I have been criticised for going into work with a cold because of pregnant women and people with important events coming up. But, as I see it, surely you can't take sick leave for a cold and in any event colds don't cause birth defects! The only people who will suffer more are those who are immunosuppressed and that includes myself so, quite frankly, why should I care? And surely sick leave is only for when you can't get out of bed or out of the bathroom?