To think work can't expect me to come in

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

Basicly my Ds has just come out in chicken pox
I have never had them even as a child. At work my collegue is pregnant and has never had them.
I am on probation as just started the job. I had to take a week off for a kidney infection earlier and have been warned about my absence. My overall boss has been great but we have trustees who are a stickler for the rules etc.
What the hell happens now, i can't go in and potential infect a pregnant lady but how would this be recorded. I am not ill. Any advice or has anyone been in this position.

[witsender]

Sorry, what was the thread about then?

[rollonthesummer]

There was chickenpox doing the rounds where I work when I was pregnant with DC1. I hadn't had it, so the GP sent me to the hospital for an immunity test-it didn't take long at all for the results to come back and I was immune. Can you colleague arrange to have that done?

[Viviennemary]

What a pity you didn't volunteer this information in the first place. There is no problem. It is all sorted. So why post and waste people's time.

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

Because my boss only got back to me half way through the bloody thread and I was panicking and wanting some advice. But if it's a waste of your time then please feel free to not comment again.
Do people actually bother reading the whole thread commenting any more

[Sometimesithinkimbonkers]

You don't have chicken pox! It is up to your colleague to take AL not you!
There's nothing wrong with you and are being VVU!

[Fozzleyplum]

If the manager wanted your colleague to be at work, but your presence caused her a problem because of her pregnancy, and that was the only reason you were off, then technically you should have been given the time as additional unpaid leave. Your boss could possibly have given you some work to do at home. You should also have been given an assurance that your absence on this occasion would not count against you in reckoning sickness absence.

Even if you are happy with the current arrangement, it's worth bearing in mind that it seems you have put yourself out by taking annual leave to accommodate someone else's problem. This might be a useful argument to use in the future, eg if you need more time off sick or if you need time off to look after an ill child.

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

There's nothing wrong with most people when they take annual leave to be fair.
By boss has basically asked me to take a weeks annual leave as a favour to my colleague who has always been fantastic and also I get to look after my son. So I just throw that back in her their faces do I

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

That last post was not directed at you in any way fozzlyplum
I have been given assurances it won't affect my employment or record.
The way I see it the situation works for everyone and yes I may be able to call in a favour later but the way I see it my colleague gets to finish her work and I get to look after my son when he is poorly.
But some people still think IABVU to to do this and I should just go in.

[Fozzleyplum]

That's not what I said. I just pointed out that if you didn't need the time off to look after your DS, then you've been extremely accommodating by taking your annual leave to suit someone else and you might need to point that out in the future if you need a favour.

If it really did suit you to take the time off, and if your boss knows that was part of the reason, then everybody's happy.

[Fozzleyplum]

Cross post!

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

As I said that post about favours being thrown back in faces was not directed at you at all fozzleyplum. Apologies if you thought is was

[mathanxiety]

AFAIK early pregnancy is the time when exposure to chicken pox can pose dangers, with 8-20 weeks gestation the most dangerous period, as well as a few days before delivery and afterwards. Many women are exposed before they even know they are pregnant.

If your colleague has passed 20 weeks then she should be ok.

Looking ahead, it would be a really good idea for you to get immunised. Your colleague should consider it too.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I'd say no, but with the greatest respect and hopefully it doesn't happen if they do force you to go into work, when you're possibly infectious then put as nicely as I can It certainly will not be your fault if the cgicken pox gets passed around your work place.
Or he/she could tell your pregnant college to remain at home. With pay of course.

[Pooseyfrumpture]

Jeez just go and get the blood test! There really is no need for this drama from you, your boss or the pregnant lady. She gets tested, gets a jag if not immune. You get tested. You keep your job and your annual leave.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

When I was pregnant with DS chickenpox was going around the school that I worked in. I knew I hadn't had chicken pox as a child so contacted the midwife team for advice. They then arranged for my original blood sample taking at booking in to be tested for chicken pox immunity. Took a day to do, and they then phoned me back, as it turns out I was one of the very few people who isn't immune to chicken pox.

Surely your manager can inform the pregnant colleague, who can have the same test done, and then within a day or two you can be cleared to go in to work?

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

I am going to make enquirers about getting immunised even if I have to pay for it myself. Also my mum has dropped a bomb shell that I never had the MMR either (she believed all the bloody hype about it) I have had rubella as as child but none of the others. I am going to get the lot.

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

My boss has asked her to get tested and I am going to arrange it as well then hopefully everything will get back to normal

[flippinada]

Dolly bet you wish you'd mever asked now! Not that there's anything with asking, and I can completely understand why you were worried.

You did the right thing and have come to an agreement with your work - if both parties are content with the decision, that's all that matters, not what a bunch of people on the internet think. Also bear in mind this is AIBU and some people will come and be contrary for the sake of it.

I hope your DS is better soon.

[RhodaBorrocks]

OP FWIW as an immunocompromised person (Yay transplant!) I commend your thoughtfulness for your colleagues. Everyone I work with knows I am immunosupressed but are forever coming in saying their loved ones have got flu/noro/something else highly contagious. I get they can't stay off for coughs and colds, but the last time a cold went round the office I was the only knew who ended up with pneumonia. And I'm pretty sure one of them gave me glandular fever last summer because I got ill right after someone 'borrowed' my mug and it was only after using ill myself I found it hadn't been cleaned properly, bastard. And I too got pulled up for my absences, including absence for planned surgery! I'm currently signed off again as I had yet more planned surgery that went wrong so I've been off way longer than intended, so I'm dreading my return and the inevitable review meeting I will need. It's all transplant related and they took me on knowing I'm a transplant recipient so technically absences related to that should be covered as reasonable adjustments under the DDA.

A company that is disability related and employs people with disabilities should know the DDA inside out. I'm in a related area too. My immediate boss is wonderfully supportive, but HR are all about policy. (Sigh)

So thank you. I think you've done brilliantly even though you know you could put yourself in jeopardy. Hopefully your boss has noted your conscientiousness (I would!) and that may redeem any annoyance at your absence. Hope your little one feels better soon!

[HPandBaconSandwiches]

You can get your CP and measles immunity levels checked and resulted in 24 hours. Most GPs would be happy to do that for you in the circumstances.

Just phone and ask. The annual leave suits you but your employer was wrong to suggest it.

Over 90% of the population are immune, including many who didn't think they had ever had Chicken pox.

Hope your DS feels better soon.

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

Thanks flippinada

[Playdoughcaterpillar]

I have not RTFT but incubation period is 14-21 days. If you have caught it you will be contagious a few days before you come out in spots. Ie not for another 10d at least. You can go to work.

[Iggi999]

I think you are doing the right thing to be concerned about your colleague. The mixed info on here shows that many people don't know when it is risky for a pg woman, so an employer might easily not either.
I'm more shocked that you were warned for being in hospital, for only three days of work time if I've read that correctly?

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

Yep it was three days of works time.
Thanks rhodabarrocks for your post, that alone has made me realise I have done the right thing

[Dollymixtureyumyum]

Also I hope everything gets sorted with work Rhodabarrocks. I know what it's like to dread those back to work meetings. In my last job I was off a lot with epileptic seizures that have now really calmed down thank goodness but knowing I would have to go back to that meeting was hell