If you're sick, and don't want to get others sick, that's one thing. Your productivity shouldn't slip in that case. If you're bed ridden with the flu, then you'

If you're sick, and don't want to get others sick, that's one thing. Your productivity shouldn't slip in that case. If you're bed ridden with the flu, then you're not going to be working and likewise, you really shouldn't be working. At many of the offices I've worked at, if you're a developer, you have one or two people you know who know what you're working on and are capable (and expected) to take your work and push it forward in the case you are too sick to work. It's like a partner system that assures that no lapses in productivity will happen. If you break the work up for one person, between two other developers, it's worked well to make sure the work gets covered, without interruption. At my current gig, it's kind of an unwritten rule if you get sick and your partners cover for you, a free lunch or 12 pack of some quality micro-brew should be forthcoming. I've been here for several years and it hasn't been an issue yet.