I Went to Work Sick and Regretted It: 3 Reasons to Stop Powering Through Illness

By an employee who learned the hard way

Last winter, I made a mistake I’ll never forget—I went to work sick.

It started with a sore throat and mild chills. I convinced myself it was nothing. I didn’t want to fall behind, and truthfully, I didn’t want to burn a sick day over something that felt “minor.” But by lunchtime, I had a fever, a throbbing headache, and zero focus. Worse, two of my coworkers ended up sick by the end of the week. That’s when the guilt really hit.

As someone who used to pride myself on never calling out, I’ve completely changed my mindset. Here are three big reasons I’ll never go to work sick again—and why you shouldn’t either.

1. You’re Contagious (Even If You Don’t Feel “That Bad”)

That day I came in, I thought I was being tough. Turns out, I was just spreading germs. I didn’t realize how many of my coworkers were vulnerable—one had a toddler at home, another was caring for an elderly parent recovering from surgery.

Most viral illnesses, including flu, RSV, and COVID, are contagious before symptoms even appear—and remain contagious for 5–7 days. I should’ve stayed home. That would’ve protected everyone and given me a real chance to recover.

Bottom line: If you’re contagious, you need to stay home. Not just for your health—but for everyone else’s too.

2. Sick Brains Make Bad Decisions

When you’re running a fever or fighting body aches, your brain is running on fumes. That day, I sent a report to the wrong client and forgot to back up a critical file. Classic sick-day errors. It wasn’t just embarrassing—it cost us hours in cleanup.

This is what’s known as presenteeism: showing up, but being too unwell to do your job well. Research shows that presenteeism causes U.S. companies over $150 billion in lost productivity each year.

Even if you’re trying to be a team player, you’re more likely to make mistakes, work slower, and stress yourself out more in the process.

3. You Stay Sick Longer

If I’d just rested for a couple of days, I probably would’ve bounced back in less than a week. Instead, I pushed through—then crashed hard. I was out for almost two weeks total and ended up needing antibiotics after developing a secondary infection.

Stress + lack of sleep + illness = a longer, more painful recovery.

That experience taught me to listen to my body. When you’re sick, rest isn’t optional—it’s treatment.

So… What Should You Do If You’re Sick?

If you’re wondering whether to call out sick, consider how your symptoms would affect someone else. Would you want a coworker coughing and sweating next to you in a meeting? If not, stay home.

And if you need a legitimate doctor’s note for your employer, that’s where DoctorsSickNote.us comes in. We provide fast, confidential doctor’s notes for:

• Cold, flu, and COVID
• Stomach bugs
• Mental health days
• Jury duty deferrals
• Child or dependent sick care
• And more

Whether you need a note for today or documentation for HR, we’ve got your back—no clinic wait times, no judgment.

Don’t Power Through—Take the Sick Day

You’re not doing anyone any favors by dragging yourself into the office with a fever and a foggy brain. Trust me—I learned the hard way.

Take the day. Rest, recover, and protect your workplace from the ripple effects of your illness. Your health is reason enough. And if you need help convincing your boss, DoctorsSickNote.us can provide a note to back you up.

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