We’ve all been in the situation where you’re feeling unwell but soldier on and head into work anyway, but you’re not doing yourself or anyone else any favours by coming in when you are sick.

Sick days are there for a reason, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for taking time off work when you are genuinely sick. It’s very important to stay home to give yourself the best chance of recovery.

When you do ‘soldier on’ and head into work, or return too soon after an illness, you are spreading your illness to those around you, which may create a burden in the workplace as more colleagues become unwell and therefore also require time off work, or continue to spread the germs around to others.

It is not only your colleagues who may be affected by your illness, but also others who you come into contact with each day, like family members and people on your commute to and from work.

By going to work when you’re unwell, you are not working to your full capacity, and your illness may affect your thinking and reflexes, meaning you are more likely to make mistakes.

So, next time you are feeling under the weather, consider just staying in bed and give yourself the best chance to fully recover.