What's it take for you to call in sick?

A wave of coughing, congestion, and discomfort has swept through my home. It came on quickly, as it usually does, during the weeks when I haven't had enough sleep and the kids at my son's preschool seem to be more sniffly than usual. It's inevitable every that every couple of months during the winter, we will go through an alarming number of tissues, cartons of orange juice, and hours spent sitting in a steamy bathroom.

I've gotten pretty good at handling cold symptoms, especially since I've been a parent, and have my basket of medicines and remedies on the ready. What I am not good about, quite honestly, is taking time off to really fight back against the germs and weariness.

I think being judicious about taking a sick day is a good thing, don't get me wrong. And I have no problems keeping my son home if he could possibly pass on whatever he has to other kids, has a fever, or is completely out of sorts. But when it comes to me, I am more likely to power through my day miserably rather than take a sick day to sleep off my symptoms.

Of course, we all have rules about calling in sick, some mandated by workplaces and others we set up as a check-in for ourselves. Do I have a temperature? Can I make it through my commute without getting sick all over the floor of the train? Would I be irritated if my coworker came to work in my condition? Will staying home one day possibly save me a week's worth of misery at the office? Can I gut it out and save myself the sick time? Whatever your disgusting or brutally honest questions may be, you probably have some way of determining if you should make that call ten minutes before you either crawl back in bed or head out the door.

This doctor says there are three good reasons to stay home -- you're a danger to others around you, you're contagious, or there's very little chance you will be productive. She also suggests you should run through your symptoms to see if you should take a sick day or just get to work. Here is some of the sick day guidance she offers:

*You should probably call in sick, she says, if you need any kind of cold medicine to manage your symptoms that makes you drowsy.

*If you have a fever, extreme tiredness, or a very sore throat, these could be indications of flu, strep throat, or some other contagious condition that may need to be checked out by your doctor. In those cases, staying home is probably a good idea.

*If you have a backache that is worsened by sitting at your desk or doing heavy lifting your job may require, she suggests staying home a day or two.

*Migraines, earaches, sprains and muscle strains are also good reasons to call in ill.

* Poison ivy and pink eye are two conditions we often think of as far more contagious than they are, so it's probably best to make those decisions with your doc.

What are your own or your work policies about calling in sick? How likely are you to stay at home if you are feeling under the weather?

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