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AIBU?

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Original poster

To expect people ill with Covid stay home?

794 replies

LakelandHiker · 12/10/2026 18:09

This week, my manager and a friend who goes to my exercise class are ill with Covid. I don't know if they've tested, but they've both said they have it. However one is still coming into the office and the other still attending the exercise class. AIBU or overreacting here... but why don't they stay home until clear? Even if 'feeling 95% better' wouldn't you wait until potentially exposing others? I can't help but feel mad at them both for being so selfish. I often look after an elderly relative and can't risk passing Covid on to her as she is frail. I get life can't be on pause forever but my manager can get paid sick leave and my friend can miss a class, it isn't like there's anything at stake...

OP posts:
Thecatspantaloons · 12/10/2026 18:37

What a rare and unusual topic for this time of the year.
Next : fireworks yay or nay?

Teenagerantruns · 12/10/2026 18:36

I cant work from home, if l have a cold im.goung to work, no sick pay.

FunPartyIdeas · 12/10/2026 18:36

@ToKittyornottoKitty Absolutely. Nobody wants to go to work genuinely unwell, but they will if there is no pay otherwise.

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:35

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/10/2026 18:34

‘Society’ would be far better off if proper sick pay was a thing and people could afford to stay home sick without missing out on food or risking homelessness.

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Absolutely agree! But until then we will do what we need to do to survive

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/10/2026 18:34

ruethewhirl · 12/10/2026 18:32

God, reading some of these replies makes me glad I’m not immunocompromised. Society really doesn’t give a shit.

‘Society’ would be far better off if proper sick pay was a thing and people could afford to stay home sick without missing out on food or risking homelessness.

FunPartyIdeas · 12/10/2026 18:34

@MrsDoylesLastTeabag So how do you suggest I pay my rent then? Not everyone can afford to take time off. What's your work status?

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:34

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:33

Yes, being immunocompromised or caring for someone who is, and fearing constantly for their survival, is the absolute epitome of "privileged".

FFS.

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In the kindest way possible, that’s not my problem. I will ensure my family and kept warm and fed. That means I HAVE TO go to work.

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:33

FunPartyIdeas · 12/10/2026 18:31

@HappyLizard23 I'm with you - unless I am bedbound I can't afford not to go to work. Rent to pay!
People who don't understand this lead very privileged lives indeed.

Yes, being immunocompromised or caring for someone who is, and fearing constantly for their survival, is the absolute epitome of "privileged".

FFS.

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:32

FunPartyIdeas · 12/10/2026 18:31

@HappyLizard23 I'm with you - unless I am bedbound I can't afford not to go to work. Rent to pay!
People who don't understand this lead very privileged lives indeed.

well said, they’re obviously people who can miss a few days wages and have no bother. Very privileged indeed

ruethewhirl · 12/10/2026 18:32

God, reading some of these replies makes me glad I’m not immunocompromised. Society really doesn’t give a shit.

Thisusernameisalwaysavailable · 12/10/2026 18:32

Who's even testing??

FunPartyIdeas · 12/10/2026 18:31

@HappyLizard23 I'm with you - unless I am bedbound I can't afford not to go to work. Rent to pay!
People who don't understand this lead very privileged lives indeed.

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:30

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:29

I care about your family's fortunes to exactly the same degree you care about disabled people.

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Fab, I’m not asking you to care about my family 🤣

likelysuspect · 12/10/2026 18:30

KilkennyCats · 12/10/2026 18:24

If they’re well enough to do an exercise class I’d very much doubt it’s covid. It’s probably like the way people used to claim they had flu when it was just a bad cold.

You can have the flu and not be very incpacitated by it, same as covid. These are just the names of viruses and they hit everyone differently

Its a complete myth that flu will leave you bedbound and knocked out, some people can function like they just have a cold, some people will end up in hospital, some people will have no symptoms at all, same as covid.

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:29

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:26

My family comes first im afraid. Im not becoming financially unstable to avoid someone getting covid in 2026. Regardless, i dont test anymore and dont know anyone who does. Unless im physically unable to leave my bed im going to work to pay my rent, feed my family and survive. Don’t care if you think thats selfish, unless youd like to pay in which case tell me where to send the cheque.

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I care about your family's fortunes to exactly the same degree you care about disabled people.

maudelovesharold · 12/10/2026 18:28

SheilaFentiman · 12/10/2026 18:15

In what way are they “announcing to everyone it’s Covid”?

Presumably if they were sneezing on a call or at their desk, they would be saying “sorry, got a cold” ?

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…my manager and a friend who goes to my exercise class are ill with Covid. I don't know if they've tested, but they've both said they have it.

From the op.

Livingthebestlife · 12/10/2026 18:28

It a shitty situation especially when you are looking after an elderly relative. I'm not sure of the guidelines/recommendations in the UK as in Ireland, but I think I recall that the UK encourage people to get out and about and continue as normal, whereas our guidelines/recommendations are 5 days home or until negative test. So your colleagues aren't really doing anything wrong. Even though we have recommendations people here are fed up and rightly so, it doesn't help those of us with vulnerable people, my own disabled DD I've spent thousands on covid tests 😔 have to keep on top of it with her due her disabilities

likelysuspect · 12/10/2026 18:27

SheilaFentiman · 12/10/2026 18:15

In what way are they “announcing to everyone it’s Covid”?

Presumably if they were sneezing on a call or at their desk, they would be saying “sorry, got a cold” ?

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It is a cold its just one of millions of variants of it.

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:26

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:25

So if other people who aren't as robust as you catch your covid and can't work at all any more, that's fine and dandy? You going to pay THEIR wages, arw you???

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My family comes first im afraid. Im not becoming financially unstable to avoid someone getting covid in 2026. Regardless, i dont test anymore and dont know anyone who does. Unless im physically unable to leave my bed im going to work to pay my rent, feed my family and survive. Don’t care if you think thats selfish, unless youd like to pay in which case tell me where to send the cheque.

Tri483 · 12/10/2026 18:26

No can do I’m afraid. Both my husband and I have had to battle on in our lines of work. It’s just a nasty cold and we’re expected to carry on. So we do. My dd is at uni and they’ve all got it but carrying on as usual. 2 days off max if necessary. I’m more worried about flu but will treat that the same.

robinsnest1967 · 12/10/2026 18:26

I am not immune compromised but last time I had covid I ended up with pneumonia and was seriously unwell. I just think people who are ill should be mindful of others and at the very least cover their mouths when they are coughing and spluttering.

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:25

HappyLizard23 · 12/10/2026 18:23

You happy to pay my wages then? I don’t get paid to be off sick so I’m sure as hell not missing work for Covid anymore.

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So if other people who aren't as robust as you catch your covid and can't work at all any more, that's fine and dandy? You going to pay THEIR wages, arw you???

KilkennyCats · 12/10/2026 18:24

If they’re well enough to do an exercise class I’d very much doubt it’s covid. It’s probably like the way people used to claim they had flu when it was just a bad cold.

NigellaAwesome · 12/10/2026 18:24

I think people should wfh and avoid socialising if at all possible, whether that is the cold, covid or the flu. Even before Covid was a thing I thought it completely unreasonable for colleagues to come into work when they were unwell. One colleague came in with dosed with the flu and infected at least 15 others, of which I was one. I appreciate that not all roles can accommodate this. But going to an exercise class when infectious is selfish and also foolish given the risk of post viral syndromes that are caused by exertion when ill.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 12/10/2026 18:24

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 12/10/2026 18:21

There's some horrendous "survival of the fittest" shit posted about this topic on here.

How can you read aliasfrog's post upthread and still say it's fine to further disable people because you have to "get on with your lives"?

I find it fucking sociopathic.

I need to be able to pay my rent and feed my children so it’s pretty simple really