Healing

[ladysprite]

I'm not quite sure I understand the priorities of my career. I love what I do, and I don't think I could ever be happy doing anything else. And I know that part of being a vet means being dedicated, and willing to make sacrifices, and to prioritize your profession well above many other things in your life. But there comes a point where that attitude becomes toxic, and actively dangerous.

For instance, when you have bronchitis, and are running a fever, and coughing up scary stuff, and it hurts to breathe, and you have to go in to work anyway. I understand that clients are depending on me, and sick animals need to be seen, but I wasn't doing anyone any favors working in that condition. I wasn't thinking clearly, I wasn't efficient, I wasn't being a good doctor. I was, though, probably sharing my illness with each and every coworker, and possibly a few clients.

There's an attitude in my profession - probably in most professions, to be honest, but I can only speak to what I know - that suffering, working harder, putting in more hours, makes you somehow better. More dedicated. That you Care More About Your Patients. And that wanting to take care of yourself, or have a life outside of the office, means that you're not truly devoted to your profession, and that you don't care enough. Admittedly, this attitude is more prevalent among the Old Guard, but it's still there in my generation, and it has a tendency to escalate. One doctor comes in early, or stays late, or checks in on their day off, and suddenly everyone else has to do the same to prove that they're just as hardcore, and so then it becomes a war of who can showily do more questionably necessary work.

And it's hard to deal with, because you're in the race even if you don't choose to enter it yourself - you can't choose not to play. I do my best not to care, not to escalate, because I've learned that I put enough stress on myself as it is, and I need to have some life and some time for myself, but it's frustrating, and it's ultimately impossible to avoid completely. When everyone does something, and you're the only one who doesn't, it shows and it becomes unacceptable.

I'm not quite sure what to do about it. There's part of me that says I should set a good example by putting my own health at a priority, but at the same time I worry about losing work - as a relief vet, I won't get hired back if I'm not reliable. It's a tough balance to hit, and I'm not sure what the answer to the question is....

Comments

[bkwrrm-tx.livejournal.com]

I blame that starting in the schools. Perfect attendance is a horrible idea - if you're sick and contagious, keep your butt at home.

Sorry... found that soapbox and hopped right on up there, didn't I?

[metaphysick.livejournal.com]

I chimed in on this subject earlier today. Something is deeply screwed up in any system that encourages its practitioners to attend to the health of everyone else and, in so doing, to neglect their own.

[felis-sidus.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you can do about it, but I know that if I'd been one of the people whose pets you saw today, I'd have been pretty put out that I'd been exposed to whatever you have. I've had pets, and I understand how difficult it can be to reschedule an appointment, but I'd rather do that than get sick.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Sigh, I so hear you. I've had to remind myself - or be reminded - that taking time off was appropriate when sick. Or after getting news of a death.

[edthetallguy.livejournal.com]

It isn't just the Old Guard. The outfit where my wife works has an average age of 28, and they have to make the point that you don't come in when your sick. In the software business, it's even less sane than it is in most, because you can usefully work from home if you have the energy.

When you're self-employed, it is trickier; but is it more responsible to let people know that if you did show up, you could render the entire staff less than useful, or to just show up and give them all the creeping crud? I suspect it depends on the individual clinic in your case.

[pale-chartreuse.livejournal.com]

My husband used to do this. Then one time he went into the office sick, a co-worker caught it, and ended up in the hospital. He doesn't make this mistake anymore.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I'd say if you're going to be a threat rather than a help, to yourself or others, you shouldn't be there.

[unicornpearlz.livejournal.com]

this is actually so common in 'business' (not saying what you do isn't business, but I can specify a little by saying a business office setting)that it has it's very own word. Presenteeism.

Originally termed by economists to explain on the job productivity loss due to chronic ailments like arthritis, the definition of presenteeism has been expanded to the followign definition:

“Presenteeism is a new term used by human resource professionals to describe circumstances in which employees come to work even though they are ill, posing potential problems of contagion and lower productivity”

(source: CCH Incorporated (2003). “Unscheduled Employee Absenteeism Hits Lowest Point in CCH Survey History.” Human Resources Management and Trends, Special Issue 569 (October), 155-164.)

This is a problem that HR professionals work to combat for a variety of reasons. First of all, as you said, many people see going into work sick as working harder or showing dedication. However, again, as you said, wind up working less efficiently and sharing their germs with their co-workers, and possibly clients. AND - of course- you're not getting better either. Overall, presenteeism costs companies more in time and money than is saved by the sick person going on (most especially when they are contagious).

This self assessment tool was created by Health Canada to help companies come up with how much money is actually being lost.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/work-travail/_cost-cout/index-eng.php