Want to help out at work? Stay home when you're sick

Dedicated workers are a prized commodity, but healthy workers are just as important.

The majority of us don’t let a little sneezing or coughing keep us home, but more of us should.

According to an Accountemps survey, nine in 10 workers admit to going to work with cold or flu-like symptoms.

Granted, the company is biased; it makes a profit by providing temporary workers when others call in sick.

But that doesn’t mean more of us shouldn’t stay home when we’re running a fever or otherwise contagious.

But why do we we do it?

The survey, of 2,800 workers in 28 cities around the country, indicates 54% say they have too much work to do to take time off, and another 40 percent say they don’t want to use up sick leave.

It also found that workers under the age of 40 are more likely to go to work sick, usually because they want to not miss work in order to have a better chance at that next promotion.

Modern workers have another option, however — perhaps your job could be done remotely on your computer at home, leaving your germs there instead of sharing them with co-workers.

The next time you have a tickle in your throat, feel a little warm or have an upset stomach, give strong consideration to giving yourself -- and your co-workers -- a break.