Everyone has a job to do at work. No one person tackles every part of a project. It takes a team of employees, each doing what they’re supposed to do and working in unison, to make things happen. So, when one member of the team is down for count, work demands an extra effort by everyone else.
Of course, you want to help your coworker. But you don’t want to be stuck doing the work of two people when that person is ill. That may be OK for a day or two, but not for the long haul.
You need to balance your workload with providing support for your absent coworker. That isn’t always easy. If you can’t find the right equilibrium, your projects may break down and resentment may build up. Here are some considerations that might help you avoid both.
Give Sick Coworkers a Hand at Home
Coworkers are often friends outside of the workplace. You might go to coffee, happy hour, or other social events with them. You might follow one another on social media and keep up with their personal and family life. If this is your relationship, you’ll probably want to check in on sick coworkers while they’re out. But even if your relationship is all business, reaching out to them may provide them with much needed and welcomed support.
There are many ways you can do this. You can send them emails or texts to ask them how they’re doing. Buy cards and ask your other coworkers to sign them as well. Phone calls let you hear their voice, which may clue you in on how they’re really feeling.
Ask them if they need anything from the office or anywhere else. This is especially important for coworkers with kids or those who live alone. Offering to pick up medications, groceries, and other items and dropping them off may be a lifesaver to them.
You can always order flowers to cheer them up. But why not try something that will make them smile and nourish them? Consider sending get well soon gifts of comfort foods. Of course, you probably don’t have time to whip up batches of chicken soup while covering for them at work. But you can send kits they can use at any time or a hot delivered meal, if you know they’re ready to eat.
Do avoid being nosy about their illness or intrusive. Remember, they don’t feel well. They might just want to curl up in that plush throw and fuzzy socks you sent them and nap. But showing you care about how they’re doing when they aren’t at work creates a lot of goodwill when they return.
Manage Everybody’s Workload
Sick coworkers away for days or weeks are going to feel guilty about leaving you in a lurch. They know what it’s like to work shorthanded. So, it’s likely that they’ll want to help lighten the load if they physically can. That will help them and the rest of the team feel better.
It’s important to keep them in the loop in a manageable manner. You can’t expect them to hop on to every conference call. But you can keep them updated using your project management and communication software. They can look at what’s going on when they feel up to it. And they can weigh in with answers to questions, make comments, or provide input.
Figure out what work can be redistributed among other team members and what needs to be rescheduled. For example, you’ll have to pick up the baton for an ill coworker responsible for a certain step in a project. But if that coworker was slated to lead a training session due to specific expertise, rescheduling is the better route.
The need to cover for someone who’s out is a great time to re-examine everyone’s role in the project. Keeping workloads balanced should always be a major concern. Coworkers carrying heavier loads already might not have the bandwidth to take on more. But those with fewer responsibilities can divvy up the missing team member’s job. This assessment could lead to shifting responsibilities across the board so no one person is overwhelmed.
The fact is that no employees are irreplaceable, whether they’re out for a day or forever. Break down the workload by tasks and take a fresh look at who’s currently doing what. You may find some surprising coworkers stepping up to the challenge. And once you have the empty bases covered, don’t forget to let your ill coworkers know you’re looking forward to their return.
Work-Life Balance
Illness is an inescapable part of life on and off the clock. Of course, being down a coworker makes life more difficult for those left to deal with the absence. But remember, being sick is no picnic either. Those left need support, and so does the coworker who needs time to heal.
Reaching out to sick coworkers may provide more support than you know. What you do to help them and acknowledge their absence could actually be crucial to their recovery.
But that support also needs to find a place among those who are left behind. The job must go on, even when team members are sidelined. Find the right balance between the two, and everyone will feel better.