Going to Work Sick

Fever, or stuff coming out of the top/bottom is a stay home. No fever but cold symptoms I would take medicine and go.

What I did last week was take an advil cold and sinus and go to work. It sucks being new and not having sick time yet. (But then, I'm also from a family that goes into work unless you're dying and sneers at my husband's family for going to the doctor when they have colds.)

I go to work sick so long as I can function but I have a job where I don't have to physically interact with people. We are adults, we know how germs spread so you wash your hands more, antibacterial your world and no one will catch what you have. So I just sit at my desk and whine a lot.

Sometimes you don't have a choice.
I've gone to work sick when I have no sick time left to use or when I was saving it for when my son was sick or when everyone else in the office is already out sick and I was the last man standing to man the battle stations.
This is what Dayquil was invented for.
Drink plenty of water, take a Tylenol/Ibuprofen/aspirin, bring a box of tissues, wash your hands frequently and do your best to muddle through the day.
If you're throwing up, or have diarrhea or a high fever (over 102) then you've got to take a day and make it up later or maybe leave without pay.
Sniffles, sore throat, and headache are not that serious and you can work through it.

Whenever I start a new job, I'm there every day on time for at least the first 6 months no matter what. So I agree with others who say take an over the counter medicine to treat your symptoms, a box of tissues, hand sanitizer, plenty of orange juice, soup for lunch, and perhaps some clorox wipes for the things you will be touching like the phone and computer keyboard.

When I cough or blow my nose, I use the sanitizer. Even some cough drops are nice for soothing that cough and quieting it down.

I was a single mom for a long time and even before I became a mom I took care of my sister's kids like they were my own. So I worked it out and went to work and got better in time.

Don't take anything that will cause you to fall asleep and let your boss know you are on medication just in case but press your way to work.

Medicate so you aren't sneezing and coughing all over your co-workers and wash your hands. I don't take sick days unless I can't get out of bed, I just use good hygiene so I am not spreading anything around.

Take an OTC medication for the symptoms-until you have no symptoms-put some hand sanitizer on your desk and use it frequently-and save your sick days for your child-you should clarify with your boss about what time off you are entitled to-with pay, of course. Feel better!

As long as you do not have a fever, and your gunk is not green, go to work..

Totally annoyed when people go to work sick. I know they need the money (heck - don't we all?), but when you're sick you need to rest. And everyone else doesn't want to get exposed.

I'm sorry for ya, K.. Take hand cleanser with you and use it often. Try not to get around other people. Sip on water all day so that you keep hydrated. Take Dayquil if you have some - that will help, and take Nyquil before going to bed (go to bed EARLY!)

Hope your kids don't come down with it too!

Dawn

You need to go to work. Take some OTC medicine for your symptoms and use hand sanitizer. If you don't have a fever, you really should go especially being new. I hope you feel better!!

My husband gets SO annoyed with people who do this because typically once one person in his company comes in to work sick everybody in his company comes down with the sickness.

But in my opinion... If you have a runny nose and other cold symptoms go to work, if you have something worse like the stomach flu stay home.

I hate going to work sick and I hate others coming to work sick. Reality is, I work in a very small office and if someone is not here, things can not get done...

So the question is how sick is too sick? Will staying home one day help you get over it or will is linger for a week or two even if you stay home today?

Is your runny nose and eyes and headache from allergies (which would not be contagious...this is what usually causes me problems)? Is it more of a cold kind of thing?

Ok I am so experienced in this area it isn't funny.

First of all, if you are sick like runny nose and eyes w/ a headache, you are most likely ok to be at work. Colds come and go all the time. If you are new and do not have sick time, do not give them a reason to let you go, especially if the money is needed.

Now, had you all these symptoms w/ a high fever (102 or above) with bodyaches or vomiting/diahrrea, then stay home. There are certain sicknesses you can go to work with. In your case, I wouldn't call in especially since it is a new job. They may see this and think that you call in all the time. Then what happens if you still do not have sick time and you end up with a stomach bug? Will you call in again?

As a person who worked 8 years in administration, I was exposed to every germ out there. My kids went to the sitter/daycare and they were sick constantly. I hated it when people came to work sick, but as a mother I understand that these people needed to make money. So, to me as long as no fever is present and you are puking your guts out or heading to the "John" every 30 mins to an hour, then you can go to work.

Now I do agree, I usually used my sick time for my kids. I have 3 children and the horrible thing about us is not all of them get sick at the same time. It's usually 2-3 days after the first is sick then next one and then another 2-3 days and the next one. So I agree with you. But I did have to call in 2-3 times last year because my children blessed me with RSV and I had a fever for 3 days and ended up with a severe sinus infection. That was the only time I called in last year for myself.

Hope you get to feeling better soon! Take care!

I have been at work for the last 2 weeks with cold sympoms. If i stayed home every time i had a runny nose and headache i wouldnt have a job anymore. I keep hand sanitizer at my desk that i use often and try to avoid actually going to talk to my co-workers (this is when interoffice IM is a wonderful thing). I always come in (unless vomitting or diarhea) and if i get to a point where i feel so bad i cant function then i request to go home but at least i tried and my boss always appreciates this.

I think you should call in and talk to your boss. Tell them your concerns.

I absolutely hate it when people come to work sick. I'm a medic. I never come to work sick and risk exposing at-risk patients and families. I think it's tremendously rude. I also insist that my Soldiers go home if they come in sick.

Call your boss and ask what she would prefer. Tell her you don't mind coming to work sick - but you'd really rather not share your germs with everyone and see what she has to say. Follow her lead and if she says come to work and your co-workers look sideways at you, you can always tell them you called your boss. Having been a boss I would rather the employee call me and ask my opinion (I'd tell you to stay home) than to have you call in sick without explaining (I'd wonder if you weren't all that sick) or to come in and get everyone else sick.

If I have just a head cold I go to work. If I just feel under the weather I go to work...

I expect my co workers to not leave me behind just because they dont feel right. I will not expect anything from my co workers that I would not do myself. If they are puking sick... STAY HOME.

When you miss work, if in an enviroment like mine, it all goes to the others. I can tell you I get upset when one of my co workers call in because she has a head cold... This is what they make disinfectant and antibacterial soap for.

I agree with others. Take some hand sanitizers, lysol wipes, lots of tissues, cough drops and some OTC meds. Drink whatever will keep you hydrated so nothing with caffine. Sometimes you just don't have a choice. You can ony do what you can to control your symptoms and try to keep from spreading it.

I hate when people go to work sick. My dad is dying of cancer. If you give me a cold, I can't see him. If he gets sick right now, he will die. It's not all about whether you have paid sick leave left. It's about other people too.

A woman at an old office I worked at would go to work sick but she was courtious. She brought with her gloves, face masks, and lysol. When she touched common items in the office such as the fax, copier etc she wore the gloves/mask and then sprayed the items afterwards. Should she need to visit your desk or travel for any reason she wore them as well, and carried with her extra if you wanted. She put a tasteful sign outside of her cubical saying "Sick, gloves, mask avail" and she had a small table near her desk with the items including hand sanitizer. She bought the items, shared as needed and rarely did anyone get sick from her. She got sick about a week before the holidays every year it seemed.

I hate it when people go out in public sick, but unless you have a fever, I think you are okay to go to work.
I'm so sorry you aren't feeling well! I hope you get some good rest after work!

Get some Kiwi. I heard that takes care of your cold within 2-3 days. a cold or fever I am ok with going to work or people coming in with it. Pukes and diarrahea make me not like people who come in with it especially when you've got 3 weeks of paid time off. Nobody wants to do that and besides why would you want that at work. What if you poo your pants or puke all over yourself on the way home.
I agree with others on what to take for sanitary precautions.