WWYD? re sickness and work

I have been sick since last Tuesday. By sick I mean I have a VERY stuffy nose. No sore throat, no cough, no fever, no aches, no pains, no chills.

Yesterday was my first day at work and of course I have the sniffles and had to blow my nose a few times ( in teh bathroom mostly )

Today I come in and three coworkers are standing around and as I pass they tell me that they have been talking about how sick I am and they think that I should go home before I get everyone else sick. I laugh it off but then two of them actually confront me privately and say the same thing! I should not be infecting the office!

So, I told them it was a cold and unless they wanted to donate leave that they better up their vitamin C and wash their hands because I wasn't leaving - then it got to the point where I told them to contact my manager if they wanted me to leave . . . they then pretended they were "only kidding."

I am so annoyed by this bc they only said something bc I am so "approachable" if someone else came in with a flesh eating disease they would never dare say something.

So anyway, would you stay home for the symptoms I described??

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Nope...I definitely would not have stayed home for that...but, I am not one to EVER stay home unless I am REALLY REALLY sick.

Anyway...if people were trying to get me to leave early because they thought I was "infectious"...I just might use that as an opportunity to get out of working for a day...LOL.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I would not stay at home either, however it does not go away soon, I would go to the dr, it might be a sinus infection. feel better.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I would not be home for that.. I have a cold as it is now, and I am trying to stick it out.. I would be a bit annoyed that they were so pushy. Unless they had your best intrest at heart.. and it doesn't sound like it.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Half my office is sick.... it's a fact of life, and as most people know, you are the most contagious before the real symptoms kick in, so by now, they have already caught what you have, and you shouldn't be a threat to the company.

If everyone took off whenever they had the sniffles, our country would grind to a halt during the winter!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

for me this is kind of a touchy subject because we have one person in our office who is ALWAYS sick, and she comes in no matter what - even though she has accrued something like 200 sick days. and no, she doesn't have the kind of job that would prohibit her from taking a few days here and there if she was sick.

but it also has to do with the fact that she isn't very clean - doesn't wash her hands a lot, rub her nose with her bare hand, etc...

tilde, since i have no sick time myself i totally understand where you are coming from. i myself have had the sniffles for about 2 weeks now. i just make sure to wash my hands a lot and use purell whenever i get the chance.

IMO no one should have said anything to you. if they were really concerned they should have approached your manager or HR. that was very inappropriate and unprofessional.

hope you feel better

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

funny i'm reading this post b/c i am actually dealing with someone at my job now who is SERIOUSLY abusing the calling in sick privlege and is PIZZZING me the helll off!!!

that being said, no i would not call in sick for the symptoms you are describing. basically, the only reasons i call in sick are the following:

- fever
- REALLY sore throat
- throwing up/stomach virus
- bad back pain (which like never happens ever, but if it did i would stay home b/c i do a lot of hands on work at my job)

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Thanks everyone! I wasnt sure if I was just being selfish. I am kind of a sick day hoarder bc we have no other form of maternity leave.

I didn't even think it could be a sinus infection, I may see if my doctor has an appointment today just because it is getting annoying!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

for a stuffy nose, no. I've been to work with the flu! and i would've said the same thing - if they want to pay you for the sick day, then rock on. i'd pack up and leave.

otherwise, i'd chug some cold meds and tell them to invest in some antibacterial wipes

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I wouldn't stay home, but by now I wouldn've gone to the Dr. for some meds.

Feel better!!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Posted by CoopersMom01

I wouldn't stay home, but by now I wouldn've gone to the Dr. for some meds.

Feel better!!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Posted by CoopersMom01

I wouldn't stay home, but by now I wouldn've gone to the Dr. for some meds.

Feel better!!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

For just a stuffy nose? No, I wouldn't stay home. I'd be out of work half the winter and all of allergy season.

Then again, I have my own office and the kind of job that just can't wait for a few days every time I get a cold.


ETA - I have been told by a boss to go home because I really WAS sick. (I came in because we had a HUGE deadline looming.) However, I have unlimited sick days so that's not an issue for me. I also have the ability to work from home when necessary.

Message edited 1/6/2009 1:28:43 PM.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I wouldn't stay home for the sniffles. I would if I was leaking like a faucet and going through a box of tissues in an hour.

Tell them it's allergies.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

No way would I stay home for that.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

No way - not for that

In my case though, I have an office, so I can just close the door and stay away from people

Or if I really feel like crap, but am still functional, I can work from home.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

If I stayed home every day I had a stuffy nose, I would be home almost every day!

I have some obsessive compulsive people in my office who give me the evil eye every time I sneeze though.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Message edited 1/6/2009 10:41:40 AM.

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

go Tilde! i would have said the same thing to them. if they are so concerned they can talk to your manager about providing you with sick leave without deducting from your time/pay.

youre not being selfish! i wouldnt stay home for a stuffy nose. i came to work for 2 weeks with bronchitis....on the 14th day i finally called in cause i was just so tired of getting up!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

Posted by colette

Posted by Tilde

Thanks everyone! I wasnt sure if I was just being selfish. I am kind of a sick day hoarder bc we have no other form of maternity leave.

I didn't even think it could be a sinus infection, I may see if my doctor has an appointment today just because it is getting annoying!

OMG Tilde you're PREGNANT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hahaha just kiddin

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

If I had to miss work due to my nose being runny I'd be gone about 300 days out of the 365 in the year! I have allergies ALL year long and constantly have a runny nose... I blow it, and that is the end of it. I mean, unless you are really sick why should you miss work??

Sorry they are being annoying!

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I only stay home if I am dizzy, throwing up, fever. A common cold is something your co-workers need to deal with...

Re: WWYD? re sickness and work

I would not stay home for a cold - especially since it sounds like you're being hygienic about it!