{"id":7282,"date":"2019-12-12T09:00:32","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T14:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=7282"},"modified":"2025-09-17T13:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:28:09","slug":"going-to-work-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/going-to-work-sick\/","title":{"rendered":"Why going to work sick is a bad idea"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most everyone knows to stay home when they have a stomach bug. The nausea makes moving difficult and remaining in bed the only physical choice. But what if you wake up with the sniffles? Or have a fever, but otherwise feel fine? Then the choice between calling in and going to work sick becomes less clear cut.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to know where to draw the line between being a little less productive at your desk (thanks to not feeling great), and when to use that sick time to recuperate in bed. But you\u2019re not doing yourself\u2014or your coworkers\u2014any favors when you head to the office with a virus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why you shouldn\u2019t go to work sick<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re not feeling well, but on the fence about whether to call out or go in, read this.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. You won\u2019t get anything done.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Going to work sick, then sitting there just staring into space is so common, there\u2019s actually a word for it. That lost productivity of ill workers trying to persevere is called presenteeism. And its impact is greater than you think. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> show that there\u2019s greater cost on productivity loss from toughing it out in the office than just staying home to recuperate.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a productive day at work includes maintaining focus and attention, having stamina for up to eight hours, and may require physical exertion if you are a manual laborer,\u201d says <\/span>Erin Nance, MD<\/span><\/a>. \u201cBeing sick affects all of these abilities and could cause computing mistakes, personal injury if you do not have the required strength to physically lift objects, or cause errors in judgment due to mental fatigue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

2. It spreads germs to your coworkers.<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you have <\/span>the flu<\/span><\/a>, most people are contagious the day before symptoms appear and up to seven days after getting sick. The virus can spread up to six feet. If it\u2019s a <\/span>common cold<\/span><\/a>, you can share the infection for as long as you have symptoms. In other words, there\u2019s a good chance you could get your coworkers sick. That certainly isn\u2019t going to make you any friends in the office. When the people you share space with start to feel poorly a few days after you\u2019re coughing and hacking all day long, they won\u2019t think of you with warm feelings. Your manager will be more upset if the entire staff falls ill, than if one person is in bed recovering.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. It puts others\u2019 health at risk.<\/span><\/h3>\n

While a cold or flu may seem like no big deal, both viruses can cause complications for certain high-risk populations. For people with compromised immunity from medication, age, or pregnancy, these viruses can lead to serious infections like pneumonia and even death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not always obvious who might be in danger, so play it safe, and quarantine yourself in your home\u2014especially if you work in an occupation where you interact with lots of people, such as a restaurant or retail store. Even if you take precautions like washing your hands or wearing a mask, there\u2019s no guarantee you won\u2019t jeopardize others.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Overexertion weakens your immune system.<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t rest when you\u2019re feeling ill, it will likely take you longer to get better. That prolongs the time you can transmit your sickness to others, and the potential number of days you might be out of work. \u201cGoing to work sick absolutely slows down your recovery! The body needs sufficient (if not additional) sleep, low stress, proper nutrients, and lots of liquids to heal and to create energy to fight the ailment that’s afflicting it,\u201d explains <\/span>Yeral Patel, MD<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>One study<\/span><\/a> even found that going to work sick is linked to chronic disease, or long-term illness at a later date.<\/span><\/p>\n

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