ERRR... Sick co-worker...

I have had no problem telling sick coworkers to not come in my office. I have actually made them drop whatever they needed to give me outside my door and I will pick it up with tongs or something. If they are coming to see me to talk about something, they now know to call.

This is not rude. It keeps you from having to miss work (read: training) due to sickness from someone else. I also keep antibacterial hand cleaner/lotion on my desk at all times.

People, if you are sick STAY HOME. This really gets to me.  The whole reason we have PTO is so we don't have to work when we are sick.  Why is it that we will keep our kids home at the slightest sign of a cough, but when we (adults) are sicker than anything we still go to work???

(Here's where I admit that I have to call my mom so she can tell me to stay home.)

This is also my friendly reminder that your computer keyboard has more germs than the office bathroom.  To keep from getting sick, wash your hands after you potty and before you eat. Drink lots of fluids and rest. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.

Can of lysol or lysol wipes are handy too. 

Stay well,

Sarah

"Dear Dogbert,

My colleagues insist on coming to work even when they are sick with a contagious illness. What should I do"?

Answer:

"Be kind to your sick colleauges. Chances are you will be sick yourself someday. Probably in the very near future."

This from WebMD:

Are you contagious before you show symptoms? If a co-worker is sniffing over the phone you share, is he or she contagious then?

The viruses that cause colds and the flu are spread by microscopic droplets from an infected person's respiratory system. It may be possible to catch the virus before symptoms show, via close contact such as kissing or sharing eating utensils. However, in general people need to have some symptoms, such as a runny nose or cough, in order to be contagious. When your co-worker shows symptoms, he or she may indeed be spreading contagious droplets to your shared phone, to the doorknob of your office, or to the buttons on the fax machine. Your best defense is to wash your hands frequently.

I was looking for something to confirm that the advice I was going to give you would be half way valid.  When it is possible I avoid touching things that the "masses" have touched - shopping carts, public restroom doors, the doors into and out of the office suite. I have not flushed a toilet with anything but my foot in probably 20 years -  Obvliously without being kind of a freak, you have to touch stuff, so that is why I am a serious hand washer, and I keep my hands away from my face.  I'm so used to doing it now, it's like second nature and no one even notices.  Even if they did, I would not care, because I have not had so much as a sniffle in 5 years, and I'm exposed to at least one sick co-worker every month of my life.   Personally, if it was me, I'd stop with the joking hints and say "please stay away from me while you are sick. Thanks."

scuba-punk - 2005-08-11 2:53 PM I find that a trip line attached to an automatic disinfectant sprayer does a nice job -Frank

At their face level?  LOL!!