What to Do About Sick Co-worker.

Its usually better to change what you can on your side then to try and change someone else. She must have a reason for not taking a sick day, I'm sure she would rather be home too. I suggest you buy some hand sanitizer, wipes and spray as well as some Vitamin C pills. Keep you and your work area disinfected and take extra Vitamin C and you should be fine. No need to obviously spray down the office to erase her cooties. lol Before spraying maybe say something like no offense- I'm sure you would take a sick day if you could, but I just want to avoid getting sick also, it does not look like you're having fun!

Good luck!!
A.

I have to agree with Ana here. She may not have any sick days left, or she is afraid of losing her job if she is not there. She may need the money, or have another reason for not going home.

In this economy, you can't afford to be free with vacations and sick days...you have to only use them if you REALLY need to.

Talking to your manager about it may actually do more harm than good. You could be seen as someone who is paranoid about being sick, putting your name on a higher list of lay offs....OR you could be putting her on that list because she will be seen as someone who does not care. You need to weigh the risks.

I would do the precautions for yourself...echninaca, vitamin C, constant OJ drinking even...Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer..these are all good preventatives. You really can't control what another person does.

The ultimate decision is yours, but no matter where you go, there will be someone who may pass on a cold or virus.

I agree with the other posters who said it's not your place to send her home. However, I'd be germ paranoid, too, so I would still continue to say something to her so she knows how you really feel. Let her know you are concerned about catching what she has and bringing it home to your daughter and maybe she will also be more mindful of what she touches and will also use sanitzers. Keep in mind that often with viruses, they say that people are MOST contagious right before symptoms occur, so there may be others in the office who are sick, so keeping as sanitary as possible in common areas is a good idea anyway.

L.,
After the fact I would just like to say that these women who posted before me have good advice to offer to you and I think it is wonderful that you had such a cheerful response to their advice.

It's really hard out there for some people right now. I pray fervently for those who are having financial set backs, loss of jobs and family, homeless and needing medical care without plans or funds to get needed treatment. I think it could be a number of reasons for her coughing spells, does she smoke, does she have sinus, does she have chronic allergies? If she has had this coughing for as long as you say, it sounds more like environmental allergens, and think of the dust and recycled air in the place where you work.

Saying anything to anyone other than the lady involved would be unfair and maybe even extreme behavior. Talk with her and ask her if she has allergies and then, very pleasantly tell her that she can get the otc Loratidine which is the drug name for claritin and it will help a plenty. She would probably appreciate this because she will have some relief. Otherwise, don't be so nice-nasty, I'm sure this is not the swine flu. It's not pandemic or epidemic yet. (smile.)

Ithink you are being proactive at this point with your response of thanks and I give you an A +

Ditto Ana (yet again).
It's impossible to know this woman's reasons for not staying home. It is completely possible it is nothing more than seasonal allergies that are kicking in for this lady... have you checked the pollen counts lately? (I speak as a mother of a child highly affected by the current pollen levels). But, really, all you can do is try to take preventative measures on your end. Be sure when you are sanitizing your work area that you include the biggest transferrers of viruses... telephones. And also keyboards, drawer pulls and door knobs. It couldn't hurt to wipe down the restroom faucet handles too, if you don't have the "no-touch" variety. You don't have to make a big deal out of it, but neither is it necessary to "hide" what you are doing. If you have your own desk, it might be "helpful" to your co-workers, if you kept a "handy" box of tissues at the outermost corner (where others can feel free to "borrow" one), rather than keeping them in your "personal space" where they may feel less inclined to use one, even if they desperately need it! You could even place a pump bottle of hand sanitizer next to it! And feel free to OFFER them if someone is sniffing/sneezing nearby!
Good luck to you.