Maybe you caught that nasty cold during that crowded flight home for the holidays. Or from the pre-schooler in your life. Or from the shopper hacking behind you at the grocery store.

But chances are good that you were exposed to the bug at work, courtesy of a co-worker who came into the office when the only thing he or she should have been working on is finishing a bowl of chicken soup.

Unfortunately, people who really ought to be curled up on the couch, watching daytime TV often decide to tough it out and go to the office.

The fact is: If you've got a cold, your co-workers (and maybe even a few forward-thinking bosses) really want you to stay home. You owe it to them (and yourself) to recuperate in comfort of your own bed, not the company's conference room.

It seems that presenteeism -- or showing up for work when you're sick -- has become an ever-worsening problem at the workplace. According to an article in the New York Times, the problem is getting worse, but our workaholic culture generally frowns upon sick people calling in sick. According to the studies cited in the article, many employers make it difficult for their employees to call-in sick. Their attitude costs them, though. Sick employees aren't terribly productive, but still worse, the entire office risks contracting whatever bug is going around

To combat the problem, some people are a little obsessive about using hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial wipes after every encounter with a co-worker. Others try to avoid them altogether. Some swear by Airborne or other flu-fighting supplements. These might help if your colleagues insist on sneezing in your immediate vicinity.

The Centers for Disease Control also recommends a few healthy habits, such as washing your hands often and other precautionary measures that might help protect you from the virus du jour. 

And what's the first healthy habit on their list? If you're sick, stay home.