Büro-Etikette: Zwischen Mitgefühl und Kritik: Umgang mit kranken Kollegen

In the office, the chatter and coughing resumes. Between impressive work ethic and callous disregard, many wonder how to gently inform a colleague that they should stay home if they're unwell. Empathy trainer and coach Imme Vogelsang offers advice. While Vogelsang doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, she believes it's good to ask a colleague not to come to work while sick.

Vogelsang suggests starting with empathy: "Hey, you're coughing a lot today. Are you coming down with a cold? I feel bad for you." Then, she advises, transition to kindly suggesting the colleague might stay home to avoid spreading the illness. This same approach can be used when speaking to a boss. No one should put others at risk.

In some cases, the reason for sickness may be outside a person's control. Allergies or chronic coughing can cause symptoms similar to a cold. Vogelsang recommends showing empathy in these situations too. A gentle, "Oh dear, you're coughing a lot," can give the person a chance to explain their condition.

However, even with allergies, it's important to maintain a collegial attitude. If someone always coughs in the open space, a tactful reminder to cover their mouth or sneeze into their elbow can be helpful. Vogelsang also suggests mentioning that effective allergy medications are available, which might be appreciated.

The question arises: Is it empathetic to comment on every cough with "Health"? Vogelsang admits there's no easy answer. While saying "Health" is common and usually well-intentioned, it could be seen as unfriendly. In a one-on-one setting, Vogelsang suggests saying "Health" or "I know people say it's not polite, but I still wish you health." In a large office setting, she would be more reserved.