Key takeaways:
Going to work sick is not good for either you, or your colleagues. Most people do not work well when sick, and working through it often prolongs recovery.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure you are better for 24 hours before heading back into the office.
You should call or text your manager as soon as you know you are not able to work. Give them clear facts and keep them up to date. You don't need to share specifics.
Going to work sick used to be seen as a sign of dedication to your job. In some work cultures, it was celebrated. Luckily, this has started to change with COVID-19. But what if you are sick with something other than COVID-19? You might be wondering how to know when you are too sick to go to work. And how to tell your work that you won’t be coming in, or that you won’t be available remotely, while you rest and recover.
1. Fever
If you feel unwell and your temperature is elevated, you should stay home. A fever is a sign that your body is working hard to fight an illness or infection. Most illnesses that cause a fever, like COVID-19 and influenza, are contagious.
2. Diarrhea
Anyone with new diarrhea should stay home. Viral gastroenteritis is contagious. You should stay home until 24 hours after diarrhea has settled. Practice excellent hand hygiene both at home and outside the home.
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3. Vomiting
It’s hard to work when you’re vomiting. Viral gastroenteritis that causes vomiting is highly contagious. You should always stay home if you are vomiting, and until 24 hours have passed since your last vomit. Again, careful handwashing and hygiene are important to keep the people you live with healthy.
4. Coughing and sneezing
If you have new onset cough and sneeze, it’s a good idea to stay home. Upper respiratory symptoms caused by a virus are different from seasonal allergies. Cough and sneeze starts suddenly,gets worse for a few days, and then gets better.
5. Body aches
If you have new body aches, a heavy head, feel weak, and just want to sleep, this is a good sign to go home and stay there until you feel better. Body aches are common in certain viruses, like influenza and COVID-19.
6. The “setback”
This is when you get sick, stay home, then go back to work too quickly and feel worse the following day. It’s is a sign your body needs more rest. Listen to the clues, and stay home until you feel fully recovered for a full 24 hours.
7. Pink eye
If you have a red-tinged eye with goopy discharge, do not go to work or school until you’ve had your doctor check it out. Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is highly contagious, and you can pass it on to your coworkers easily. To protect the people you live with, avoid touching your eyes, don’t share towels, and practice good hand hygiene.
8. Wheezing and shortness of breath
Noisy breathing and difficulty catching your breath are another reason to stay home. These are symptoms of a more serious respiratory illness than your typical cold. You need rest, and you probably need to see a doctor too. If you also have a productive or wet cough, it’s possible you could have a lower respiratory tract infection, like bronchitis, or a pneumonia.
9. Bladder infections or urinary tract infections
Some people will go to work with painful, burning, frequent urination, and even hematuria (peeing blood). If you have new, severe urinary symptoms, leave work and see your doctor. These symptoms can worsen quickly, causing nausea, headaches, and even kidney infections. Early antibiotic treatment is key.
10. Vertigo
Many people try to drive into work with an acute episode of vertigo (room-spinning dizziness). Though vertigo is not contagious, you should still stay home for your safety. You should not drive yourself home if the vertigo starts at work. Ask a friend, or use a taxi or ride-share service.
11. Tonsillitis or laryngitis
When your tonsils or larynx are inflamed, it can make it hard to speak. Most of the time, tonsillitis and laryngitis are caused by contagious viruses and get better on their own. If you’ve lost your voice, stay home and rest it.
12. Heavy menstruation or premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
It’s normal for any person with a uterus to have periodic menstrual bleeding, when the uterus sheds its lining. Some people have pain when this happens, and some months it can be worse than others. If you are having period pain that makes it difficult to get your work done, stay home and rest.
13. Headaches or migraines
Pain in your head can be difficult to manage at work, especially if your job involves looking at a screen. Headaches and migraines can also affect your ability to concentrate. If your headache or migraine is making it hard for you to do your job, you should rest and take some time away from screens while you recover.
How to call in sick to work
It can be tough to make the call when it comes to whether or not you are too sick to go to work. This is especially true if you can or do work from home. Once you have decided you are too sick to work, you’ll need to tell your manager.
Even when you have a valid reason for being sick for work, it can be hard to know what to say.
Here are some examples that you can call or text:
“I can’t come to work today. I have (respiratory or GI or flu-like) symptoms. I’ll let you know when I am better.”
“I am sick and unable to work today.”
“I have tested positive for COVID-19. I (do/do not) have symptoms. I will follow our work and local health protocols and return when it is safe.”
What to say when calling in sick with diarrhea
This can be a tricky one. Neither you or your boss want to discuss the details of your bowel movements.
A good way to phrase this is: “I have a GI bug and I won’t be able to come to work.” If the diarrhea is related to a known food poisoning, you can bring this up, too. Just know, most bosses don’t want or need to know any details about the diarrhea. Keep your communication here clear and concise.
The bottom line
Everyone gets sick. When you are actively ill or you could have a contagious illness, you should not go to work. It’s better for your own recovery and your coworkers’ health to stay home.
Be clear in your communication with work about why you can’t come in. Rest and heal before you consider returning, and make sure you’re fully recovered before going back
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Handwashing in communities: Clean hands save lives.
GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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