to ask if you go to work when sick?

[CoolToned]

I think I have the flu.

That is utterly utterly bizarre Matty. Don't most people who work in offices work in places like that? I've never heard of such a thing

No one can "know" where they've picked a cold up from. They're a bit more complicated than that! You can guess though

I've gone in with minor or heavy colds, headaches etc - stayed away with stomach bugs, strep throat, kidney infection, proper migraine.

As a child who suffered back to back tonsillitis infections for 8 years, missing an awful lot of school, and also having strep throat as an adult, I definitely know the difference between a cold and something worse. I don't think I've had flu, but I went to work with strep throat thinking it was a cold - fainted at a meeting at a big hotel and had to put be put to bed. When I finally made it home I stayed in bed for 4 days and could just about crawl to the bog.

I don't agree that flu = bed bound. I had my twins at 34 weeks and had had an ear infection and hacking cough the few weeks before. The hospital tested me because of my cough and I had influenza A. I was actually still at work up to 33 weeks, I'd never have guessed I had flu. Some types are obviously worse than others.

not going into work when you have a "cold" in case you spread it is frequently used by skivers IME

Depends on where I'm working. I would not go in with a cold if I had a shift on the resp ward or the oncology ward/ chemo unit.

I have called in sick with colds incase I spread them. I like to think the patients would be much happier with me not coming in and putting them at risk.

Yes I would imagine most people have common sense

flu example.
we all had swine flue when it appeared in summer '09, confirmed by tests.

toddler - snotty nose and a slight wheeze and a light temp for 2 days.
dh - really ill, bedridden for a week, weak and tired for another few weeks
me - nothing (very worrying time as was pregnant)

No, I don't and can't go to work when I am ill as I work with a vulnerable child.

I had flu last year, and felt fucking awful, also had swine flu (confirmed by swab) which actually didn't feel as bad as last years flu.

The first time I had proper flu I remember thinking to myself, 'i can understand now how people die from this.'

I've never felt worse.

Don't go to work.

all these posters saying they've had flu and managed to get to the toilet easily, taken care of children and even made it to work (albeit feeling really shit); YOU HAVENT HAD FLU.

Although perhaps I'm wrong in that there are people that have been diagnosed with swabs etc, perhaps they have officially had the flu virus to some extent.

But for all intents and purposes, FULL BLOWN FLU does not allow you to function normally at ALL. If there are types/levels of flu just be glad you haven't had the full blown strain

I had bloody swineflu without symptoms!

I had bloody swineflu without symptoms!

Ok. Lucky you. I wouldn't include you in the group of people that have had debilitating flu

I think you're in No True Scotsman territory here toasty.

I go in and wait to get sent home. Many people skive and lie at my work and I just feel better if they see I am really ill.

Unless I am properly bed bound Ill, then no way

Judging by that NHS site "Flu can give you any of the following symptoms:" I should have been off work for most of the last decade. I've had flu jabs for over 12 years so in my case probably not flu - which I've definitely had twice and hopefully never again.

Luckily I didn't have much chest-type lurgy that might have been contagious when I was on 'sickness management procedures', ie if you have any sick days in the next six months, you get a formal warning and cease to be eligible for redundancy etc. Did I get much done when doped up to the eyeballs on painkillers? No. Would it have been much more efficient to have some days off sick and then be able to work well after? Yes, but I'd have been fired.

I thought I had flu, and was bedridden for 2 weeks. Symptoms lasted a year and a half. Turned out I had glandular fever...
It might not be flu, it could be something worse!

But - I am in my 40s and can remember when it was almost expected that you had a week off sick every year (have always worked in public sector)

Well that's odd, because I'm in my 50s, and have worked nigh on 30 years in the public sector and have never come across that attitude.

In answer to the original question - it depends on the illness, it depends on the work you do, it depends on what happens to that work if you are not in, it depends if you can stay at home and pick up some of the work from there, etc.,etc.,etc. There's no straight answer.

You are arguing the toss about flu. You don't have it.

HTH

Ah MN. So many infectious disease specialists able to diagnose the OP. why don't you offer your services to the NHS over the winter? They'd appreciate your rapid diagnostic skills I'm sure.

As a dentist, I worked through shingles because patients are selfish and I couldn't risk a second formal complaint in a short space of time (had a written complaint because I took the afternoon off and cancelled people so I could attend my grandmothers funeral).

Whether you need time off is highly personal, some posters want time off because they've not slept well or they don't like their jobs. Others make it for financial reasons or because they don't want to let people down. It's not black and white.

Anyway, back to the armchair public health specialists...

Yee gads don't fancy being treated by a poorly dentist. Makes me feel quite sick.

Cannot believe people complained that you cancelled them for a familymembers funeral Mrs morton.

I couldn't believe it either sausage was a contributing factor in deciding not to treat patients any more.

I wouldn't go to work with D&V or a migraine definitely. D&V more because of embarrassment than anything and migraines because I can't function. I'd likely go in as normal depending how bad I felt with most other things.

Never had flu so can't comment.

I had flu a few years ago. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Lay in bed drifting in and out of sleep with a raging headache. Could barely lift the phone to ring in sick.

If I can get up, get washed and dressed, have a cup of tea and piece of toast, I'm well enough to go to work.

Something contagious like d&v, no way. A cold I can power through with paracetamol and sugar, yes. My employers sickness policy (nhs) isn't the most understanding and you can quickly go from stage 1 to stage 3. Doesn't matter if you have the most contagious illness ever.

I would go to work unless I was literally at death's door. Not because I'm a martyr or don't give a shit about my colleagues, but because I've worked in too many places with a presenteeism culture where sickness absence would lead to discipliniaries, and now I'm terrified of taking time off sick.