Should I Stay Home or Should I Go to Work?

Am I Too Sick to Go in to Work?

By Lori Piper, published Oct 16, 2007
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Have you ever wavered on calling in sick or just toughing it out and go in to work?

Do you considered yourself a trooper when you go in to work sick? Did you hear about the man in Canada that was fined for going in to work sick? Of course, he worked in a bakery and his illness in question was salmonella poisoning. Pretty good reason to remain at home, I think.

However, what if you are not sure whether what you are feeling can be construed as a reason to remain home or not? You can sing "Should I stay or should I go?" as you pick the petals off a flower, but why? What a waste of a pretty flower.

Read this chart and it might assist you in making an informed decision regarding whether or not you should stay or go. These are just my opinions as I am in no way a medical physician.

Symptoms

Cough: Is your cough mild and non -threatening? Is it only a minor annoyance? Go to work. Bring some cough drops with you to work. If you are able, even take along some lemon tea.

Cough: Is your cough the type that rocks you head and shoulders? Is it producing phlegm or mucus? Is each vibration causing a small eruption in your sinus cavity? Stay at home-better still-go to the doctor.

Sore Throat: If your throat is sore from a recent excursion to a concert, go to work and remain as non-verbal as you are able. If your throat is sore from a recent bout with the common cold, be a trooper. If you have a tickle, go in to work, but monitor said tickle.

Sore Throat: Do you feel as if your throat is on fire? Is it swollen? Is the pain intense? Do you have a fever to go along with that sore throat? Stay home, and call your doctor.

Fever: If you awaken with a fever-, go back to bed. A fever is in indicator that your body is about to or is already in the process of battling out something. Stay in bed and rest while your body fights the invaders.

Stuffed up or runny nose: Take Kleenex with you. Go into work for the first day at least and monitor your condition. It could be allergies; it could be a sinus infection. Call your doctor if it persists.

Comments
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Also depends on whether you are in close contact with co-workers or customers...I don't want my server coughing all over my chicken salad.

Posted on 11/07/2007 at 11:11:00 PM

 
Great article! I usually stay home if I 1. Have a fever or 2. Have to keep running to the bathroom or 3. Vomitting... also because I work with people frequently I need to be able to speak so if I am losing my voice I really can't go to work... it kind of defeats the purpose of me being there. :( I HATE being sick except for the fact that it keeps me home in bed! :)

Posted on 10/26/2007 at 11:10:00 PM

 
Great tips! :-)

Posted on 10/21/2007 at 4:10:00 PM

 
I waver on whether to stay home or go to work from time to time. Unless my boss is reading this, in which case I would never even contemplate staying home unless I was at death's door. I have plenty of sick days but I don't like to stay home if I miss something that will be difficult to reschedule. Also I have heard that people are most contagious right before they start showing symptoms, so by the time you are aware of your illness, you're already past the most contagious time. I don't know if that's true, but I tend to believe it.

Posted on 10/20/2007 at 1:10:00 AM

 
Interesting article! No need for me to call in sick anymore. At age 53 (as an early, contentedly frugal retiree), I'm SO relieved that employment is all behind (not before) me. [I never met a job I didn't dislike.] If I were compelled to return to wage slavery at this stage, it'd soon drive me NUTS! ;-)

Posted on 10/19/2007 at 10:10:00 PM

 
great article with good insights

Posted on 10/19/2007 at 6:10:00 PM

 
Great article!

Posted on 10/18/2007 at 7:10:00 AM

 
Great article. I remember when I worked we did tell others to stay home if they were sick but it was a really laid back environment:)

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 3:10:00 PM

 
I would much rather everyone err on the side of caution and stay home. We're all better off if they do. :)

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 3:10:00 PM

 
Great rules of thumb!

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 2:10:00 PM

 
Great tips. I personally also believe stomach viruses are a stay-home situation.

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 2:10:00 PM

 
Sometimes it's heck if you do and heck if you don't. I used to work in an office where you weren't supposed to get sick period. If you called off sick, the boss chewed you for it. And if you came to work sick, you got yelled at for spreading germs!

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 11:10:00 AM

 
Great advice.

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 10:10:00 AM

 
This is a good one! Funny too, it made me think of the days I was working and didn't want to go in. Most times I just had an eye problem--I couldn't "see" myself working.

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 4:10:00 AM

 
Great article, Lori. I can't believe how the man in Canada thought it was a good idea to go into work when he has Salmonella poisoning! He should have just stayed home. In the past, I very rarely missed days from work, as I have always been in good health. Sophie

Posted on 10/17/2007 at 3:10:00 AM

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