The dangers of 'presenteeism'

By Shannon Carey

Can you feel that? The slight temperature rise? Amazingly, it appears as if spring is finally coming to visit.

But the transition between winter and spring is not all fun and games.

The plague, which is how the students at Bethel College described the big bout of illness over the last couple of weeks, is finally starting to subside, but the effects are still being felt.

Many students, and several faculty, missed classes due to illness. What's worse, though, many more students and faculty attended class even though they were sick.

Showing up to work or class when ill and contagious is known as “presenteeism.”
Presenteeism, as recent studies show, is hurting productivity and efficiency in the workplace and in schools.

Showing up to work or class when you have the cold or flu means you won't be very productive because you feel like crap, and other people will catch your disease.

Students that decided it wise to stay in their rooms and rest during the plague will probably feel the consequences of missing so much class in their grades.

Students that went to class spread the disease around and caused more people to catch their illness.

Students, like me, who managed to stay healthy, suffered an undue amount of stress by being forced to go to class with students who constantly coughed, hacked, sniffled, sneezed, wheezed, and snorted in class.

I, like many students, cannot afford the plague. Some of us have seminars, jobs, and class.

It's understandable that students continued to come to class here at Bethel when they were sick; participation is expected and attendance is recorded.

However, experts suggest that staying home and resting is the best option and that businesses and schools should be more aware of the negative affects of presenteeism.

Perhaps next year around this time when the plague rears its ugly, snot-filled head, people will think twice about heading to class and work and take the time they need to feel better and get healthy.

Shannon Carey, a senior from Moundridge, is Entertainment Editor for the Collegian.