Sick People and their Germs

It’s time to go back to one of my favorite rant topics. Why do people continue to come in to work when they are sick?

This is one of my top pet peeves. It is simply disrespectful to others around you when you come into the workplace sick. I don’t want your germs and work hard to take care of myself, only to be potentially (most likely) sabotaged by your inconsiderate nature. Normal people have problems with this. The fact that I have OCD just adds to the fact.

My diagnosed condition is not a cute little quirk or something I just say that I have in order to get attention. I’m sitting at work right now wanting to cry because I am completely powerless over other people that are rude and spreading their germs.

A little background:

This fall, coworkers were coming into work clearly sick and it was upsetting to myself and a few others. I consulted these like-minded people who informed me that they had tried to do something about it before, and that I shouldn’t expect much if I decided to speak up. I knew that for my own sanity I needed to voice my concerns. So long story short, we ended up having a company meeting. Everyone in the office now knows that I have OCD and that it truly causes me a great deal of anxiety. One individual decided to blame her sick symptoms on asthma. Forgive me, but I didn’t know asthma caused snot and phlegm *insert sarcasm*. The audacity of this individual to outright lie baffled me, and still baffles me. How she chooses to conduct herself and her respective higher power, but it doesn’t make it any easier for me EXCEPT for the fact that I spoke my mind. At least I tried, regardless of the result.

Fast forward to today, where two coworkers have HACKING coughs like they are coughing up pieces of their lungs. It is clear and obvious that they are ill. One coworker was filing something in the cabinets behind me, and one of the sickies walks by on the way to the bathroom. The person filing asked her if she was going to go home, and sickie said no and that she feels fine. “It just sounds bad” and “I’m not sick” were two statements that stuck out. As a result of them standing directly behind me, I suppose her saying that she wasn’t sick was supposed to assuage my anxiety in some way or another, but I know better. It really is hard for me to believe that people will lie just to stay at work.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by others’ disrespect at this point in my life, but I just can’t shake that last little bit of hope I have for the human race.

UPDATE: Everyone, I bought an air purifier! I mean, I already have a few at home but I finally bought one for the office. It may sound ridiculous but the amount of peace of mind that it brings me is ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS. Even if it is purely the placebo effect, it’s worth it. The anxiety is decreased which will in turn boost my immune system. Kids, this feeling is great. Don’t worry, though- I’ll have plenty of other things that bother me enough to blog about. Have a wonderful day everyone!!!