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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:
PeasOff · 13/10/2026 22:43

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Another ableist comment. Gross

ruethewhirl · 13/10/2026 22:39

Awkwardisfunny · 12/10/2026 19:57

In a word: yes. In more words: you also make decisions that benefit you and you only care about this because you're impacted.

The elderly have been dying each year in their thousands from the flu for how long? Did you ever stay home to protect them or think to wear a mask? No, you didn't. You only care / we only care when we are personally impacted.

Speak for yourself.

TempestTost · 13/10/2026 22:38

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

Pumpkindice · 13/10/2026 22:37

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PeasOff · 13/10/2026 22:37

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:31

It should be insignificant to all when considered against the value of life. No-one, anywhere, should knowingly put another’s life at risk for £75. To do so is utterly ridiculous and selfish

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.

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 😀

Greedybilly · 13/10/2026 22:34

A few years ago I would have carried on if I could - gone to work etc etc. ( wouldn't have gone to an exercise class though that's just daft if you think you're infectious)
I hated the whole masking/testing really hated it.
Fast forward 6 years and my dickhead colleague came to work clearly unwell with covid and spread it around. ( despite her being previously hospitalised with it ffs!)
I now have Long covid ( housebound most days) and had to give up work and claim benefits.
I wouldn't wish my situation on anyone but spare a thought for the thousands still suffering from the first wave of covid and are basically now f*cked.

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:33

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:28

Rubbish. Being considerate to others should be a basic expectation of all. Knowingly infecting others is not ok.

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

Packofsix · 13/10/2026 22:33

Who still tests? Like seriously who is paying for tests? As any left over won’t work now. Get a grip OP.
and they should get a grip too

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:32

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 13/10/2026 22:24

I don't get paid for bring off sick so I'll stay home if you make up the pay difference.

Why do you need to be incentivised to do the right thing? Why can’t you just do what’s right for the greater good? Why is it you can only think of your bank balance when others are thinking of their lives

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:31

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:23

@ExpectMore You just don't get it do you? £75 is insignificant to you; it's certainly not insignificant to those on NMW. I'm done. You will never understand.

It should be insignificant to all when considered against the value of life. No-one, anywhere, should knowingly put another’s life at risk for £75. To do so is utterly ridiculous and selfish

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:29

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ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:28

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:24

Ha, no people can not do whatever jobs they wish to. Are you from the 90s?

The job market is totally different now. And people need to work to live and keep a roof over their head.. even if they are coughing up a lung and putting people at risk.

Rubbish. Being considerate to others should be a basic expectation of all. Knowingly infecting others is not ok.

Pumpkindice · 13/10/2026 22:27

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GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/10/2026 22:27

If you don’t get sick pay and can’t wfh then fine but if you do have those options, stay home!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/10/2026 22:26

I did hope that Covid would teach us that it’s a good idea to stay at home at least for a bit when you’re at your most contagious, if at all possible.

So if you can wfh when you have a virus - do it. An exercise class is non essential, so don’t go with Covid or a cold or anything of the like.

I agree with you OP that it’s selfish to spread things about.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 13/10/2026 22:24

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 don't get paid for bring off sick so I'll stay home if you make up the pay difference.

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:24

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:21

No you’re clearly missing the point. People can do whatever jobs they wish to do, that’s their prerogative, the point is they then live with their means. No job better or worse than another. No person better or worse than another. Just different, simple really. And some in this thread clearly with amazingly self centred “me me me views” re. prev poster whose £75 was more important than another persons live.

Ha, no people can not do whatever jobs they wish to. Are you from the 90s?

The job market is totally different now. And people need to work to live and keep a roof over their head.. even if they are coughing up a lung and putting people at risk.

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:23

@ExpectMore You just don't get it do you? £75 is insignificant to you; it's certainly not insignificant to those on NMW. I'm done. You will never understand.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:21

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:11

I would assume you can tell from their name alone that they think anyone in MW jobs is a loser. They look down on people on benefits.

Edited

No you’re clearly missing the point. People can do whatever jobs they wish to do, that’s their prerogative, the point is they then live with their means. No job better or worse than another. No person better or worse than another. Just different, simple really. And some in this thread clearly with amazingly self centred “me me me views” re. prev poster whose £75 was more important than another persons live.

ruethewhirl · 13/10/2026 22:18

Apaoqh · 13/10/2026 11:16

I don’t think the shop I work for would survive if we all took time off whenever we had a cold or similar illness where it’s not a seriously ill situation. Yes it would be nice but it’s not really workable

And this is a big part of the problem, I'll concede that. Businesses are having to operate so leanly in order to make a profit, that for some staff welfare becomes bottom priority. Our economy is so shit.

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 22:17

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:10

@ExpectMore Do you judge success purely on finances? We're 45 and 50 and long-term private renters; my husband works in social care (acute adult mental health) and I tutor children with significant additional needs who are unable to access any mainstream school setting. Neither of these pay well and yes, I can't afford to take time off ill.
What utter losers in life are we compared to your wonderful self!

No of course not. I didn’t I’m fact introduce the concept of success. Others did.

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 22:11

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:10

@ExpectMore Do you judge success purely on finances? We're 45 and 50 and long-term private renters; my husband works in social care (acute adult mental health) and I tutor children with significant additional needs who are unable to access any mainstream school setting. Neither of these pay well and yes, I can't afford to take time off ill.
What utter losers in life are we compared to your wonderful self!

I would assume you can tell from their name alone that they think anyone in MW jobs is a loser. They look down on people on benefits.

FunPartyIdeas · 13/10/2026 22:10

@ExpectMore Do you judge success purely on finances? We're 45 and 50 and long-term private renters; my husband works in social care (acute adult mental health) and I tutor children with significant additional needs who are unable to access any mainstream school setting. Neither of these pay well and yes, I can't afford to take time off ill.
What utter losers in life are we compared to your wonderful self!

ExpectMore · 13/10/2026 21:41

XenoBitch · 13/10/2026 21:37

And she relies on people not "successful" enough to rent her properties and pay her mortgage.

*some of my mortgage, I pay the rest of it

Come on, specifics again: remember the numbers don’t stack up? 😉

My tenants seem fairly successful btw. I’d be pleased to be where they are at their stage of life. They’re just setting out. Am sure they’ll make a success of things