Taking a sick day benefits you, others
- col-kate-shumaker
- February 10, 2025
- 363
We are in the midst of cold and flu season. The weather has been up and down lately. At the time of writing this, I’m on day six of some sort of “head cold” and praying I finally start feeling better today. I know I am blessed to have a job with a generous sick leave policy.
We all have heard it for years and even louder during the COVID epidemic: Stay home when you are sick. In theory, it’s simple. In reality, not so much. From elementary school, we’re given awards for perfect attendance. If you miss a day, you have to make up that work. As we get older, there can be a real pressure in the workplace to not take your owed time off — breaks, vacation and sick leave — or to work during them as well. We also can’t ignore the fact that not everyone has paid sick leave.
According to the CDC, “All employees should stay home if they are sick until for at least 24 hours, both are true: their symptoms are getting better overall and they have not had a fever (temperature of 100 F or 37.8 C or higher) and are not using fever-reducing medication (e.g., medicines that contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen).”
In addition, those with suspected or confirmed flu who do not have a fever should stay home from work at least five days after the onset of symptoms.
So why is it important to stay home when you are sick?
—The most obvious reason is to prevent the spread of illness. Think of all the common surfaces you would touch in your workplace that could increase the chance of coworkers becoming ill, not to mention possible spread through the air from talking, coughing and sneezing.
—The financial bottom line. One employee out sick is much preferable to three to four out sick. At the same time, staying home for one to two days to give your body the time it needs to rest and recover will allow you to come back as a fully functioning employee, compared to coming to work sick every day — referred to as presenteeism — and being maybe 50% as productive as you could be and prolonging your illness for extra days because you did not rest. This lost productivity time costs employers billions of dollars each year.
—Protect those outside your workplace. This could be clients you serve, or it could be the families of your coworkers. Your germs can be carried to others that may have weakened immune systems and become very ill.
—Illness is often our body’s way of telling us we need to slow down. This time it might be a minor bout of whatever “crud” is going around. If you ignore and “power through” it, next time you could be laid low with a nasty case of the flu. Acknowledge your body’s signs to rest, recover and rebuild your immune system.
We all learned during the COVID times that a lot of work can be done remotely. I am not saying you should work when feeling poorly. However, if you can, need to or want to, being able to do some work from home can help you stay on top of deadlines and reduce the to-do list when you return.
Let’s be honest: A good sick day involves a lot of sleep and time spent reading or zoning out with your favorite movies or TV shows. When I was a kid, sick days always meant I got to watch “The Price Is Right.”
Please stay home if you are sick. Sharing is caring — but not with your germs. Now excuse me while I sneeze/cough for the 7 millionth time.
Kate Shumaker is an OSU Extension family and consumer sciences educator and may be reached at 330-674-3015 or Shumaker.68@osu.edu. Follow on Facebook @OSUEXTHolmes or visit http://holmes.osu.edu.