DEAR HARRIETTE: My boss has brought her sick son to work a few times this month. As the weather gets colder, I understand that kids get sick. However, I don't think a snot-covered, sneezing 5-year-old is helping the office stay healthy. I know I can't ban my boss from bringing her son to work. How can I protect my health while protecting my job? My boss is obsessed with her son and rarely leaves him with sitters. -- Bring Your (Sick) Kid to Work Day, Philadelphia
DEAR BRING YOUR (SICK) KID TO WORK DAY: This is a tough one, because your boss is juggling work and family in the midst of a health crisis. It is a no-win situation. Rather than complain, you should invest in facemasks, Lysol and antiseptic wipes. Seriously. Keep your area very clean to cut down on germs. Wear a facemask when the child or anyone else is sick in the office. Take it off only when you have to go to a meeting or leave the building.
If you are questioned by your boss -- or anybody else, for that matter -- about the facemask, be upfront and state that you are trying hard not to get sick. Point out that you understand why the child has to come to work sick, but you don't want the result to be that you get ill.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)