There are times when you wake up in the morning feeling unwell, but you still have to go into the office since you have deadlines to meet or meetings to attend. However, you may wonder if you are too ill to go into the office.

Here are some factors to consider before making the decision.

Severity of Your Illness

The severity of your symptoms plays a significant factor in determining if you are too sick to go into the office. If you have a minor cold, going into work should not be an issue.

However, if you have a severe case, where your symptoms are impairing your ability to function, it may be best to stay home and prioritize rest.

Infectious illnesses, such as the flu, may result in infecting others in your workplace, causing a chain reaction of illnesses.

Thus, if you have an infectious illness, it may be best to stay home and minimize the spread of the illness to others in your workplace.

Medication Side Effects

When you’re sick, medication can help alleviate the symptoms and speed up your recovery time. However, medication can cause drowsiness, impaired judgment, and other side effects that can significantly impair your ability to function at work.

If your medication is causing drowsiness or other impairments, it may be best to stay home till you are well enough to stop using the medication that has unwanted side effects.

Make sure also that you follow your doctor’s prescription instructions as to when to take your medication.

Workplace Environment

The workplace environment can also play a significant role in determining if you should stay home or go into work when you’re sick.

If you work in a unique environment where illnesses can quickly spread, such as a hospital or daycare, it may be best to stay home. Even if you don’t work in a specialized environment, chances are you work in open-plan offices where illnesses can quickly spread among coworkers.

For example, even if you’re not contagious, if you’re coughing and sneezing, you may want to consider staying home to avoid spreading the germs that cause infections to other people in the office environment.

Preventing Illness From Spreading In Your Workplace

If you are unsure if you are well enough to go into work, and you’re concerned about spreading your illness to others, here are some tips to help you minimize your risk of spreading germs and other illnesses to others:.

Wash your hands regularly: make sure you wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. You may also use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content when washing your hands is not an option.
Clean your workspace regularly: disinfect your workspace regularly, wiping down surfaces with antiseptic cleaning solutions.
Wear a mask: if possible and you are infectious, consider wearing a mask that can help reduce the transmission of respiratory secretions if you must go into work.
Consider remote work: if possible and you have work that can be done remotely, consider asking your employer if you can work from home till you recover.

Conclusion

If you are too sick to go into work, consider staying home to prioritize your rest and wellbeing. However, if you can manage your symptoms and working won’t exacerbate your condition, it may be safe to go in.