Mary McCormick

You're a grown up, you can handle it plus, you really don't want to use up an FTO day to stay home and be sick. It's nothing, your fever is gone and it's just the annoying cough - well more than annoying, it's a productive cough and your sinuses just won't stop draining. The kids are always bringing home something and you can't stay home because if you don't go to the office the entire company will just come to a screeching halt!

Okay, I'm exaggerating. I have a friend who absolutely refuses to stay home when she's sick. She will drive all over town, with a fever, and spread her germs from one end of the city to the other without any thought. This is the same person who complains about other sick people spreading their germs and sends her kid to day care sick even if he was throwing up the night before.

When I was growing up the rule was you couldn't leave the house unless your fever had been gone a full 24 hours. When did it become such a source of shame to just stay home until you were mostly recovered from your illness? Why do we have to be so incredibly strong and resilient? I don't want you near my desk if you're sick. I don't want you driving on the same roads with me if you're sick, have a fever and/or are taking cold medicine. At the risk of making sweeping generalizations, I don't think anyone else does either.

When it comes to going to work or staying home when you're sick, follow the Golden Rule; Don't cough on me and I won't sneeze on you.