WWYD? Pull a sicky or go to work and risk annoying everyone? (Covid)

[PretendUsername]

I have covid but I'm feeling ok. Rang work and they said come in, WFH not possible. They weren't happy about it but that's the official policy. If it spreads it will mess up some people's important plans over the next week or two. So I have 2 choices:

1. Use a tiny side office within the main office, shut the door, open the window and put a sign on warning people I have covid. That way it's up to them if they enter. I'd still have to nip out for the loo or to grab files but I could wear a mask.

1. Pretend I'm too sick to work and call off. Downside is I will lose pay and increase my Bradford score but it would probably be a big relief to my colleagues and put me in good standing with them.

Both options are a pain, WWYD?

If work say come in then go in

At a guess, maybe OP isn't a massive arsehole, unlike some posters.

If you’re too ill to work, stay home. If you feel ok, go in as normal.

If you have tested because you mix with ‘frail loved ones’, steer clear of them.

But you can still go to work. I don’t see the connection. My place of work requires no testing or isolating and hasn’t done for ages.

Oh dear, where do I begin. Looks like you're one of those posters. Sigh

I don't care about your mask debate. Masks are a courtesy I offer others if they wish me to use one, it's really not a very difficult concept.

Nobody said anything about patients, this is all in your head.

Covid can stuff up someone's plans at work if they are too ill to attend some important upcoming events. This has nothing to do with being vulnerable or not and is the same for any illness. I'm trying to figure out the courtesy and expectations surrounding this as I'm new to the office role.

I have vulnerable people in my personal life who need my help. They have their own rules about COVID for their own reasons. I respect their rules and disclose all symptoms for any illness and then let them decide what risk they're comfortable with when it comes to seeing them. Some are more cautious than others. I don't question their logic. They choose how they want to live, they have very little independence in other ways so the least I can do is respect their ability to make their own choices in life.

Stop derailing and move on. I'm focusing on office etiquette.

Love this.

Someone at work has good reason to want to know if they've had contact with covid. The disclosure was a matter of courtesy to them but also because I wasn't sure if home working was possible and needed to give a good reason for the request. Sadly it's not workable with current projects but it was worth asking.

Reading comprehension really isn't your strong point today is it. I'd give up if I were you.

This isn't strictly true. I work in a GPs and if we have symptoms we are required to test and are not allowed in to work if positive. This is why we are still entitled to free lateral flow tests.
Not allowed back in to work until 2 consecutive negative tests

It’s a new job, they’ve told you to go into work, so a sure way to piss them off is by not going in. You’re not being inconsiderate by doing your job.

I don’t get all the drama. What are your symptoms exactly? Go by those and not some dodgy and wholly inaccurate tests.

Office etiquette is really really simple.

You go to work if you are well enough to work. If you can work from home, great, if you can't then you go in.

If you are not well enough to work then call in sick.

That's about it really.

Wear a mask or don't, up to you. Work in a separate office or not, up to you and if there actually is one. Tell people if you want, some do some don't.

Option one. Wear a mask if you think it would help.

I'm logging off and won't check this post again, thanks for those who gave genuine input.

For those who didn't give genuine input I suggest making your own thread to argue about the value of masks or vaccines. I'm sure there's some bizarre small corner of mumsnet elsewhere where you can find your tin foil hat friends but it's not really relevant to the question about office etiquette here.

“Genuine input” = tell me what I want to hear

hilarious thread, sorry to see you go OP as you’re flouncing off! Byeeeee

Crikey OP. I'm guessing it won't be the covid that gets you rubbing your new colleagues up the wrong way.

I’m with you OP I feel like it’s really disrespectful to your work colleagues to go to work with covid (or any contagious illness). I’m not CEV but I still don’t want to chance getting sick.

@Biscuitea not really. People just couldn't resist an opportunity for a dig.

Dunno why my mask post got deleted. I was genuinely a bit baffled.

You ask in your first post if you should wear a mask to work if you have covid. Do what you want, noone cares at work either way unless you've got a specific policy I suppose. It's not going to do any harm, is it. You brought up mask wearing etiquette, not me.

But you only wear a mask to visit vulnerable people if you don't have covid but have some other infectious illness. Nice. So you don't actually think they work to stop covid, presumably? But want to wear one for work when you have covid?

Well, whatever.

Have a nice day at work. Alternatively if you feel too ill to go in, remember to call in sick.

I would really appreciate you alerting me to the risk per option one , there are still many people at great risk from covid

Exactly!

Just why?
Yes why did they stay off with a cold?

Your employer should not be having you in the office. It’s absolutely irresponsible.

you should at least let your colleagues know if you are coming in so they can take extra precautions or stay away if needed. I wouldn’t be coming in and my employer would know exactly why. I have a vulnerable person in my house. We still take precautions every day.

people who need to take precautions still need to work.

Because the “just a cold” gave everyone a fever and made them feel really unwell. No points for martyrdom. Thankful to work for an employer now who takes healthcare seriously.

Thank goodness I live in a country where you are supposed to test, and if positive, then you stay home. No decisions to be made.

Wear a mask. People are still becoming quite ill and a colleague told me that the sister of a friend just died of covid. No underlying other chronic illness, middle-aged, and dead now.

I'm currently day 10 of covid and still starting positive, due back at work tomorrow. I stayed off last week but was quite ill - feeling better now and my manager has said I can come in after day 10 anyway as long as I'm not feeling too ill.
I have warned my colleagues I'm still testing positive (and that I won't be offended if they avoid me!), will sit further away from others than normal, and will wear a mask when away from my desk.