February 11, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. —"There are a number of epidemics floating around Officeville right now: seasonal affectation disorder, snow fatigue and holiday deprivation (the lack of holidays this time of year)," begins a CNBC.com article.
"It’s a perfect storm for another workplace epidemic: abuse of the company’s sick-day policy." The piece quotes Steve Langerud, director of
professional opportunities at DePauw University and veteran workplace consultant.
One problem, according to the article, is office martyrs -- people who don't call in sick even when they should. "They try and gut it out when they don’t feel well and by the time they feel better, they are too tired and 
grumpy to come to work," Langerud says. "So they both spend more time away and are less productive when they are at work and sick." He adds, "We do take a perverse pride in being miserable, working through illness and, in the end, being less productive than if we’d just stayed home."
The complete text by Cindy Perman, "Are You Calling In Sick Too Much?", can be accessed here.
Steve Langerud has helped more than 15,000 people with workplace issues and is regularly quoted in articles on the job market and career development. Recent pieces have included a Christian Science Monitor look at a new jobs website and an article in the Philadelphia Daily News .
Visit DePauw's Office of Civic, Global and Professional Opportunities here.