I send out a reminder email one week before consultations (a take on Indydebi's great email), and it has worked wonderfully so far. At the beginning of November, I held a consultation day, and had 5 couples come through. A few days later, I got quite sick (not H1N1, but SICK). Long story short, after numerous tests and a few scares, we found out that the virus had attacked my thyroid, and I now have to consult a specialist for up to a year because the levels are all out of whack.

Anyway, fast forward to today...I got an email from a couple that I met with at the beginning of November. They would like to book with me, and would have called sooner, but they have been sick, and were sick the day we met. I can't prove they passed their bug onto me, but I hate it when people can't respect others and stay home and keep their germs to themselves!

I have decided to put a request in my reminder email that if clients are sick, please stay home and reschedule the consultation - I would be more than happy to do so!

Staying home would be the wisest thing to do, but as you know some people just dont think.

Is what you have contagious? (sp)

That's a good idea. Especially in the winter months when you are more likely to have colds, flu, etc.

Hope you get your thyroid figured out. My hubby has it, my MIL, my dad.

The virus that I had was contagious, but it's gone now (thank goodness!). I have a year's worth of tests to go through, but I'm not contagious now (and I am feeling better, and back to work! )

Thanks very much cylstrial! My husband has it too - it's amazing how common it is!

Unfortunately there is a time when you are contagious and havent even started to feel the symptoms yet. I agree that if you are starting to feel sick, or even feeling weak after being sick, you should stay home.

I wish everyone would do that. I had a cupcake at a school event last month and as I was eating the last bite a lady said oh yes the kids and I made these today for something to do since we'd all been sick and bored!!!! What is wrong with people? Of course a few days later I was sick(flu like symptoms most likely h1n1) If you're sick STAY HOme and for goodness sake DONT Bake!!! I just dont understand people sometimes. oh, done with my rant.

Geesh, my husband is the worst! For some STUPID reason, he thinks everyone at work is impressed if he gumptions up and goes into work. (See what a good boy I am? See how dedicated I am? *I* toughed it out! *I* am a good employee! Pat me on the head and give me a doggie biscuit as my reward!) ....... (btw, I'm in a big "i hate men" mood right now!)

I've tried to tell him, "No one thinks you're great! They're all standing around thinking what a big freakin' inconsiderate IDIOT you are for coming into work and infecting everyone else! They think you are too stupid to come in out of the rain because they have to TELL you to go home! No one is impressed. No one. That kind of archaic 'the job comes before ANYTHING' went out in the 50's!"

Now, what did I do with the bottle of Mondavi?

As one with four kids that pass germs around...haha...I did want to just give the benefit of the doubt and remind that many, if not most, viruses are contagious before the first symptoms show up.

Its especially bad with stomach viruses. You can feel just fine, and give fifteen friends the germs before you ever feel icky and start puking.

Obviously its rude to show up with a kleenex in one hand and bloodshot eyes and coughing every two seconds....but alot of times people can't help passing germs along if they don't know they have them yet. Also I know my family keeps getting these long lasting viruses that make you just "kinda" sick...but lasts forever....we'd have to just take a huge month long "time out" if we were to stay home until the last cough died down.

That said...I'm sorry you got so sick. I hope you feel better soon, and that it doesn't take away from your caking too badly. I guess you could always wear a mask to your consults. haha. (Might not be a bad idea!!!!)

Ah Debi, you're preaching to the choir! My husband and I (just finishing up with the stress of health related issues) spent the weekend while his company got auctioned off to the highest bidder. He has been spending the last few years going into work even when sick because you can't show weakness during downsizing/layoff times.

It's rough out there right now.

It is, but sometimes the only way to get through it is to laugh - that's what we're doing anyway. We're all healthy now, the auction is over and it looks like my husband will most likely get an offer, and Christmas is coming (my fav time of year - decorating starts this weekend!). All positives in my book! A bottle of wine doesn't hurt either...

The last company where I worked actually took pride in the fact that they did NOT support a healthy work/life balance. They used to make fun of Hewlett-Packard for its family-friendly policies (I don't think HP has those now, either). If our engineers did not work at least 50 hours a week, they were considered disloyal. They expected 60 on a regular basis.

This company had an extremely strict attendance policy and we fired more employees for attendance violations than any other reason. That encouraged people to come to work sick all the time. It was a nightmare, but if people had five days of absence in a 6 month period they could be fired, so in to work they came.

The company was founded on the culture of "do whatever it takes to get it done", but they unfortunately took it to the extreme and just became a slave driver in later years. I had departing employees tell me, "My wife told me it's either her and our family or this company, and I have to pick my family." What a dumb and short-sighted choice to make an employee make. I'm glad they laid me off. At least I got 15 weeks of pay with my box!

I hate to say it but I work for one of those 'turn up to work even if dying' companies. We have a report that details any employee who takes more than 5 days absence in a 12 month period - you go on the 'RED' list.

I unfortunately ended up on the dreaded RED list - and oh boy it took me almost 2 years to get off the damn thing. Every time I had even 1 day sick it put me back on again. Anywho, now I can boast ahem that I have only had one sick day in almost 2 years. Not to mention that I have managed to accumulate 8 weeks annual leave and about a week of leave in lieu - apparently my work place can't function without me. hmmmmm

I whole heartedly hate the culture but as someone else said when the workforce is downsizing I don't want to be the one inadvertandly raising my hand.

PS. the one day sick doesn't mean that I haven't been sick - I have just been too darn scared to call in.

Hi all,
Marmalade, I know how you feel! I catch anything that is going around and people know that (friends and family included) they know to stay away if they even sniffle.
Im in work right now, I have a head cold. I can barely hear my nose is blocked and my head hurts I just had 2 weeks off with a chest infection around 2 weeks ago now. With all the lay offs at work going from an office of 60 to an office of 20 with the same work to do we now do 12 day weeks have 2 days off and start again. Everyone is keeling over but i just cant afford not to be in work. I get 10 days paid sick a year and now Im out of days with christmas coming up. Trust me I'd rather take my wobbly self home but its not an option so i'll just have to content myself with going "WHAT?????" every so often and trying to read lips. If its a swear word im sorted! I have my phone volume turned up loud and my engineers are shouting so i can hear em the poor loves they must be getting some funny looks too. I feel ticked off at people coming in sick knowing im going to get it but we are all in the same boat with no options unless we dont want to get paid. We have a couple of people in our office with serious medical problems. 1 with cancer and they dont get any extra time off to have treatment. It's horrendous the situations they put us in all for a couple of quid grrrrr