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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is unfair? Covid related

113 replies

Smokedcheesyballs · 13/06/2024 18:47

I work in a small environment and on Monday one colleague came in saying she had Covid. She did not look well and said she felt awful. A few of the staff felt that it was unethical that she was in work and potentially spreading a highly contagious virus. She did not wear a face mask.
On Tuesday I came home feeling unwell so did a test and it was positive. I have been feeling terrible and not been in work. I get the impression my boss thinks I'm slacking but I don't think I should be in.
To make matters worse I have now passed Covid onto my husband who is a very vunerable patient (has neuroendocrine cancer).
Basically am trying to ask AIBU thinking that said colleague should not have been a martyr (not sure if correct use of the word) by coming into work not to let the boss down???, and in doing so unnecessarily spreading the virus?|

OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 13/06/2024 19:07

If she came in on Monday with Covid and you tested positive on Tuesday I very much doubt you caught it from her and had a positive test the day after! AFAIK it takes several days from exposure to positive test. Maybe you caught it from her on Thurs/Fri before she was showing symptoms? Or maybe you caught it somewhere else?

Ponderingwindow · 13/06/2024 19:05

EasterIssland · 13/06/2024 18:54

I really doubt you got it from them. It takes more than a day to get ill. I hope your husband feels well and doesn’t have many symptoms. This is what the vaccines are for. So vulnerable people don’t get really affected.

im sorry but I’m going to say yabu. We are not in 2020 anymore

The truly vulnerable don’t make antibodies in response to the vaccines.

they give my DH a Covid shot every few months in the hope it does something, but his antibody checks have never been good. (He was part of a study hence the checks)

StarbucksQueen1 · 13/06/2024 19:04

Covid or not (don’t see the point in anyone testing!) don’t go in to work when you’re poorly and spread germs it’s just so unfair!

TinyYellow · 13/06/2024 19:03

Your colleagues mistake was testing and then telling everyone the result without doing anything about it.

I don’t think people can be expected to stay home from work if they are unwell unless the sickness policy is generous and encourages them to.

beckybarefoot · 13/06/2024 19:03

sadly as far as employers are concerned COVID is over, and lots of employers will discipline you if you have too much time off sick. this means that people like your colleague still turn up for work, still spread this virus and the wheel continues as it were...

MissMoneyFairy · 13/06/2024 19:01

Ponderingwindow · 13/06/2024 18:58

My workplace bans people from coming into work sick for precisely this reason. It doesn’t have to be Covid, just any communicable illness and you have to stay home.

it’s better for keeping the workforce healthy, protects vulnerable employees, and it protects people with vulnerable family members. They basically have my undying loyalty because of this policy and the fact that I have a permanently vulnerable household member.

That's sensible and sounds a great place to work, do they get full pay when they are off, are their always enough staff to cover sickness, does everyone gave access to support.

MyDogsLikePaddleBoarding · 13/06/2024 19:00

People who are ill and contagious, shouldn’t be in the office. A decent manager would have sent her home.

Ponderingwindow · 13/06/2024 18:58

My workplace bans people from coming into work sick for precisely this reason. It doesn’t have to be Covid, just any communicable illness and you have to stay home.

it’s better for keeping the workforce healthy, protects vulnerable employees, and it protects people with vulnerable family members. They basically have my undying loyalty because of this policy and the fact that I have a permanently vulnerable household member.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 13/06/2024 18:57

Would she have been paid if she was off sick? Is she able to work from home?

Covid is the same as any illness now. I can work from home but if I couldn't or wouldn't get paid then I'd go to work if I felt well enough.

EasterIssland · 13/06/2024 18:54

I really doubt you got it from them. It takes more than a day to get ill. I hope your husband feels well and doesn’t have many symptoms. This is what the vaccines are for. So vulnerable people don’t get really affected.

im sorry but I’m going to say yabu. We are not in 2020 anymore

ASighMadeOfStone · 13/06/2024 18:54

Covid is no longer considered any more than any other cold/flu-like virus and nobody is obliged to isolate. Maybe she was being a martyr, maybe she doesn't like taking time off, maybe she didn't feel ill enough to stay off sick. Up to her ultimately.
It's unfortunate that you caught it so quickly from her and have passed it on so quickly to your husband.
Hopefully, you'll both just have a mild cold type virus.

NoDishyRishi · 13/06/2024 18:54

Is your husband eligible for antivirals?

MissMoneyFairy · 13/06/2024 18:52

Unfortunately you cannot ever prove who you caught it from, personally I think anyone unwell shouldn't go into work but people do, they need the money and some people just don't care anyway and forget how serious covid can be. I guess you just have to have vaccinations, wear a mask and keep yourself and your dh as safe as possible, hope you both feel better soon.