To go to work when sick?

[Boomerwang]

I've had a cold for a couple of days. I'm going back to work today cuz I'm just sniffly now. I've just noticed I felt a bit woozy so I took my temperature and it's a low fever of 37.8 when I was fever free yesterday. I'm thinking of a secondary ear infection, which happens to me frequently.

I'm a seasonal worker on a short contract which may or may not be extended depending on the work available and also my work history. I've already had a half day off to go to the hospital this month and in a few days I've got to dive into the sleep clinic to get fitted for a breathing mask during work hours so I really don't want to be off sick.

AIBU to care about my own sickness record and not others? I understand I could cause several others to be off work sick but it's very hard for me to find a job in a foreign country where I live and if I could increase the chances of being asked to stay on so that I can live a comfortable life with my daughter then shouldn't I be selfish?

The other workers are a mixture of seasonal contract and permanent staff, which means I could affect the chances of others to be extended also.

I understand your circumstances, but I feel it is very selfish to go back to work when you are ill and potentially contagious. Not only are you potentially affecting others health, but there maybe people with underlying health conditions or with families with health conditions who could be seriously affected even though it is 'just a cold'. Take Monday off and see how you feel Tuesday and possibly get a Drs appointment for the ear infection.

Secondary ear infections are not necessarily contagious, no?

If you wash your hands sufficiently frequently and are not coughing/sneezing I think you reduce the likelihood of passing along your cold.

Also, you are assuming that your colleagues would miss work if they caught your cold; some might not.

(Disclaimer-I am not easily able to take days off for illness, so forgive my obvious bias.)

I hope that you feel better soon.

While I've stayed off work for a cold before, in your circumstances I'd suck it up and go in and see how you feel. Workplaces can't expect everyone with a cold to stay home because they're possibly contagious.

From someone who got sent home from work with flu and then disciplined for being off I would say go in.

It is a low level fever. You would do better to go in and then leave during the day if you get worse/find you cannot cope at work.

I appreciate other people's comments about spreading it but in this day and age it is not that easy to take time off ill.

Take some paracetamol and go in

If you are not feeling that ill, I'd say go to work. I believe it is the better option in your circumstances and I don't think ear infection can actually spread to your coworkers, can't it?

I would go in with a cold.

I'd go

I wouldn't stay off for that I'd take some nurofen and go

Dose up and go in

I'd go

Ear infections aren't contagious, are they? I have never stayed off for a cold. Tonsillitis, yes.

Take some paracetamol and go in. If you're concerned about your ear then go to the GP outside of work hours if at all possible.

I would go in with a cold.
Colds affect people in different ways and if your co workers havent caught it from you, they may well catch it from someone else.

I'd go. But then I have a skewed idea of sickness absence having worked for a company where you could wind up being disciplined for more than a day or so off in six months. If you feel really rough though, stay at home. Nothing worse than having to put on a brave face if tou are feeling like shit!

A cold? Yes should go in. Imagine if everyone stayed off for a cold. Go in, if you really are too sick then they might agree you should go home.

It's a cold, most people work with minor illnesses especially if the consequence of not going to work is not getting paid/losing the job. If you take precautions like hand washing, disposing of tissues properly etc then the likelihood is you won't infect anyone else (but if you are that concerned you could wear a mask).

It's only a cold! Of course I'd go in...

Thanks. Most of you reckon it's ok to go. I guess I felt guilty about passing it on. I'm at work now. Feel a bit weak in the muscles but that's all. I'm an environmental technician. In real words I mow lawns and trim edges :)