# Got a cold or flu? - stay the fuck home! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243 "2015-01-07T18:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/121 "2015-01-09T17:33:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Because _you_ are a selfish, inconsiderate person who thinks you are the ONLY person in the world who has to put food on the table, pay rent and bills. Until and unless you can meet your basic needs, such as providing food and shelter for yourself and your family, it’s not possible to care for others. Such is life, and all your name calling and demonizing others isn’t going to change that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/122 "2015-01-09T17:48:29Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Why? Employers are not a charity. Why should they pay people who aren’t working? Simply good business. You really dont want sick workers coming in and infecting other workers, infecting clients, or you. Also sick workers tend to be more accident prone (note the warnings on many "cold medicines’) and if they get hurt, you’ll have to pay out. If you provide insurance more sick workers mean more claims. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/123 "2015-01-09T18:06:49Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > You might want to direct your ire at more widespread examples, such as the poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December. Whose pocket is being picked on Christmas Day? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/124 "2015-01-09T18:14:13Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Whose pocket is being picked on Christmas Day? Ebenezer Scrooge’s. It’s a reference to an obscure literary work… ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/125 "2015-01-09T18:21:19Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Ebenezer Scrooge’s. It’s a reference to an obscure literary work… Got it, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/126 "2015-01-09T18:26:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Simply good business. You really dont want sick workers coming in and infecting other workers, infecting clients, or you. Also sick workers tend to be more accident prone (note the warnings on many "cold medicines’) and if they get hurt, you’ll have to pay out. > > If you provide insurance more sick workers mean more claims. Oh, I agree that it’s good business. I just don’t think it should be mandated by government. Regardless of either statement, people who come to work sick are jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/127 "2015-01-09T19:27:51Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Well, sure, it’s -15 outside right now, of course I wear a mask and gloves when I go out – > snipped… **Gloves might be allowed** , but they’d probably get shredded during the work day if you’re talking about latex type gloves. > > We got hand sanitizers, that’s about it. And I took OTC drugs to minimize the dripping and sneezing. Bolding mine. To fight ignorance of contagions, gloves, latex or otherwise will not ptotect _others_ from your germs unless you change them everytime you touch, rub, or have hand contact with the germs/virii you are shedding. Gloves are meant to protect the wearer from themselves being ‘exposed’ by remobing and wqashing after each contact with a patient/person. If you wear gloves thinking it ptotects others, you have to keep them from getting the goop in the first place. Same as with bare hands, right? Following the line of thought there, I hope. Best thing for reducing germy transmission to others by hand contact is to wash them and/or use the sanitizing gel-stuff. Period 🙂 Plus, cover mouth nose with _something_ at every sneeze/cough that happens, and wash/sanitize hands yet again. Or else you will leave infectious goo on doorknobs, toulet handles, sink areas or any other thing you touch that others share contact with - because others may/will touch said area(s) at some close point in time. BAM - they will probably touch/rub/scratch an itch of their own noses/lips/mouth and become sick from someone else’s lack of attention to detail of preventing spread of respiratory illness (and other types, too, of course). Just sayin’ - no offense meant, I prromise, Broomstick! Good to know you have reasonable precautionary stuff available (sani-gel - use it often) and doing what you can to minimize volume of contagions. I’m certain other folks, particularly folk like\*\* Qadgop the Mercotan\*\* and other experienced/knowledgable ‘medical’ workers share the same approach to what I described above re: gloving up your hands and wearing same gloves ‘all day’. Doesn’t work quite like it _appears_ you think…and wanted to help spread the proper way of prevention. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/128 "2015-01-09T20:23:25Z")
My wife went to the doctor on Monday about some back problems. When she walked up to the desk, the receptionista was telling someone else behind the counter: “I really feel horrible; I think I’m going to go home.” Then she hands my wife a clipboard :smack: :mad: :rolleyes: My niece (a nurse) just posted to FB that she’s down with the flu, and that yes, she had gotten the flu shot. One of her idiot friends posted back: “That’s why I never get a flu shot; it’s a crap shoot.” Yeah, that’s why I never wear a seat belt, cuz you never know. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/129 "2015-11-09T19:26:58Z")
Well, Flu season is coming up, so I am going to resurrect this. If you have a contagious disease- **stay the fuck home.** Dont take a crappy OTC symptom reliever and go into work to infect your coworkers and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/130 "2015-11-09T21:21:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you have a contagious disease- **stay the fuck home.** Preach it! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/131 "2015-11-09T22:41:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Well, Flu season is coming up, so I am going to resurrect this. > > If you have a contagious disease- **stay the fuck home.** > > Dont take a crappy OTC symptom reliever and go into work to infect your coworkers and friends. Ooooh, a resurrection. And guess what? You’re still a fucking idiot! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/132 "2015-11-09T23:28:22Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Ooooh, a resurrection. > > And guess what? You’re still a fucking idiot! > > 😃 You’re still a selfish pig that doesnt care about anyone else but yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/133 "2015-11-10T00:01:13Z")
Can we bitch about selfish customers who won’t stay the fuck home when they’re sick? “I called in sick to work, but my wife sent me out to buy some groceries.” \*\*ACHOO! \*\*_\>sneearrk!\<__cough_ Holy fuck, people, if you’ve called in sick to work because you’re actually sick STAY THE FUCK HOME! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/134 "2015-11-10T00:08:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > If you have a contagious disease- **stay the fuck home.** I only get extremely mild symptoms with my colds. Initially, they’re indistinguishable from allergy flareups. Should I stay home if I sneeze for any reason at all? Also, I live alone. I do not necessarily have enough food stocked for a few days of illness. Should I starve? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/135 "2015-11-10T00:19:51Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I only get extremely mild symptoms with my colds. Initially, they’re indistinguishable from allergy flareups. Should I stay home if I sneeze for any reason at all? > > Also, I live alone. I do not necessarily have enough food stocked for a few days of illness. Should I starve? Or, I have a cold but have to get the kids to school, and one of them is in Prep which means that I have to wait around with all the other kids and parents in the yard until the school bell rings (you’re not allowed to drop them off and leave). Do I keep the kids home with me until I feel better? Or, my kitteh has been knocked by a car and I need to get her to the vet urgently, which means sitting in the waiting room for some time until attended. But OH NO!! I HAVE A SNIFFLE…should I wait with my injured kitteh at home until I’m certified lurgy-free? A close relative dies, funeral is tomorrow. I feel OK, albeit with a cough and a snotty nose…:dubious: C’mon man, there are so many scenarios that make it damned near impossible for people to just ‘stay home’ when they’re under the weather. Life nowadays just doesn’t WORK that way! And as I mentioned in an earlier part of the thread, when I was office based, we didn’t have the luxury of sick pay (or any other leave entitlements) so if I didn’t work, my kids didn’t eat. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/136 "2015-11-10T01:55:38Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Or, I have a cold but have to get the kids to school, and one of them is in Prep which means that I have to wait around with all the other kids and parents in the yard until the school bell rings (you’re not allowed to drop them off and leave). Do I keep the kids home with me until I feel better? Or I have been to the doctor, and he agrees that what I have is indeed bacterial, and I am coughing up a lung because I am also asthmatic, and even though my asthma is quite well-controlled the vast majority of the time and requires no maintenance drugs or special measures of any kind, whenever I get an upper respiratory bug it pretty much means that I will start hacking my lungs up. He has prescribed an antibiotic and a steroid to calm the worst of the bronchiospasms. Should I go to the pharmacy and fill it, or make my husband come home from work so he can fill it for me and have him miss a day of work too? Or since the Costco pharmacy is on the way home from the doctor’s office, and I don’t want to wait all day hacking my lungs up and prefer to let the drugs do their thing, should I stop by Costco on the way home, and maybe pick up some juice and chicken soup as long as I’m there anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/137 "2015-11-10T02:06:17Z")
The people I mind the most on this issue are the ones who simultaneously don’t think paid sick time is needed AND think minimum wage employees should stay home if sick AND think it’s okay for them to be fired if they do. These seem to mostly fall on one side of the aisle, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/138 "2015-11-10T02:13:30Z")
No one on Earth wants to work while they’re sick. I am self employed and can take off work for myself or to watch my two children when they are ill. Many cannot afford that. This Pitting should be for employers who disregard the health and well being of their company and their employees. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/139 "2015-11-10T05:21:16Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Should I starve? Fallacy of the excluded middle. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243/140 "2015-11-10T05:22:16Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > This Pitting should be for employers who disregard the health and well being of their company and their employees. For sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-cold-or-flu-stay-the-fuck-home/709243.md?page=8)