Do you go into work with a cold?

[Cloud44]

I think I know what the majority will say but do you go into work with a cold?! Please give me some tough love to get me through the next couple of work days with the lurgy!

I would work from home as far as possible but we have to go in two days a week or face disciplinary action. A cold would not be considered reasonable grounds not
to go in.

Yes, very strict absence management triggers so if I'm well enough to work, I work.

Can you work from home? I'm guessing not if you are asking the question.

Depends on the cold. Depends on the day ahead.

I tend to avoid work if I have a fever because I'd make loads of errors and it would be pointless. It just being there for the sake of it.

I went home once when my nose was so horrendously drippy I accidently dripped on someone I was giving minor first aid to. I decided that was rank and would quite likely happen again.

But minor sniffles I would go in.

Our team would not be impressed if anyone turned up at the office and spread their germs around. We Always WFH if not well. But then we have a really good flexible working policy regardless

Prior to COVID, a very different story. I remember going in very unwell and just needing to rest but not feeling able to because of how its perceived and so small bugs would drag on far longer than they should have

I tend to WFH with a cold post covid, I think people are more sensitive/ considerate about not wanting to spread germs.

I'd work from home if I didn't feel too bad. Otherwise I would call in sick.

Everyone at my work is strongly encourage to take a few days off or work from home when having a cold.

A cold, yes, although my recent whooping cough absence was recorded as a cold, which I resent as I literally couldn’t swallow

Of course. A cold can be medicated enough to get you through the day.

I work from home, so I'd carry on regardless unless I felt really unwell. We all get colds, they do affect people differently. An old boss of mine would be completely floored by the shared around the office cold, when others were fine bar a sniffle.

My team are fully remote, and I want them to be able to function at their best, if they are ill, I want them to rest and recover. Even if we weren't remote, I'd expect them to do the same. I trust them to make that decision because they are adults.

Always. Can't work for home and absence management triggers are very strict. I've had more than a week off in the last 12 months (in hospital at death's door absence) so can't really afford to be off again. I'll be dragging myself in and plonking myself at a desk regardless of whether I can actually manage to do any work or not!

What job do you do? That's harsh.

No choice. Am self employed. If I don't work I don't get paid.

yes

I have a cold today. I worked from home. Several colleagues are immune suppressed or otherwise vulnerable if they get colds. Plus it makes no sense to share it around the team. Our management encourage that approach which helps

I went into work with what seemed like a mild cold yesterday. Woke up feeling pretty dreadful this morning and realised I couldn’t smell anything. Tested positive for Covid later this morning. Feeling a bit guilty now! Fortunately I didn’t get too up close and personal to anyone but it’s less than ideal…

That’s petty. At least ask if they are genuinely too unwell to work etc.

Personally I have a wfh option and we are encouraged to avoid being in the office in person when we have viral illnesses. So I would be working if well enough to sit at a computer and type, but I would not be in the office sharing it.

Wish they wouldn't. The most consideration I've had post covid (when nobody got ill, which was brilliant) is somebody absolutely full of it making a point of standing in the doorway rather than breathing it all over me.

Yes of course and with Covid too.

Not everyone can work from home, so if I'm well enough I need to go in.

Nope, they can explain why a cold means they can’t come in. I’m not making it easy for them when they should be in.

I'm a nurse and have no choice (unless very unwell) I have small children and probably get 3 colds a year and a stomach bug sometimes (which I would take off)

3 absences in a year and the disciplinary process starts, so as much as I'd rather not subject my colleagues and patients to it, I have to.

Solidarity though, it's rough working when ill!

Yes, but I mask up. I work in a healthcare environment

I wouldn't go in and I hate when my colleagues go in ill. Recently had a flu/cold virus spread around the entire team because one person had it and decided to come in. I would understand if we had to but my work is mostly WFH and we were telling her to go home!

I care for a relative who is vulnerable so it's a logistical nightmare!

Only 3 out of a team of 13 didn't get ill.

Yes, but I work alone and don't come into contact with other people, so it's not really an issue.

Of course, surely most of us have cop d with going to work with colds for decades.