Sick Co-Workers - Mansfield,TX

When people feel comfortable enough to discuss their ailments at work, I feel just as comfortable to ask, "Why are you here?" Or I can say, "Ooh, well, stay away from me." I also don't mind if they see me sanitizing things.

Maybe her stomach is having an off day. Could you imagine if everyone stayed home because if that feeling. Did she say she was vomiting etc or just nauseous. In Today's world people do not like calling in sick.

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Maybe her stomach is having an off day. Could you imagine if everyone stayed home because if that feeling. Did she say she was vomiting etc or just nauseous. In Today's world people do not like calling in sick.

It does suck... But in the economy today, maybe she just can't afford to stay home. I know there have been times when I had to make the choice between keeping my germs to myself, or making sure I had enough hours to cover my bills... ESPECIALLY during Christmas. Even if I wouldn't be penalized for calling in sick, I still NEEDED the money.

When I did have to work when sick, I was very careful to clean up after myself and sanitize everything I came into contact with every once in a while, and tried to warn everyone not to breathe my germy air.

They won't give her a hard time, but that doesn't mean she will get paid. Most people can't afford to take unpaid days off this time of year. I have been in the position at some point in my life, that unless I was dying...I had to work. I doubt that she "hates to take time off." Rather, she probably CAN'T take time off.

If you and she wash your hands, you likely won't get it...unless you take her home to live in your house and share space. It's not THAT easy to get the stomach B.. You are in a large, ventilated area.

Feel thankful you have paid time off and wash your hands.

I can see being annoyed but working some place where taking a sick day right before Christmas would raise A LOT of eyebrows - especially for someone new - she may be too self conscious and worried what people would think. Like someone said, I'm sure she doesn't want to be there but either doens't have the time to take or is too worried what people will think. Her past companies may have really frowned on sick days... Unfortunately, where I work a sick day even not on a Monday/Friday or near a holiday is not looked upon well... Just stay away and use lots of hand sanitizer. And think how horrible she likely feels.

I agree with the other posters that it would probably look pretty bad if she took today or tomorrow of for a sick day. So close to a holiday, it would look fishy, even if she is truly sick. Also, I don't know if your company pays for sick time, but if it's like mine, and doesn't, it could be a choice of being able to pay bills or being home sick. I cannot afford to be sick because my boss won't pay me sick time. If my daughter is sick, it's a double whammy because I'm out the pay PLUS I still have to pay her daycare regardless if she's there. This time of year stinks with all the bugs going around!

I guess I say, if you wash your hands, don't touch your face and if you are in good health yourself, don't worry too much about it. Since she told you it's not like you are getting close to her face right now,

I would be more irritated if she wasn't able to do her job and was in the bathroom the whole time and I had to keep covering for her.

I've also run into a lot of people lately that keep insisting they have the stomach flu after a night of partying and drinking, lol No- actually you have a hang over where do they hire these people!

Well, there really isn't much you can do other than encourage her to go home today and stay home tomorrow. I understand where she's coming from - she has been there less than a year and if she were to call in sick for today and tomorrow, people would probably think she's not really sick and I bet it would be reflected in others' attitudes when she comes back after the holiday. She is just trying to keep her job and stay in good graces with her employer. Nothing wrong with that.

If you have to use her phone, just lysol her work area when you take over during lunch, etc., and wash your hands regularly. You should be fine.

Does she have any time to take off? If someone doesn't have the time to take off, or cannot afford leave without pay, I really sympathize with them. They may be understanding, but can't give her an option she can use.

If it's someone who should have plenty of sick leave (like my old HR director, who got plague every winter), then by all means, they should take time off. I used to keep my distance and/or keep the door closed. Other managers/directors would give him a hard time and tell him to go plague at home. I felt that it was above my pay grade to tell him to keep his germs to himself.

I ran into this at my kids school...but it was sending sick kids to school, so the parents could make it to work.

There was a stomach bug making its way around and a flu-like bug...about four to six hours into the day when the Tylenol/ibuprofen was wearing off there was a line in the nurses office of kids spiking fevers or kids dashing to the restroom only to tell us that they had been throwing up all night, but sent to school anyways...argh!!

I know if you don't work you don't get paid but these poor kids were so sick and passing it on to everyone!!

I know a few people down here that have had that stomach flu, it comes out both ends and knocks them out. They will be weak and the only thing that will help is 3 days of COMPLETE bed rest.

The school district was happy to have the holiday break, they were seeing tons of teachers and kids catching this.

I would not want her anywhere around the people at your work.

May need to just know you all are going to be short handed due to illness. Nothing else you can do. We have all been there.

Well, even at school, it happens. Sick kids, come to school, the parents know their kid is sick, and still send them to school, for whatever reason. Then, other classmates get sick and the Teacher too.
Kids come to school even with fevers etc.
I know.
I work at the school.
Of course the Teacher tells the parents. But if a parent will not or cannot keep their kid home, the kid arrives at school.

And the thing is, even if she is a new employee there, I would think it is obvious... she IS sick.
Especially if she has a stomach illness.
That is hard to hide.

Just stay away from your co-worker.
Yes, I would be irritated too.
MAYBE, since she is sick, she will end up having to go home from work early. And lysol everything. Even if she is there.

I totally understand your concern.. I had a stomach bug Sunday night, and called in sick on Monday. (I only threw up once Sunday evening.) All day Monday I still felt pretty cruddy, just didn't want to eat, and felt achy.... I stayed home Monday because I DIDN'T want to spread it to my co-workers or the students I work with......

She should have taken off...

I have had more sick than well coworkers these past 2 weeks. Me and one other are the only ones not sick. I have been using disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer like it's going out of style.

Watch out for the phone! Lysol wipe the whole thing, especially the speaker part!

Im actually at work and sick today. Im the only one in the office today and Im also the only one in the company without unlimited sick days. The manager came in sick (for reasons untold) and even though I wiped everything with clorox wipes I still got it. Even if the other coworker wasn't out today I only get 2 weeks vacation all year so you better believe Im coming in sick. Hey, everyone else gets unlimited sick days and I don't? Well then they can afford to get sick but I can't. Sorry.

EDIT** Can you sense my irritation of the situation?

A couple of people do that at my work every year even though they get 4 weeks of paid time off. I just hope that I skate by every year because slowly one by one, people start missing work. I will not come to work with the pukes or diarrhea because doing that at work is not ok for me. Nobody wants that stuff but yet people don't care and still bring it in.

Lysol the phone and anything on the front desk or use Clorox wipes. Wash your hands after covering for her. After shaking someones hand, make sure you wash your hands. hide out at your desk and not have much people contact. If I touch a door knob, I wash my hands. Sometimes, I can tuck my hand into my jacket and open the door with my jacket sleeve. Before eating lunch or a snack, I wash my hands.

This does not fall under the category of be greatful you have a job right now.