Ill and Working? Warning for Workaholics

A duvet day when we're off-color is a luxury few of us can afford. But according to a new study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, going to work when ill boosts our chances of taking long-term sick leave later.

The research found workers who headed back to their desks while still unwell were significantly more likely to end up going off sick for two weeks, compared with those who stayed at home.

Allowing yourself time to recover properly and giving your immune system a chance to recuperate is vital. It means you're less likely to pick up another bug later, plus you also reduce the risk of spreading germs to other people, avoiding re-infection.