Do you feel guilty missing work even when you're sick?

I do. I bet many of you do, too.

Why is that? It makes sense to stay home. After all, you don't want to get colleagues sick. And you want to feel better, too.

Eighty-seven percent of 317 human resource executives surveyed last year by CCH Inc., a Riverwoods, Ill., provider of tax and business information, said sick employees have shown up at work with a cold or the flu.

There's even a name for this phenomenon: presenteeism. According to the survey, 38 percent referred to it as a problem.

Sick workers come into the office because they have too much work to complete; don't have anyone to cover the workload; don't want to use sick or vacation time; and they fear discipline for being out, according to the survey.

But CCH makes a case for employees to stay home when they're coming down with the sniffles. The firm says sick employees are less productive and, therefore, their work suffers.

Kathy Bovard, coordinator of the human resources development graduate program at McDaniel College in Westminster, agrees. (Coincidentally, Bovard was out sick last week with the flu. And yes, she stayed home.)

"It is very common that people come to work sick," Bovard says. "When people are sick, and especially if they are medicated, they often have difficulty concentrating, may have trouble making decisions and have slower reaction times. They are not at their best."

Bovard says employers struggle with sick leave policies because workers call in sick when they're not feeling ill.

Besides reiterating the company's sick leave policy, Bovard suggests managers send a clear message about recognizing when to stay home.

For instance, Bovard says her child's school outlines when students should miss school: fever, vomiting, severe coughing.

"Be proactive by providing employees with wellness programs at work and give sick employees the opportunity to work from home if they are feeling up to it," she says. "That way, they may be more likely to keep germs out of the office."

I got the message. Next time I'm sick, you'll find me home.

Send your stories, tips and questions to working@balt sun.com.

Please include your first name and your city. On the Job is published Monday at www.baltimoresun.com.