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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have two days off for tummy bug?

37 replies

OiledBegg · 11/08/2015 13:54

DS was vomiting Saturday night. He caught it from his Dad. 48 hours later - last night - it was my turn. I haven't had an episode in the loo since 9am this morning still feel like shite.. Eaten nothing and no appetite.

Should I really be going in tomorrow, as my boss firmly suggested when I rung in this morning?

I work in a large open plan office, guidance on NHS website says stay off for 48 after last d or v. Does anyone in the workplace actually do this? Touch wood I am rarely unwell like this so don't know what the done thing is?

OP posts:

LilacWine7 · 11/08/2015 13:57

No definitely don't go in and risk spreading it!! You should be 48-hours clear of D&V before returning to work.
If your boss makes a fuss, just say you're still not feeling well enough.

happymummyone · 11/08/2015 14:04

Stay off work. You'll give it to a co-worker, they'll give it to their kids. If they come back too soon, another co-worker will get it. Think it'll save your boss some money just to have you off, not the whole office one by one. You have a moral obligation to stay in your dressing gown and drink some nice restorative tea.

HighwayDragon · 11/08/2015 14:08

IME you go into work as soon as you can.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/08/2015 14:11

If it was food poisoning, maybe, but this is obviously some sort of very contagious virus type thing.

Brambles35 · 11/08/2015 14:12

I actually work in a hospital and no one I work with ever adheres to the 48hr rule!! (Shocking I know but we just don't have enough staff) I don't have contact with patients though not that that makes it right

googoodolly · 11/08/2015 14:12

No, definitely not! Stay at home and recover.

LaLyra · 11/08/2015 14:13

Your symptoms started 48 after your Ds's. Firm suggestion or not you need to follow the 48 hour rule imo, you know it's contagious.

Nothavingfunrightnow · 11/08/2015 14:15

I would have thought that unless you are still actually feeling grim, then stay away for 24 hours - that's the recommendation at my DS's school.

TenForward82 · 11/08/2015 14:21

Totally feel your pain. My boss is MENTAL about this, he absolutely refuses to believe that anyone needs time off sick. We've had massive rows about it in the past. Even if you are sick, he expects you to come in so he can deign to send you home again. Ridiculous.

I recently had a tummy bug and took Friday / Monday off, no apologies, no guilt, but I did spend Monday night going through my various responses in my head to whatever argument he might start. Thankfully because I haven't put up with his shit in the past, he bit his tongue this time (although it was clear he was angry).

Don't let him push you - you're sick, you're sick. You need to time to recover, and as other posters have mentioned, you don't want to spread it around.

helensburgh · 11/08/2015 14:29

you must stay off but id be tempted to tell a lie and say i was still vomiting if i were you to your boss.

how would you feel if you passed it to a co worker with an elderly relative, young babay and they bcame v unwell. not worth it

LilacWine7 · 11/08/2015 14:33

IME you go into work as soon as you can

Why? Why risk spreading it to everyone you work with? I get so angry when people come into work with D&V bugs, or with a streaming cold and then breathe all over everyone else. What about co-workers who have lowered immunity or are pregnant or have young kids at home? It's selfish to go into work and spread it!

I work in healthcare and we have really strict rules about D&V. You can still be contagious even if symptoms have resolved.

TenForward82 · 11/08/2015 14:56

I hate the culture that says you must work until your fingers are ground to the bone and you're on your last legs. I work hard, I do my job, I do unpaid overtime, I'm entitled to a few days off when I feel like shit because I'm not working productively if I'm concentrating all my energy on not puking or fainting. IME only out-of-touch Managing Directors and HR dragons enforce this viewpoint.

TeaPleaseBob · 11/08/2015 15:07

Oh god, we've had a d&v bug in house for over a week now. Started with my DD, then my DH and mum (who had been looking after DD on day 1) then me. It's been hotrible, only just starting to feel human again. If I thought anyone had given me it by going to work when still contagious I'd be seriously pissed off.

Just stay off until 48 hours clear of d&v and hope none else gets it.

Skiptonlass · 11/08/2015 15:15

48 hours clear. There's a reason for this rule. Gastro bugs like norovirus spread like absolute bloody wildfire.

can you work from home? I've done that a few times if I've had something like this (ok to work but not ok to be around others or commute in.)

If your boss forces you in, I'd be tempted to inoculate his coffee/water/office door handle with the offending pathogen....

ActiviaYoghurt · 11/08/2015 15:21

I would probably offer to work from home if feeling better, if not then stay home. If your boss forces you to go to work then lick his coffee cup/desk etc.

cate16 · 11/08/2015 15:22

I thought it was 24 hours for adults as they fully understand how they feel, and also they know (or should do) how to maintain good hygiene procedures, and 48 hours for the very young that are not the best at hand washing and have a tendency to projectile vomit :)

Groovee · 11/08/2015 15:24

I would follow 48 hour rule

ImLizawithaZ · 11/08/2015 15:25

Don't go in! I work with kids and the last time I got that kind of bug was when someone ignored the 48hr rule. It spread like wildfire and I counted 100 people who got it because of that 1 person. Your boss is being vu! Hope you feel better soon

dixiechick1975 · 11/08/2015 15:29

Do you get sick pay? We don't just ssp which kicks in after 4 days off at £88 a week. People work even with d and v (run to toilets to be sick) Large open plan office too. Personally if you feel well enough I would work and not lose a full days pay/annoy boss.

AliceAlice1979 · 11/08/2015 15:48

I haven't worked anywhere where people stay off for 48 hours. Normally people here return to work when they are fit to.
Not great but it's business.

ProudAS · 11/08/2015 15:51

If your boss says go in then go in and do your best to give it to him.

TenForward82 · 11/08/2015 15:52

So who gets to judge when you're "fit"? Oh yes, it's either the person who is sick, or in long term cases, it's the GP. NOT the employer, unless they have a side qualification as a Doctor Of-Fucking-Everything.

AboutTimeIChangedMyNameAgain · 11/08/2015 15:55

I'm NHS and it's 48 hours.

HighwayDragon · 11/08/2015 16:29

If I don't work I'm not paid. I work in a school, the 'rule' for adults is 24hrs clear or when you feel better.

googoodolly · 11/08/2015 16:30

Officially it's 48 hours but I know plenty of people who go back earlier. Like others upthread, I don't get sick pay for the first 3 days and I can't afford to be off sick! SSP is less than half of my wage, it won't even cover rent let alone anything else.

DP is off work sick at the moment - signed off by GP. If I get sick this month, I'll have to go into work otherwise our rent and bills won't get paid. Sucks, but that's life on minimum wage.

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