As the cooler months start to hit us, we’re not only finding it just a little more difficult to get out of bed on these crispier mornings, but we are also surrounded by cold and flu germs! When one of your colleagues catches a virus, then it’s sure to work its way around the office until it finally reaches you. So once it’s eventually caught you in its grasp and you’ve succumbed to the pain of a sore throat and an endlessly running nose, should you take a sick day?

It’s a topic that many will be one sided about, but others will probably be sitting on the fence. How sick should you be when you take a sick day? Some will say to fight through it, toughen up and soldier on! Others will opt for rest and relaxation for a road to recovery. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual and what you feel you can handle. There’s no real point going in to work if you’re not being productive and aren’t able to get the job done. However, if you’re going to the movies on your sick day or are checking out the latest sales at the stores, it sounds like you’re probably able to be at work. Sick days are for staying home and avoiding strenuous activities.

Obviously your own wellbeing comes first when you’re sick, but if you are one of those people who believes in soldiering on, perhaps you should consider the other people in your office who are desperately trying to evade the flu. If your nose has morphed into a dripping tap and you’re coughing all over the place, it might be a nice idea to take a day off. It won’t do you any harm and you’ll avoid spreading it this way! Return to the office when you feel you can last through the day and you’re actually able to get some work done.

Sick days are there to be used so don’t feel guilty if you need to take some time off, just don’t abuse them.