We’ve all been there before. Have a cold and don’t quite feel good enough to go into work, but still force ourselves to head into the office. But now experts are advising – just ahead of cold season — to say no, and stay at home when you are sick with a cold.
The average adult gets a cold about two or three times a year, which could add up to a lot of missed days from work.
The experts are weighing in this time, just ahead of the sick season, and say it’s not worth it. They are advising workers not to give into the temptation to work through your cold.
First — and foremost –they say, sick workers infect their coworkers’ sick. This is especially true in the early part of a sickness, when a person most contagious.
Germs can spread from handshakes, from touching shared objects like doorknobs — or the virus can spread a few feet following a cough or sneeze.
Second –experts say that when you try to force yourself to work when you are under the weather, you are not as sharp and efficient. This means it’s not only a physical toll, but a financial toll on your employer.
And finally — pushing yourself to work while you are in the early stages of illness may actually prolong your recovery time. Lack of sleep can also weaken the immune system and make individuals more susceptible to colds.
Reports say as much as 40 percent of lost time from work is due to the common cold but even when faced with this potential lost time, the experts say do yourself a favor — stay home and rest.
