If you are sneezing and coughing and feeling achy, do you go to work or call in sick?
It is a question many employees face and while some people are reluctant to call in sick, a B.C. expert on human resources suggests it is in the company’s best interest to encourage sick employees to take a day or two off.
Simon Evans, CEO of the Human Resource Management Association, says productivity, effectiveness and team building goes out of the window when an individual comes down with the flu.
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He believes by staying home while you are ill, you are actually doing your co-workers and your workplace a favour.
Evans adds managers who may frown upon a worker for calling in sick are not looking at the bigger picture.
He says managers who allow sick workers to come into the office are not being sensible.
Joey Willis, a public health nurse with Interior Health, says the height of the flu season is between December and March.
So far, she estimates 150,000 doses of the flu vaccine have been administered within the IHA region.
Willis says while flu activity is low right now, the peak part of the season is just beginning.
Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, runny nose, sore throat, coughing and tiredness.
Willis adds flu patients are contagious three to four days before they show symptoms, which exposes many people to the virus.
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