Are You Ready For Work?

Coming into work healthy and in the right mindset, every day, is just as important as being properly trained for a task or having the right tool for the job. Many factors, both on and off the job, affect how well or poorly we do our jobs on any given day. Some of the factors we will cover are sickness, fatigue, medication, and stress. 

Sickness 

We all get sick from time to time, that is a given. Some sicknesses are minor, and work can still continue, but for others, we need to stay home and get better before coming to work. When you are sick, you may not be able to perform your duties as needed, and this can put yourself or others at risk for an injury. Know when it is time to stay home due to an illness. It is also important that you do not come to work and infect others. Not only are you not able to work to your fullest ability you also affect others being able to work due to being infected with your illness. 

Fatigue 

Fatigue is a killer on job sites across the world. Many employees work over the normal 40 hours a week, then add on the demands of home life, and it only increases the fatigue. There are many people who are probably too tired to perform their functions safely. It is so important to get at least six to seven hours of sleep a night and eat a balanced diet to help combat the demands of a busy life. If you find yourself feeling tired or sluggish, drink caffeinated drinks or take a break and stretch or walk around to help get those energy levels back up. 

Medication 

Many medications can affect how we feel and act. When starting a new medication, it is important to try it off the job to see how it affects you. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about all of the possible side effects. Make sure he or she understands the work you do as well as any other medications you may be taking, as mixing medications can also affect your ability to do tasks. Let a supervisor know if you are not feeling well due to your medication and if you feel comfortable letting a coworker know about what medication you are taking, let him or her know so they can keep an eye on you. 

Stress 

Stress is a part of everyone’s days, but there is good and bad stress. We are more familiar with the bad stress. Stress from work and home demands, family issues that come up, health problems, etc., affect us every day, some more than others. A combination of high expectations for productivity and limited resources to complete work often leads to high-stress levels on the job. It is important to be able to handle stress in a constructive way. Exercising or taking time to enjoy hobbies is a good way to relieve stress. Recognize when you are stressed and step away from the situation to take time to relax. Learn how to balance your work/home life productively. 

Whether it is sickness, fatigue, medication, or stress affecting you in a negative manner at work, it is important to speak up and address the problem. When “simple fixes” are not enough to correct a health-related issue, it is important to let a supervisor know and cease the work task. Address the problem at its source to ensure you can continue to work productively and safely. Learn to recognize the stress that is affecting you negatively and find the solution