Money Moral Dilemma: Should you risk spreading the lurgy to colleagues?

EdHart

Some replies have missed the point - as a freelance worker you very often can't afford not to work, regardless of how you feel.

The rate of sickness amoung freelancers is negligible compared to the culture of taking time off at an employers expense.

afoolandhermoney

keep going in if you feel up to it and really need the money; warn colleagues that you're not feeling too great and they'll probably keep their distance any way .
mind you, i did hear that it takes two weeks to show symptoms of a cold/flu, so they've probably already got it, or even passed it to you in the first place.

SandC

That's why I've always brought up self employed people. Very rarely do they have a day off sick because it's too disruptive and loses money.

Must be worse for freelance workers in offices where the permanent staff are frequently off. You are right, it IS a culture.

I remember realising at my first employers that I hadn't been off sick for 4 years I think it was and I mentioned it to a colleague in a 'doesn't time fly' sort of fashion. She responded with 'well whose fault's that then?' insinuating that you should get your quota in.

nuttyrockeress

I am not a freelancer but I would say if you feel ill and don't feel well enough to work then don't go.

I am off work sick today. I have been fighting off something for 3 days and it hit me during the night. I felt like i'd been hit by a bus this morning. - headache, razorblade throat, sneezing, heavy aching body - sound like a dalek.

Yesterday I was told a few times to go home - and the what did you come in for? Also the old comments, don't give it to me - I don't want it!! Hence the reason for staying in bed this morning - I slept through until 13:40 today - another one wrapped in a blanket, in front of the fire watching Mr Kyle.

Am still aching badly now and my nose is like a hose but I will aim to go back to work tomorrow - yes, it may only be a cold but when you feel like you've been hit by a bus and you have slept from 22:00 the previous night I feel that something isn't quite right and you need to make yourself feel better and not be slumped over your desk at work.

Cloudane

Never mind freelance, even as an employee with paid sick leave, I would continue going in for a few reasons:

a) By the time the symptoms have shown, others have probably caught it anyway, and you know how that stuff spreads. Everyone's going to get it whatever you do. I would of course warn people to keep their distance!
b) No employer likes you being off sick, unless you're dying, and even then they don't like it. Very frowned upon, and used for things such as redundancies and taken into consideration (unofficially) for promotions etc. They even abolished sick pay (other than the legally required SSP) for a while last year, so my employer are no exception. Can't afford to take that risk, especially in the current economic climate.
c) Unless I'm absolutely dying of this thing, I'd rather be kept busy anyway than sitting around at home with nothing to think about except the illness.
d) Maybe there are people working there who I *want* to give the lergy to

Another way to think of it is, I'd often still be tempted to have a pint later on. If I'm well enough to go to the pub (read: not dead), I'm well enough to work. Re-read point "a" regarding the morality of spreading it on to others.

happyinflorida

I'd definitely go into work. It's very frowned upon in my job if you take time off sick - and I'd lose bonus which is attendance related, one day off means you'd lose approx £100!!! I also have to do an interview with my manager when I return to work, going into specific detail as to what exactly was wrong with me, what I did about it, did I see a dr - etc!!
Yes it's that bad! So I would be in, just take Lemsips, they work for me.
I've not had a day off - I always go in, no matter what, luckily I've not been too ill, so I just muddle through!

[Deleted User]

In Japan people wear face masks (like surgeons) when they are ill, to avoid spreading it to other people. It's perfect - you can carry on working but don't risk anyone else. They cost about 50p.

I have no idea why we don't use them, it seems so obvious.

Kernow_Kid

My Doctor told me recently that most people only have the cold virus - if it really was the flu (Influenza), then you would probably be in hospital.
Once you are showing the worst symptoms of a bad cold, the body is fighting the infection and so it LESS contagious.
His summary was to stay at home all year until you get a cold, then go into work as you won't pass it on then

tallgirld

I would go to work.

I know it sounds bad but I wouldn't be that bothered if I infected my colleagues. OK I suppose I would be a little bit bothered but hey im in debt I haven't got a choice I have to work mate :-)

sebbelcher

Bit of a no-brainer for me really, there aren't enough hours in a normal working day, overtime is unofficially enforced, so taking days off for an an non-debilitating illness is out of the question.

I've read that most common flu infections are at their most contagious before or after the major symptoms kick in, so most likely you will infect your colleagues before you feel the effects, taking time off is just compounding the problem for your employer!

Toughen up! I haven't found many flus that can't be worked through with a cocktail of Co-Codamol and Ibuprofen.