Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To expect people ill with Covid stay home?

795 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:
ExpectMore · 14/10/2026 00:05

FunPartyIdeas · 14/10/2026 00:02

@ExpectMore Oh I'm fine -.the live-in nanny gets up all of my five children too, even when I'm off work.
Not that you're entitled 😀
Why parent when someone else can do it for you?

Edited

Entitled? No, not one bit. I know I’m not entitled to anything I can’t fund myself. Unlike many on here

FunPartyIdeas · 14/10/2026 00:02

@ExpectMore Oh I'm fine -.the live-in nanny gets up all of my five children too, even when I'm off work.
Not that you're entitled 😀
Why parent when someone else can do it for you?

JenniferBooth · 14/10/2026 00:00

Well back in 2020 it sure wasnt those on low incomes who kept going on ski trips to affected regions What short memories some do have.

Just sayin!!!!!!!

Missbeeintheplace · 13/10/2026 23:57

As someone disabled my this. Thank you! 🩵🩵🩵🩵

Missbeeintheplace · 13/10/2026 23:55

Agreed. Thank you for caring about others. Covid has ruined my life, I have long covid and now me/cfs due to it. Often housebound or bedbound and maybe soon to lose my job and people out there not giving a care in the world about spreading it 😔 xx

Missbeeintheplace · 13/10/2026 23:53

Agreed. Covid has ruined my life, I have long covid and now me/cfs due to it. Often housebound or bedbound and people out there not giving a care in the world about spreading it 😔 x

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 23:51

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 23:33

@ExpectMore Rude as well as arrogant I see.
Anyway, best you go to bed - I imagine it will be an early start tomorrow with your little ones keeping you busy.

Edited

I’m ok thanks. I’ll probably have a little lie-in as we’ve some live-in help staying with us for a bit.

Sleep well mind, I suspect your brain is a little tired after all this trying to keep up

popdepop · 13/10/2026 23:40

My understanding is Covid is BAU now. My son currently has it, as does his dad. They tested. I have cough and headache and assume I’m getting it or have it. I’m fine to work and going about life, as per government advice, unless I’ve missed something?

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 23:33

@ExpectMore Rude as well as arrogant I see.
Anyway, best you go to bed - I imagine it will be an early start tomorrow with your little ones keeping you busy.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 23:17

@ExpectMore So sell it then.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 23:14

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 23:02

@ExpectMore A negative cash flow on a property you rent out?! Clearly economics and managing money isn't your forté?
Unless you are letting it out to tenants for a cheap price and taking the hit out of the goodness of your own heart?

I repeat, Landlords aren’t coining it in…. Despite what you may wish to believe.

edited to add: per my previous post, I could charge them c£300/month more but choose not to as it’s not worth it given they’re good tenants.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 23:13

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:58

I still had to deal with feeling like death and expected to work... I literally could not.

Show quote history

That’s poor. Well done for saying no and standing up for yourself.

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 23:02

@ExpectMore A negative cash flow on a property you rent out?! Clearly economics and managing money isn't your forté?
Unless you are letting it out to tenants for a cheap price and taking the hit out of the goodness of your own heart?

mumatlast14 · 13/10/2026 23:01

Covid isnt "just a cold'. Keep catching it at your peril. Initial infection may seem mild but the risk of long covid, brain damage, blood clots, heart damage, etc isnt. At some point the ever increasing numbers of disabled and those unable to work might just make the penny drop. Stay home if sick, wear an FFP3 or FFP2 mask to prevent spreading it or to protect yourself from others. There are many many global studies proving this. But hey it took 50 years for NHS & Gov to admit to causing the blood scandal. Not to mention originally encouraging smoking for lung health and thalidomide drugs in pregnancy. Don't expect quick acknowledgement that catching covid is a bad idea anytime soon - they can't afford the payouts.

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:58

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:57

Presumably it’s ok for it to have been counted as success as… it was sickness?!

Show quote history

I still had to deal with feeling like death and expected to work... I literally could not.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:57

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:53

I did.
I had to deal with this for half the day otherwise it would have been counted as sickness.

Show quote history

Presumably it’s ok for it to have been counted as success as… it was sickness?!

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:53

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:44

Why didn’t you say no and self declare as being unwell?

Show quote history

I did.
I had to deal with this for half the day otherwise it would have been counted as sickness.

PeasOff · 13/10/2026 22:49

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:46

I answered you, or another poster, previously.

Show quote history

Not me. You said it was self explanatory to me and then didn't respond to me challenging this.

Can you remind me of your answer please?

Greedybilly · 13/10/2026 22:48

It's a crazy world where
people are too frightened to be off ( as will lose money)
but then people like me ( who caught covid off a clearly sick collegue who could and should have stayed home ) had to give up work and now claims benefits.( like many thousands with Long Covid)
I'm not an economist but that makes no sense for the country does it?
Not paying sick pay is such a false economy ( and I hate the macho work culture around this)
Also it's f*cking horrible being stuck at home all day with no cure in sight but that's a different thread.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Where did I say I look down on people who can’t take 6 weeks off? I think you’re jumping to conclusions again, in the same way you’re contorting extra hard to be offended….

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:46

PeasOff · 13/10/2026 22:37

Are you being willfully ignorant considering how many times and in how many different ways people have explained things to you about the "£75"?

You never answered my question despite me asking numerous times - If someone is already struggling financially how do you suggest they save enough for sickness provision?

Again, it’s not that people don’t know how to plan; it's the assumption that everyone has the financial means to do so. Telling people to work harder or budget better doesn’t magically create extra money when there’s little or nothing left after covering all of the basic essentials.

Show quote history

I answered you, or another poster, previously.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:45

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:35

@ExpectMore Says the woman quite possibly charging a small fortune to private tenants so she can take 6 weeks off work 😀

lol I’m assuming maths wasn’t your strong point… how can a negative cash-flow fund time off…? Explain that one to me

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:44

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:33

I worked for the NHS and was expected to work despite shivering in full motorcycle leathers and feeling sick. Obvious start of the flu.

Show quote history

Why didn’t you say no and self declare as being unwell?

Pumpkindice · 13/10/2026 22:43

TempestTost · 13/10/2026 22:38

How do people even know it's covid, are they testing?

Most don't, or only know with hindsight (eg if symptoms start like a cold but are more varied/change/last longer) Which is why it's daft to assume everyone who has it or possibly has it should stay at home just in case. Even if people avoid actively socialising, most people have to work, shop, do the school run etc so actively staying away from other people isn't possible.

Swipe left for the next trending thread