Dealing with short-term illness in higher education: Opinion

“How does a faculty member handle being sick in an academic workplace that does not generally ‘do’ sick days akin to the 9-to-5 world?” asks Karen Kelsky. The author writes that academics in the US and Canada are living and working in a version of neoliberal capitalism where sickness is often professionally penalized. The author thus provides five tips for navigating illness within higher ed: inform oneself on the formal, institutional rules regarding illnesses; find out the informal expectations regarding illness accommodation; follow what others do in your department; weigh the personal and professional costs; and do not be a martyr. “Rest when and where you can,” concludes Kelsky. “The more you give, the more academe will take from you.” Chronicle of Higher Education