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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Work Christmas Party - I have a cold!

30 replies

LozzaCh0ps · 25/11/2025 06:32

I don’t know if I’m overthinking this (I usually am) but I started getting cold symptoms yesterday, and today is our work Xmas do. The thing is I’ve worked there since the beginning of the year, but I’m one of only four who work from the office, so I haven’t really met anyone else yet. It’s also a leaving do for my supervisor, who has been made redundant. It feels like a bad thing to miss. The do is 5 hours long - a lunch catered by the boss. I’ve seen how much effort they’ve put into it! I really do feel like 100 shades of shite, and the idea of being in a stuffy room with 25 strangers for that long while trying to hold my lungs in is really hideous.

I don’t know what the expectation would be - I haven’t bedded in very well at the company and still feel completely new. I think partly because I’m part time, as well as just not fitting in very well in the existing dynamic. I don’t have any work friends who I can call and ask for their opinion. I really don’t want to seem like I’m just bunking it, but I also don’t want to be patient zero in a company-wide cold epidemic! I would be grateful for any opinions on this!

YABU - Go and spread your festive germs
YANBU - Call in sick

OP posts:
LozzaCh0ps · 25/11/2025 06:49

It’s the disgusting cough that I’m worried about, I sound disgusting!

OP posts:
Canopop · 25/11/2025 06:49

Can you get someone to go out and get you a berroca or other super high vit c drink? Then have that, a lemsip, a bucket load of water and take paracetamol with you.

TheresGlitterAllOverMyHouse · 25/11/2025 06:47

Take some paracetamol and try to have a nice time.

Ponoka7 · 25/11/2025 06:45

I would have started on the cold and flu capsules and been drinking honey and lemon etc. Are you in work, or could you go back to bed with a lemsip and see how you are in a couple of hours? I'd try to go.

AndAllOurYesterdays · 25/11/2025 06:41

Depends how bad the cold is. If you can muddle through with a lemsip then I'd probably go just to get to know colleagues better. But if you are coughing and streaming then stay at home.