Staying home when you’re sick

No matter how miserable you feel, you may wonder if it really makes sense to stay home from work. After all, you might be able to get some work done even if you’re coughing, sneezing, or sniffling. There are several good reasons to stay home when you’re sick.

• You may give your illness to co-workers. Colds and flu usually spread through the droplets released when someone coughs or sneezes. They can also spread through contact with an object handled by an infected person. Cold and flu viruses can live for two hours or more on items such as desks, doorknobs, computer keyboards, and cafeteria tables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You may give your illness to many others if you share a phone or computer keyboard, or handle papers that will be touched by co-workers or clients.
• “Working sick” can be dangerous. Many tasks that are usually safe can be risky if you have an illness that significantly weakens you or your ability to concentrate. Some obvious examples are operating machinery, driving a truck, and lifting heavy objects. Almost any job can be risky if you’re too sick or tired to maintain good workplace safety habits. The drive to work itself might be dangerous, particularly if you are taking medications that cause drowsiness.
• Your condition may get worse if you don’t take care of yourself. A cold is usually at its worst for only a few days; getting through the flu may take a week to 10 days (though you may feel weak for a week or two longer). If you don’t take care of yourself, you may develop secondary illnesses due to a lowered resistance. Not allowing yourself to get over one illness may weaken your body’s response to another infection. The risks of complications from “routine” illnesses may increase if you have a chronic condition such as heart disease, asthma, or diabetes.
• You’ll be less productive at work. You won’t be at your best if you’re sick (especially if an illness has kept you from getting enough sleep). If you’re taking prescription or over-the-counter medications to ease your symptoms, remember that medications can affect people in different ways. Some products may make you feel drowsy or less alert. You also risk making mistakes that might be costly to your team, your clients, or to your reputation at work.

 

Read the whole article here:
https://portal.lifeworks.com/materials-ca/HPSActiveAssociatedFiles/15431.pdf