Does it bother you when people come to work or are in public places when they have a cold (the common cold - sniffles, sneezing, etc.)?

Doesn’t bother me. I don’t like people coughing or sneezing at me or anything I am about to ingest – but if everyone stayed home as soon as they had a bit of a sniffle, the world would be very lonely at times.

It doesn’t bother me. I obviously don’t like the idea of someone sneezing and/or coughing on me or my food, but I figure it’s my responsibility to try to take care of myself. In a perfect world, people would not ever be penalized for staying home when they’re sick, but in this world it’s just not feasible most of the time.

Who really wants to work or run errands when they are sick? There are projects and work that can’t wait, or even worse many of us don’t get paid sick days. We do what we need to do. It would be great if we could all stay home when we are ill but it’s just not possible. It doesn’t bother me. I sympathize.

The probably do not have a choice, especially in regions where you can be fired willy nilly.

Agree with all the above. Life gotta go on. I’m sure I’ve caught a few colds from people I was with in public or work places (and given a few of them back to others) in my life and yes, that’s annoying, but hey, if a few colds were the worst illnesses I’d caught or could catch, I’ll settle for it.

Yes! Bothers me a lot.

I do say something sometimes, it depends on the situation.

Not really. If people were out for every case of the sniffles they get, they’d be out forever in the winter season! Unless they’re like vomiting then I don’t have an issue with them coming out in the public.

Here’s the thing – it doesn’t matter if it bothers me. They’re going to do it anyway. My being bothered is never gong to change their behavior, so why would I expend cycles worrying about it?

Presumably they know they have the sniffles, and I will further assume that they come to work because they need the money, don’t have sick days, or whatever. Again, out of my control and ability to change them.

So to answer the question – no, I don’t get upset. Not worth the effort.

I try not to get too close to them and wash my hands more often but the reality is that most people have to come to work unless they are really ill. That’s life.

Like others have mentioned, people have little choice most of the time. If I were to get angry, it would be with my employer for providing incentive for my sick coworkers to come to work.

But overall, I find that a sick person in the office is a reminder to be more cautious about hand-washing, etc. It’s easy to see something obvious, like a sniffling sick coworker and assume that their presence is increasing my overall exposure to icky things. Yet, we generally don’t mind opening doors at stores or pushing a shopping cart around. We’re surrounded by all kinds invisible icky things. The visible ickies shouldn’t cause us too much alarm.

As a grocery cashier living in an area where a large proportion of insane people choose to not vaccinate their little germbags – it bothers me a lot. People don’t even think about cashiers; they’ll cough all over their hands and then hand me money or a charge card like it’s no big. Or will lick their fingers to shuffle through their money or cards – one time a guy actually licked his card after he pulled it out of his wallet; don’t ask me why. I’ll take it gingerly by a corner, then cover my hands with sanitizer while they’re still there watching, waiting for change or a receipt. Hopefully it gets my point across; I can’t really do anything about it.

Bugs the crap out of me. People who show up at work coughing, sneezing, congested, I will tell to go home.

Considering how much of a pain it is to get in to the doctor’s just to get a certificate (commute, cost, wait time etc) I don’t really have a right to be bothered. I am, however, bothered by parents sending their kids to school when they’re sick.

It doesn’t bother me. People have their own troubles, I don’t need to add to them by making them feel awful for having made the decision to come in. Presumably, there was a compelling reason to do so that has nothing to do with my own fears and insecurities. And if I get sick… well, so what? We’re all going to get sick from time to time. That’s part of being human and living in a society.

@dappled_leaves – one minor nitpicky question—people who live alone and ff the grid get sick too. You don’t need to mix with society to catch a flu.

Doesn’t bother me. Whatever they have, I’ve probably had it before. If I haven’t had it, then I need to have it and be done.

@elbanditoroso Well, it does take some human contact. Viruses need a vector of some kind.

But what you said about people living alone doesn’t contradict what I said. Living in a society -> human contact -> occasional sickness. I wasn’t speaking about the alternate case.

I’m not bothered at all. People get sick because they are weak. I very rarely catch an cold (haven’t had the flu since 1979). When I do catch a cold, it is mild and I shake it quickly and never admit that I have one.

The older one gets the fewer colds one gets, because you can only get on strain one time in your life. You develop an immunity. It has nothing to do with being weak or strong.

The cashier at Dollar General just blew her nose after she took my payment. She rubbed hand sanitizer on her hands and then gave me my change. My change was damp when she handed it to me. I’m not sure if it was the sanitizer or snot but I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I also have a cold.

Not bothered, people need to make their money, and the work force doesn’t seem to accommodate colds much. But some jobs like mine have exceptions, I can’t come in and serve food to clients if I have a cold, I’ll get sent home.

I’m with @zenvelo Bugs the crap outta me too. I understand it is not always possible to avoid having to function when sick but really, a LOT of the time sick people choose to go forth and spread their germs around. OTOH most people are contagious even before they have any symptoms, sooo, we get infected on the down low. haha
If I ran the world everyone would stay home for a solid week when they got sick.

Vote Coloma for President. haha

There were several temp jobs I worked that didn’t allow for paid time off. I had to work.
Finally I got a permanent position with benefits. I got a pretty bad cold, and I remember how astonished I was when my cold cleared up in about half the time it usually took, all because I was able to call in, and stay home and get a lot of sleep. It made such a huge difference.

@Coloma Agreed. I’m not bothered by this, but I agree people should be able to stay home when sick. It should be near illegal to force people to work when ill. As Dutchess just said, you recover much faster when you rest.
I hate the fact that the workforce is so hectic and demanding that it trumps over human welfare.

It’s interesting to me that the OP specified a cold. Something so common, and relatively benign, that except for rare cases tends to actually (although unpleasant) boost the immune system, yet people are still upset when others are out functioning in the world with this. Usually the methods of transmission are pretty obvious, precautions can be taken.

I would rather stay home when I’m sick, because I feel sort of crummy, but I’m not willing to change everything for a cold. Something more serious, maybe, but not a cold.

I kept the reason I am asking off the thread for a bit, as I usually try to do (the same way I will usually not present my opinion for a while). I asked because I have a cold now and I have been going to work. I usually get sick once or twice a year and I was very sick in the autumn, and now again in spring. My boss is elected to his position and often when I go places with him, I kiss people hello and usually at least once a week I kiss the boss goodbye as well. The past few days, I’ve been at work and doing all the usual meetings and things, but I’ve been telling people I can’t kiss them because I’m sick. One lady (receptionist at work) told me she thinks sick people should stay home because there are those like her with compromised immune systems (in her case, due to diabetes). I googled that, as I didn’t know that to be the case, and it seems the jury is out in the case of diabetes. Other than that, nobody has said anything to me. Fortunately, I have a job where I have lots of sick time and vacation time, but there’s still work that needs to get done in a timely manner and meetings where my presence is important.

Tomorrow I’m going to do the paperwork for a new automobile purchase. I have a feeling if I tell the car salesman that I’m sick and if it bothers him I’ll come another day, he’ll probably tell me to come in anyway because of course, he wants my money and for me to sign on the dotted line.

You kiss people at work?

oooh, it is that line of work.
Worry not, I do not judge you.

Here, we kiss people hello and goodbye, and twice each time. :)

I wouldn’t worry about it, @jca. You’re plainly trying to limit your physical contact with others, and as you can see, some people will always be unhappy having to interact with sick people.

@jca I have seen reactions like that at work; people who are really unhappy when someone comes in with a cold. If you keep your distance, you have to do what’s right for you – as long as you’re not carrying bubonic plague.

@jca: I have been severely immuno-compromised by chemo and radiation, and having kids in school at the time, this was a concern of mine. I had three oncologists, and to them I expressed concern about this. Their response? Be mindful, but getting a cold, unless there is the likelihood of the virus being exceptionally, well, virulent (sorry, couldn’t resist) I shouldn’t worry too much. After all, it’s everywhere. When someone is annoyed about the people they see with a cold, how are they about the transfer germs? Someone with a cold comes into the office, touches doorknobs and stuff, then someone else comes along…
If someone is that afraid, they need to wear a mask and gloves themselves. Your diabetic co-worker needs to tend to herself, first.

Just as an aside, I would also be surprised if you guys were not close enough to kiss, considering the emotional nature of your work.

It is absolutely wrong for a person to go to work with a contagious condition. Work rules that forbid time off are short sighted and harmful to a company’s production. Would you shake hand on a new car deal with a salesman that had a sore throat, sneezes, and coughs while he is demonstrating the car. I would walk away regardless of the the deal offered.

@dappled_leaves Do you live in Québec? We do that here too, (although two guys will shake hands instead of kissing) and personally I find it annoying. I hate how it’s almost mandatory before and after gatherings to do this. I don’t like getting kissed, or kissing, a whole bunch of people, even if it’s just on the cheek. But you pass for rude if you don’t do it. And I usually don’t, but it’s so mechanical and natural that you get swarmed when you arrive or go to leave.
Not that I’m not happy to see the people, but this kissing bullshit sucks.

will get back on track now

@Symbeline Yup, I live in Québec. :)

I’ve never found it annoying. I actually find it a bit weird and distant when I’m in other provinces, and they don’t do it! I understand that it’s not for everyone, though.

I’m not originally from here, so maybe that’s why. But then, maybe not. I’m really not a fan of casual physical contact. Doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable per se…I just don’t like it.

But don’t they do three kisses in France? Consider how lucky you are!

Yeah, but I was six when we left there, so I escaped that. :D

@Ron_C, I absolutely would shake someone’s hand in a case like that if it looked dry. I would consider it very rude not to. If he had symptoms of a cold, I would then not lick my fingers or stick them in my eyes or up my nose. Soon after I would wash or sanitize my hand, out of sight of the person. It’s a cold for pete’s sake. Not Ebola.

“A life lived in fear is a life half lived.”

@canidmajor maybe I should have gone into more detail. I am just getting over cancer of the lymph nodes and have a new artificial knee. Both my oncologist and orthopedic surgeon told me to stay away from infections. A cold could have consequences almost as threatening to me as Ebola.

@Dutchess_III: When we go to various other sites to meet other employees, or meet with other officials (officers of the organization I belong to, politicians, etc.), yes I kiss people hello. Not all people, of course, but certain ones that I’m friendly with. My boss, as I said, maybe once a week we hug and kiss goodbye. Also, when coworkers wished me happy birthday, we kissed and/or hugged. So yes, these occasions, there is kissing.

Yes, @Ron_C, that would have been appropriate information to have, although my oncologists, as I stated above, suggested I take normal precautions rather than lock myself into a bubble.

If someone lets me know they are sick and does their best to keep their distance it counts. I really appreciate the fair warning. The example of the employee using antiseptic after she blew her nose also would make my comfort level go way up. Additionally, if I know they are on their 4th day of the cold already, I don’t think about it much, because the most contagious days are the first couple.

We have pretty good sick leave here so I try not to go to work sick. I can also work from home which is a positive and a negative. I think sometimes I keep working from home when I should just take time off. However, going into the office is unavoidable on occasions. Sometimes people can’t avoid going to work because there is a deadline that won’t wait. If employment conditions don’t provide sufficient sick leave to allow people to stay away from the workplace when sick, I don’t think anyone can blame people if they show up sick.

Another thing, a lot of people go to work when sick because their job expects it, or because they are very proud to say they never miss a day, not even when they’re sick. It’s not always because they can’t miss a day because of the money.

I don’t stay home unless I’m super sick because then I have a lot of makeup work for school, and because I don’t want to miss math because I suck at math and need to be there for the teacher to explain how to do it.

@Dutchess_III True older folks have been exposed to a lot of viruses. But the antibodies generated from such exposures is not useful for constantly evolving viruses. Cold viruses mutate much too fast for scientists to develop vaccines for. Unlike flu viruses scientists can’t predict what the cold viruses of the next year will be like. So an older or younger body can not develop antibodies against cold viruses that aren’t here yet.

Also I have always been this way. As I said my last flu was ‘79. And I’m too tough to catch a cold and when I do I never admit it. AH! I don’t get sick because I’m physically and mentally fit and I think positive. To admit that you have a cold gives it strength. People how say, “I feel a cold coming on” are just asking for big time knock-down drag-out cold.

So funny over here because right after answering I ran some errands and this kid clerk was coughing and sneezing up a storm at my checkout. I immediately came home and washed my hands after unloading my stuff.
Aaaah…contamination breach! lol
If I’m not sick after Mr. Hack & sneeze in my face it will be a miracle. The countdown begins, if I’m not sick by Tues. I’ll be outta the woods.

@gondwanalon You are vector, patient zero, Typhoid Mary. Lol. You won’t admit you’re sick so you bring sickness to others. I would look at your face and ask, “are you sick?” And, you would answer, “no.”

@Misspegasister28 That’s another good reason people don’t want to stay home sick. Missing the work can be difficult to make up or catch up.

@elbanditoroso I would bet people who live far from others get much fewer colds and flus. They need to catch it from somewhere; someone. Unless they are getting it from their chickens or pigs if they are farmers.

I haven’t had the flu since sometime in the 70’s either. I don’t get colds any more, not since the 90’s.

@gondwanalon ” As I said my last flu was ‘79. And I’m too tough to catch a cold and when I do I never admit it.”

This is kind of funny to read. These two statements contradict each other perfectly.

I haven’t had the flu since the winter of ‘93—‘94. I rarely get colds, maybe one every three years, except this past year I had two within two months of each other because the new job I started had sick people around constantly! I seriously almost quit.

I have been sick and in chronic pain for years in my lifetime and luckily got better. I also had an accident that I couldn’t even walk on my own for a couple weeks, couldn’t drive for two months, there is more I won’t go into. Feeling unwell for me is like the universe stealing my bliss. I felt imprisoned for years, daily, by discomfort, pain, and dealing with doctors who couldn’t help me. Anything that risks any of those things again leaves me less than thrilled.

Not that I can’t deal with a cold, but I really don’t want to. Having to work with a cold is nothing. If the cold risks ruining a vacation or one of my husband’s races it really sucks. He races 3–4 times a year only. We would lose the $1k-ish registration and fees for that race. If we already have arrived at the track before he comes down with it we have to drive 3–14 hours back home, sick, after not having raced. He can’t race with a cold, it isn’t like he has a choice, and even if he did a person would have to be an idiot to risk it. If it’s the one week a year we take our “real” vacation I would be pretty disappointed.

The flu you can’t move out of bed. You can’t go to work; there really isn’t a choice. It’s usually physically impossible for at least 3 days.

@dappled_leaves You seemed to have missed the “HA!” part of my statement. It’s a joke! Oh well forgetaboutit.

Picturing @gondwanalon sitting in the lotus position in a guru diaper, fingertips touching while repeating the mantra of ” I transcend all sickness.” lol

@gondwanalon Looking back at it, I still can’t figure out which part of your post was meant as a joke. Perhaps you can clarify.

@dappled_leaves Oh brother do I have to spell it out?

@Coloma That’s right grasshopper, You may just call me Kahuna.

No it doesn’t bother me. I am more bothered by people that use a bit of a cold as an excuse not to work. If they have a nasty sickness bug or more serious virus then of course I don’t blame them for taking the time off work/away from the public to recover but if they have the sniffles and an irritating cough, life still goes on and plenty of people can’t afford to miss work or stay in their house until it has passed!

Where I work, if one person is off sick it makes it very difficult for everyone else. The pressure to carry on working even when feeling really poorly is stressful sometimes. That doesn’t make it right but sometimes you have to way up whether it’s worth the hassle for yourself and everyone else to stay off.

GAs, @OpryLeigh. I have worked in so many situations that a person being out for a day or three or a week puts quite a burden on the others. A cold is not enough of an excuse to pile onto the others like that. An injury or a more severe illness, fine, we all want our co-workers to be healthy, sometimes missing work for a simple cold is selfish.

@OpryLeigh I’ve worked in situations like that too. I’d rather have a high pressured day one day while someone is out than have to work a week sick.

It is now Weds. not sick from the Typhoid Larry that coughed and sneezed in my face last week. I transcend all illness, I am immortal, like the sun the moon and the stars. lol