Whether your FOMO at work is stronger than your sinus infection or you boss makes you feel like you've dropped the ball every time you blow your nose, you may be too scared to call in sick—even at the height of flu season. But according to our experts, there are far worse things you could do than recuperate beyond your cubicle's three walls. Here are nine things that will cross your boss more than your cold.
1. Spreading your germs to other employees.
Your coworkers are left to pick up the slack when you call in sick—but no one can do your job if everyone is consumed with coughing. "While having someone call in sick is hard, having someone show up to work when they are sick is worse," says Sharlyn Lauby, president of consulting firm ITM Group Inc., founder of HR Bartender, and author of Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers. "No one wants your germs."
2. Emailing everyone—or the wrong person.
*That time you meant to complain to your coworker and accidentally hit reply-all—alerting your boss to how you really feel about her request that you work the weekend—was way worse than when you missed a meeting because of a migraine. "Nothing makes people crazier than hitting the reply-all button for insignificant and irrelevant responses," says Lauby, "and you can put yourself in a very awkward position if you reply-all and forget who is included." *
3. Feeling they can't trust you.
Bosses need people they can count on, says Jill Jacinto, millennial career expert and associate director of communications for WORKS. Building trust with employer will make you his or her most valued employee. But burn that dependable bridge and your boss may not believe you the next time you really call in sick, warns Hallie Crawford, career coach and founder of career coaching agency Hallie Crawford. "You can lose your boss' trust by lying about a project or the way something was handled with a client," she says, "or taking the credit for something you didn't do."
4. Showing up unprepared.
If repeated nose-blowing will keep you from reading a report, it's better to stay home than to show up and show off that you're not prepared, warns Lauby. "If you've ever had to explain a memo to someone who didn't take the time to read it or stop your work to tell someone how to fill out a form that they should already know how to complete, then you know what I'm talking about," she says. "Don't be that person."
5. Clocking in at all the wrong times.
Missing a day because you're down-and-out is one thing—but missing a meeting because you hit the snooze button one-too-many times is quite another. "Everyone has one of those mornings where the alarm clock didn't go off or train was late," commiserates Jacinto. "But if that is happening every morning, your boss will take notice—and he or she won't like it." Just as bad to your boss, Lauby says, is being the person who clocks out before the work day is up. "At least when an employee calls in sick, the company knows you're going to be gone and they put together a plan to get the work done," she says. "But wanting to leave early puts stress on the department because they don't have time to put a plan in place."
6. Abusing expenses.
That company credit card sure is tempting. "You might think no one will notice the glass of wine at dinner or the upgraded economy comfort seat—but your accountant will," warns Jacinto, who says his or her next step will be to sit down with your boss to devise a plan on how to rein you in. "Bosses are held accountable for everything their employees do, say, or spend," she says, and pulling on his or her already-tight purse strings won't please anyone.
7. Appearing unprofessional.
You spent a lot of money on a new dress whose neckline does all the right things for your decolletage, so you'll be damned if you won't get your money's worth by wearing it every chance you get—even to work. But your boss will take notice—and may even take umbrage—if you do things "that are not illegal, unethical, or immoral but just aren't smart, such as wearing the wrong attire to work," says Lauby, "or using profanity in front of customers, or telling weird jokes. No one wants to be the office police and tell an employee they're not making a good impression."
8. Being negative.
No one likes a Debbie Downer—not even your seemingly humorless boss, warns Jacinto. "Your boss doesn't want to hear about your problems," she says. "He or she wants to hear your solutions." Beyond that, Crawford says, "working with a negative or critical attitude can dampen the office culture, especially when most bosses try to cultivate a positive work environment. Employees with bad attitudes make that difficult or even impossible."
9. Being glued to your phone.
Unless you're using your phone to call your doctor about that persistent cough, it's likely your employer doesn't want to see your cell out at all. "Employees must respect the fact that they are at work," says Lauby, who adds you can stay on the good side of cell phone usage by putting it in silent mode and taking private calls in a private place. "Don't play Plants vs. Zombies during working hours," she says. "You get the point."
