Going through the Technorati listing of posts about the blogging conference I'll be attending, I came across someone who had the guts to turn their back on the airfare and first night's hotel stay they had paid for and stay home. Chris Heuer, who had planned on presenting a session tomorrow, cancelled.
Because he's sick and doesn't want to spread his illness further. The fact that this is at all remarkable says something about our misguided work ethic.
Presenteeism is running rampant in schools and offices, reinforced by bosses who mistakenly believe that time spent away from the office is bad. When I get sick, I try to stay away from people, at least for the first day or two, in order to minimize the spread of germs. If I can't avoid going to work, I try to stick to myself, wash my hands religiously, and avoid sneezing or coughing in the direction of any living being.
Next time you're contagious, don't be a martyr. Do like Chris Heuer and stay home. If they're smart, your co-workers will thank you. And hopefully your boss, too.
I would never work! Of course I have 4 kids 6 and under I at my house, so we pretty much are the generators of germs.
Posted by: Jim Turner | February 10, 2006 at 09:38 AM
Schools, day cares, playgrounds and just about anywhere kids hang out are excellent incubators for illness. Just ask a kindergarten teacher.
Posted by: Eric Eggertson | February 10, 2006 at 12:00 PM
It just really irks me when I keep seeing sick people at conferences spreading their germs. Trouble is that it is often people I respect and like as an individual so I don't feel comfortable saying anything about it.
So I launched a new web site/wiki last night with the hope of spreading the message. http://www.dontspreadgerms.org/
Maybe we can come up with a viral message to stop the spread of viral biology...
Posted by: Chris Heuer | February 22, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Thanks. I'll check it out!
Posted by: Eric Eggertson | February 22, 2006 at 12:45 PM
G'day Eric,
Taking into account your plea for clarity of grammar and sentence structure, when you wash your hands religiously does it mean you pray, or that you have discovered some secret sect of worshippers who have found a way to commune with God through the ritual of handwashing? {smile}
Posted by: Lee Hopkins | February 23, 2006 at 06:51 AM
Lee:
I'm scrupulous and conscientious about hand-washing more than all secret secty.
I've always split my infinitives and suffered from terrible subject-object agreement. It's an affliction I try to cope with, and hope others will find it in them to read and forgive. ;-)
Posted by: Eric Eggertson | February 23, 2006 at 07:17 AM
ha ha ha. Consider yourself read and forgiven, sport. Those who have not sinned... which means I am also highly unlikely to pass any grammar test set by my old high school English master. I boldly split infinitives with the best of them
Posted by: Lee Hopkins | February 23, 2006 at 08:07 AM