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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if I should call in sick tomorrow (TMI)

56 replies

Katrose · 08/02/2015 20:17

I threw up about four times this morning- I felt nauseous and tried to be sick but didn't, then I had some water and threw up everywhere. I also had some diarrhoea. But I feel so much better now- I ate some crackers which helped a lot. But as I've technically had D&V, should I go to work tomorrow? I'm worried if I phone and say 'oh I'm feeling fine but think I should wait' I'll get laughed at by our office manager...

OP posts:
InfinitySeven · 08/02/2015 20:18

Do you work in a school, or somewhere handling unpackaged food?

arkestra · 08/02/2015 20:18

Personally if I was your colleague I'd want you to stay at home for the day!

BlinkAndMiss · 08/02/2015 20:19

Do everyone else a favour and stay off, tell your boss it's D&V without explaining the details. Your colleagues will not thank you for spreading that around.

LokiBear · 08/02/2015 20:19

Phone and tell them you have been sick 4 times and can't come in. Your colleagues will appreciate you sticking to the 48 hour rule. You don't need to say that you feel fine at all.

Original poster
Katrose · 08/02/2015 20:19

I work in a university library- minimal contact with students but I work closely with a lot of people- I genuinely feel absolutely fine so I'm wondering if I should just take loads of antibacterial hand gel to work and stay away from everyone...

OP posts:
JeanSeberg · 08/02/2015 20:20

Go in unless you work with food, the elderly or the young.

GetSober · 08/02/2015 20:20

Stay at home, definitely. Is there any work you could do at home?

JeanSeberg · 08/02/2015 20:21

You work in a library and feel fine. You should definitely go in.

clippityclop · 08/02/2015 20:21

Stay at home just in case. i don't think antibacterial gel would make any difference.

GetSober · 08/02/2015 20:22

Antibacterial gel won't kill viruses, though. You may have got off lightly with it, but anyone else you pass a virus to may not be so lucky. What if you pass it to a colleague and they take it home to an elderly relative, young baby, immuno compromised person etc?

Stealthpolarbear · 08/02/2015 20:23

48 hour rule is for schools,not adults!!

meglet · 08/02/2015 20:25

stay at home.

toddlerwrangling · 08/02/2015 20:29

Jean, with a low immune system and some other medical problems, I've had D&V three times this year - most probably because colleagues who "felt fine" went into work and infected everyone else.

Most infectious D&V bugs this time of year are a strain of noro (or other bugs like rotavirus) - these can vary in severity and affect some people less than others, but to pass them on to others, esp children and people with compromised immune systems who may suffer badly with them, is bloody selfish. Any workplace should realise this and observe the 28hr rule - you are still infectious from a D&V bug for some time after you feel better, and it doesn't matter if you work in a library or wherever - it's in the loos, and around the staff kettle, and on the doorknobs and so on, that you easily pass it on.

toddlerwrangling · 08/02/2015 20:29

*48hr rule

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/02/2015 20:29

Let them make the call. Ring them and tell them what you've told us and say "what do you want me to do?" If you go in and infect loads of colleagues then you can blame your manager. Grin

If you get told to stay home and it turns into just a nice day off then you can be guilt-free!

WastingMyYoungYears · 08/02/2015 20:30

Is the 48 hour rule for school, not adults though Stealth? We were discussing this at work recently. Can you link to anything that says that?

DoJo · 08/02/2015 20:30

I agree 48 hour rule is for children who cannot be relied upon to avoid spreading their germs. For adults, it is usually only necessary to avoid work if you are in food preparation or a similar environment. In your position, I would probably go in, but it's really your call.

pinkie1982 · 08/02/2015 20:30

I work in a hospital. We have the 48 hour rule.

LadyLuck10 · 08/02/2015 20:33

The 48 hour rule is for children, when did it become a thing with adults except on hereConfused you are fine so should go in.

TRexingInAsda · 08/02/2015 20:33

I would definitely go in. They don't even have a 48 hour rule at my kid's school - they had one at nursery though. In a library - you're fine.

DoJo · 08/02/2015 20:34

(By similar, I meant an environment where you are likely to pass on a bug, so hospital, care home, colleague licking centre or similar.)

Baddz · 08/02/2015 20:34

The 48 hour rule is for everyone and if more people followed it we wouldntt have the massive outbreaks of noro we have these days!

helensburgh · 08/02/2015 20:36

Stay off, you will likely be infectios.
Antibacterial hand gel does sod all to prevent viruses spreading.

Antiviral hand gel might but you will be infectious.

Agree 100% with baddz

Stay off till wednesday

Fluffycloudland77 · 08/02/2015 20:37

Alcohol gel won't work on viruses. If you feel Ill stay in.

Chchchchanging · 08/02/2015 20:37

As a colleague came to work recently with what turned out to be scarlet fever but felt fine I'd appreciate you staying off
I'm early days pregnant and struggled when to my face they said well mooned pregnant it's fine... Shock