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Original poster

I have a dreadful cold, want to call in sick- but it's not covid

37 replies

piddocktrumperiness · 09/11/2021 05:21

Hi everyone. I've got a terrible cold, nothing unusual; sore throat, v croaky- runny nose and the lot. No temperature. Negative for covid. I previously would lemsip up and go into work (I teach in a school) and only call in sick if I'm absolutely incapacitated because for one thing, the workload coming back grows and the guilt of leaving the kids sets in quite quickly anyway.

We don't wear masks in class, I have an autoimmune condition and I don't want to be spluttering and sneezing and coughing in class. There is no real guidance on this. We're told that If we're v unwell we should stay at home, If we have covid symptoms, I should stay home but a part of me thinks I could go in and soldier on because I don't have a temperature, I've done it pre pandemic and as long as I keep drinking warm tea, keep my tissues on me and keeping my distance I should be fine but it doesn't sit right with me knowing how rife the cases of covid are- even though they are unrelated. What is acceptable for 'unwell' anyway?

I guess I'm looking for someone to tell me it's ok to call in sick because truthfully, I would get back into bed and sleep as much as I can, but when medicated would feel ok to pop to the shops. The pandemic has made me over think illness and mixing and I don't know what is the right thing to do.

OP posts:
TreaslakeandBack · 09/11/2021 05:23

Stay at home. Flowers

SmallGreenStripes · 09/11/2021 05:31

Stay at home

SpringRainbow · 09/11/2021 05:32

If they are telling you to stay home when unwell then it’s absolutely ok to stay home.

Rest up and get well soon.

Interested in this thread?

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Covid-19 General health
JustOneMoreStep · 09/11/2021 05:39

Teacher here, call in sick and rest up. You say its not covid, presumably you've tested to double check. Part of being a teacher is modelling behaviours and that includes self care. Call in sick and feel better.

violetanemone · 09/11/2021 05:48

Call in sick.

The world will not end because you don't teach for a day or two.

In the nicest way, you're not that important Grin I think the teaching profession can make it seem like everything is so essential, but the kids will be fine!

You can take some time off xx

Morph2lcfc · 09/11/2021 05:50

Do what you would have done ore Covid. If you are feeling ill enough then call in sick, COVID isn’t the only illness now

ZealAndArdour · 09/11/2021 05:59

Think about the huge amount of inconvenience you’ll cause to so many families of you pass this cold on to any of the children and they happen to spoke a fever or develop a cough with it. Kids isolating, parents off work, etc.

You can stop and contain this within your household, do it.

Also, I hope it’s a PCR test you’ve done and not a LFT.

ZealAndArdour · 09/11/2021 06:00

*if
*spike

Mybalconyiscracking · 09/11/2021 06:03

Book a PCR, just to be sure.. and stay home.

JuneOsborne · 09/11/2021 06:05

I don't think anyone would want you at work.

I'm a lecturer and one of our team came in full of a cold. She was sent home. Lft and PCR negative.

Iggly · 09/11/2021 06:06

Have you taken a PCR? Any covid in your class? Either way, stay home.

Moorlander · 09/11/2021 06:06

I am also a teacher and phoned in sick yesterday in the same circumstances. I am so ill I was convinced I did have Covid but PCR negative! I am feeling less guilt than I used to as I really don't feel up to it and also really don't want to pass whatever this is onto anyone else. I slept all day yesterday and am not going in today either. Rest and get yourself better, they will cope without you x

TeddyBeans · 09/11/2021 06:10

I have a cold too, they seem so much worse this year. I don't think I caught any colds last year soy immune system seems to be a bit shocked that it's under attack again 🤣 I went to school yesterday (TA) but I do regret it. It was a really hard day and I came home exhausted

TeddyBeans · 09/11/2021 06:10

So my*

QueenofLouisiana · 09/11/2021 06:17

I had a runny nose with Covid, DS had a sore throat. Best to book a PCR (postal if you are feeling very unwell). Stay in bed until the results are through.

Also, no one needs to share your cold! Stay at home. I’m also a teacher so understand the pressure to go in, but don’t.

Sprostongreen21 · 09/11/2021 06:44

Stay off!! Time to look after yourself or it will stay for ages…

I’m just recovering from one of the horrible viruses circulating. I was floored for 2/3 days. Ended up a week off sick. Wasn’t just a cold I’ve had numerous other symptoms. I’ve rested and rested. Still mild lingering symptoms a week later.

I work on a ward and couldn’t have functioned 12 hour days in a mask on a very busy ward.

x2boys · 09/11/2021 07:03

If your sick ,your sick ,I had a horrendous cough and cold a few weeks ago ,LFT and PCR both negative,I was far more unwell than my son was when he did have COVID in July

berry271909 · 09/11/2021 07:25

Sorry you feel so ill. I had this last week and was in bed Tuesday to Friday. Stay off, don't pass it on to anyone else. 🤧💐

DrMadelineMaxwell · 09/11/2021 07:31

Another teacher here.

I currently have covid. Feel like shite.

But my colleague was a lot worse in terms of symptoms and feeling awful recently with the horrible cold that is going round. She tried battling through and got sent home. And she was poorly with it for a couple of weeks.

I know how hard it is to not go into school of you arent well and I've also battled through coughs and cold in the name of not letting my class down.

But even if you went in and chose to wear a mask (which my colleague did ) then you arent going to be in your A-game.

Stay home. CakeFlowers

GoldenLabbie · 09/11/2021 07:58

At my work people with heavy colds are being sent home as a precaution even if it’s not Covid.

Dragonfire282 · 09/11/2021 08:04

Stay at home, take a couple of days to get over the worst of it. Heavy colds like that can make you feel really rotten, it's OK to take time to look after yourself when you need to.

SleighBells21 · 09/11/2021 08:06

I had this last week and was off work, couldn't move.
Ring in sick.

milkytwilight · 09/11/2021 08:08

Was it LFT or PCR? My lateral flows were coming back negative for days even after having a positive PCR. They only showed up as positive 4 days into having Covid.

Longdistance · 09/11/2021 08:11

Stay at home. I had this last month and went to get a PCR just to be sure. Gave me a few days off work to recover. You don’t want to spread your germs either way,

MagicalFish · 09/11/2021 08:15

You need to rest, and besides I wouldn't thank my kids teacher for going in with a bad cold and potentially spreading it around the class.

Hope you feel better soon!

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