Cold and Flu Season — Should You Stay Home When You’re Sick?

Last year, FBG responded to many calls requesting emergency electrostatic disinfection after employees came to work with a cold or flu. Whether you are concerned about a paycheck, a deadline or get bored staying home, please consider the impact spreading your germs has on others and be considerate.

Follow these guidelines from Infection Control Today to help your employees make the best decision regarding sick days:

• Runny nose/cough: If you have a runny nose without aches or fever, it’s probably due to allergies or irritation, and it’s fine to go to work. But if your runny nose is thick, and yellow or green, you are fighting an infection and should stay home. 

• Sore Throat: If a sore throat is accompanied by a headache and/or white patches on the tonsils, it could be strep throat. For this, stay home and call a doctor.

• Fever: A temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is a strong indication for infection and perhaps the flu. Many companies have policies that employees sty home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours. 

• Sinus pressure or pain: Nasal congestion with sinus or facial pain suggests a sinus infection. As viral infections are often contagious, it’s best to stay home. If symptoms persist longer than one week – or if they include severe facial pain, teeth/jaw pain, or fever – you may have a bacterial infection and should call a doctor. 

If your place of business finds a bug going around, call your local FBG office and ask for a disinfection application to help prevent it from spreading to others.

And from our friends at Purell, note the stats on staying healthy at work.