common causes of this pain were headaches, arthritis, back pain, and other musculoskeletal problems.
So what if you are, you work with or you employ one of those workers? If you still go to work while you are in pain, you are not alone.
A 2007 study on Pain in the Workplace conducted by the National Pain Foundation (NPF) found that nearly nine in 10 employees living in chronic pain reported they would go to work rather than stay at home when experiencing pain.
They added that the pain had to be fairly serious before they would stay home.
If your employee or coworker is a chronic pain sufferer, you may be conflicted between your support and genuine concern for your employee/coworker.
There also is the fact that your business can experience loss in productivity as a result of an employee's real inability to complete tasks at hand.
So how do employers and employees cope with chronic pain issues in the workplace? oUnderstand Your Condition-If an employee is experiencing pain on a regular basis that may affect work, he or she should first make sure to have a clear understanding of the condition and treatment options.
Medical professionals should guide employees on limitations and how to work with them.
oBe Open-Employees should try to find a way to communicate health situations to employers and co-workers.
Trying to disguise a condition only creates frustration and suspicion.
Coworkers recognize when something is wrong.
If someone is not performing, people notice.
oBe Your Own Advocate-Sufferers need to take control of health conditions by finding out what accommodations or resources are available through the company.
Many workplaces have wellness and pain management programs as part of their insurance plans.
There may be workplace accommodations that can be made to alleviate situations which aggravate pain conditions.
This may include schedule, task, ergonomic and worksite adjustments.
oUnderstand the Workplace-As difficult as this is to say, while work can be a place of significant support and encouragement, the job must get done.
Will meeting the continuing demands of a job adversely affect a health condition? Evaluating this is an important process.
Acknowledging the pressures your situation possibly places on the employer and your coworkers is critical.
You might be surprised how a candid dialogue with your employer might open up new possibilities for you.
We can only hope that when we're sick or in pain at work, we can "work our way" through it or stay home and recover.
Take the time to care for your health and if you face pain at work, use the resources available to you.
As for me, this is temporary, so pass the Kleenex and Dayquil.