Not feeling well? Could it be a cold? Or is it the flu? Check your symptoms against this chart.


SYMPTOM COLD FLU
Fever Rare Usual; high [100ºF to 102ºF (37.8 to 38.9ºC); occasionally higher, especially in young children]; lasts 3-4 days
Headache Rare Common
General aches and pains Slight Usual; often severe
Fatigue, weakness Sometimes Usual; can last up to 2-3 weeks
Extreme exhaustion Never Usual; at the beginning of the illness
Stuffy nose Common Sometimes
Sneezing Usual Sometimes
Sore throat Common Sometimes
Chest discomfort, cough Mild to moderate; hacking cough Common; can become severe


What does corporate Canada agree on? Taking sick days, apparently

Memo to employees: Banish guilt; 76% of bosses say if you’re sick, stay home

It’s that time of year again, when the sound of sniffles, sneezing and coughing overpowers the productive whirl of typing, faxing and photocopying around the office. And to the many Canadians who continue to suffer through a seasonal cold or flu at work, their bosses have a strong message to send: stay home.

A recent poll conducted by the makers of BENYLIN® reveals that the vast majority (76%) of Canadian bosses would prefer employees to stay home when sick.1 But gender does play a role. Eight out of ten male managers give the thumbs-up to staying home when ill, compared to only 65% of female bosses.

The reality is, today’s employees do find it difficult to overcome guilt and to give themselves permission to miss a day of work. This might explain why nearly half (46%) of people surveyed indicated they took no sick days in the past 12 months. One third (35%) of the employees surveyed admitted to always or sometimes feeling guilty when calling in sick. In fact, 62% of employees surveyed said they would have to feel severely ill before they would miss a day of work. And who, among Canadian men and women, feels most guilty? Interestingly, 46% of women admitted to always or sometimes feeling guilty when they call in sick compared, to just 25% of men.

“At this time of year, I see many professionals in my practice who are suffering from a cold or flu but feel they must soldier through their work days,” says family physician Dr. Nayana Suchak. “What is not realized is one day at home – where you can rest and avoid contaminating others – is key to breaking the seasonal sickness cycle.”

Bed rest affects the bottom line

Indeed, concern over germ and virus spreadability isn’t the only factor motivating employers to endorse sick days. Findings from the poll suggest that a healthier, “balanced” workforce contributes directly to the bottom line. An overwhelming majority (86%) of Canadian bosses agree their employees are more productive when they take a sick day to recover from illness.

Across the country, most bosses echoed this sentiment, especially in Ontario where 94% of managers agreed that employees are more productive after they took a sick day. Managers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan came a close second at 89%, with Quebec employers filling the last slot at 72%.

“The war-like mentality which dominated the business world a few decades ago is passé,” says Peter Rodriguez, senior brand manager of BENYLIN® at McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which was recently named one of Canada’s healthiest workplaces by the Canadian Healthy Workplace Council. “Managers and employees now realize that in order to achieve peak performance they need to be healthy, refreshed and engaged; otherwise efficiency and productivity suffer. This study reinforces that something as simple as giving yourself permission to take a sick day when you are ill has become a perfectly acceptable – and preferred – practice. So much so that this concept is now part of our marketing foundation and efforts with our new “TAKE A BENYLIN® DAY™” campaign.”

Prescription for work and life wellness

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance need not be complicated. Dr. Suchak offers the following recommendations for obtaining optimal work-life balance:

  • Don’t lose balance. The ideal lifestyle should involve a healthy balance of work and play. Have reasonable expectations of yourself, your colleagues, and boss – as well as your family.
  • Know your workplace respiratory etiquette. Coughing, sneezing and constant nose-blowing is not only disruptive but also exposes your co-workers to your contagious symptoms and increases the possibility of spreading the infection. Know when you’re feeling well enough to go to work and when to stay home.
  • Don’t suffer. If you find yourself sick, remember the three R’s: rest, remedy, recover. Seventy-eight per cent of employers see colds, flu or being sick and contagious as justifiable reasons for calling in sick. So allow yourself to take a day away from work and chores. Adequate rest is key, but is hard to achieve with a stuffy nose or cough. Over-the-counter medications – such as BENYLIN® ALL-IN-ONE® – help relieve your cold and flu symptoms. Combined, this prescription of rest and remedy is key to a speedy recovery.


1Two independent surveys of Canadian employers and employees were commissioned by the makers of BENYLIN® to enhance their knowledge of Canadians’ sick day habits. The surveys were conducted by Decima Research in autumn 2006. These national samples of 1,000 Canadian adults 18 years or older (per survey) is accurate within +/- 3.1 percentage points.