Visiting a doctor at times of sickness feels no less than a hustle. Certainly, you all go to find a solution to your problem, How long should you stay home with the flu? Especially, in times of the global pandemic. Everyone has become conscious about health.
A stuffy nose and frequent sneezing, are symptoms of cold and flu. That is why it is smart not to let an employee with the flu spend too long at work in the beginning, even if the colleagues are convinced that the employee can still work. Do you know why? It is mostly caused by a virus and can infect others.
In contrast to a cold, the flu is often quite acute. So complaints such as chills, fever, muscle pain, and respiratory problems quickly come into play. Do you notice this with an employee? Or did an employee mention it? Let the employee go home quickly. This way, an employer can easily prevent other employees from becoming infected.
It is therefore important that your employee stays at home, especially for the first 5 days, so as not to infect other colleagues. Often people with flu also need rest. Physical rest is especially important. Chilling out in bed, on the couch with Netflix, and cuddling the dog are a few of the things someone with flu needs.
Of course, it depends very much on the work that your employee does, but sometimes your employee – when s/he feels a bit better – can quietly pick up some work at home.
You may never require an employee to start working again if an employee says that he or she is not feeling well. Even if you think this might be the case, it is up to the company doctor to determine this.
How long should you stay home with the flu?
Flu usually disappears on its own. An employee with the flu stays sick at home for an average of 5 to 10 days. By the way, the incubation period for flu is 1 to 3 weeks before someone feels completely fit again. This is how long should you stay at home with the flu.
How long is the flu contagious? As soon as someone complains, the person is contagious for up to 5 days or more. However, it may take a week or more for the person affected with flu to get rid of all the symptoms completely. If an employee wishes to resume work, then this can be done in situations where that employee has limited interactions with other people.
But the big question is of course whether it is smart to get back to work if you are ill. Certainly now, as you will also cost money. Why? Your employee will then be less productive, and will probably stay ill for longer because they do not put their health on top of the list. And you prefer to see only top-fit
