Flu season is upon us. With it comes an added level of etiquette either when you have a cold or flu or are interacting with others who exhibit the symptoms.
The strong suggestion from management and staff at The Emily Post Institute is to stay home if you’ve got a bad cold or the flu. Our business will be much better off with the afflicted person home and recuperating as opposed to being at work and infecting others. Whatever the consensus at your workplace, if you do go to work with cold or flu symptoms, take precautions to avoid infecting your colleagues or visitors to your workplace. Cover up any sneezes or coughs – in a tissue or the crook of your elbow. Disinfect your work area and, if you have one, your office telephone—both the handset and the dial pad. Same goes for your keyboard and mouse. Finally, if there is one time when it is okay not to offer to shake a person’s hand, this is it. A simple explanation will suffice, “Please excuse me, I have a cold and don’t want to give it to you.” The person greeting you will appreciate your honesty and consideration.
