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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people shouldn't come into the office when they're sick??

68 replies

Thelittleredhead · 03/05/2016 08:36

That's it really.

It REALLY annoys me. The woman I share an office with is full of cold. Sniffing and coughing and sneezing. Not only is it gross, but I am 14 weeks pregnant and therefore more susceptible to colds and stuff, and really don't want to catch it from her. I hate when people come in sick, it's like they don't want to be seen as 'weak', or think it's impressive that they're 'struggling through'.

Would IBU to ask her to work from home for a couple of days (I'm senior to her so could probably get away with doing so) or to move to a different office? Or would that be over reacting and offensive? I normally wouldn't be so sensitive to this stuff but...while pregnant I feel like I should take better care.

WWYD?

OP posts:
NeedACleverNN · 03/05/2016 08:38

Ywbvu to ask her to go home!!

She has a cold...that's it. If everyone took time off every time they had a cold they would never work

Get over it

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 03/05/2016 08:40

What's the sick pay like at your place? And at what point do HR start disciplinary action for time off?

If you're senior you're in a position to look at what it is about your company that makes people feel they should be in work when unwell.

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 03/05/2016 08:44

Good god, it's a cold not ebola. As pps have said, if everyone in the world took time off when they had a cold, the world economy would grind to a very fast halt. Thankfully most people don't like shirking from work because of a sniffle.

If, at this early stage, you see yourself becoming a pregnancy bore, do try and nip it in the bud. 9 mths is a long time.

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 03/05/2016 08:45

God, I missed the senior bit.

Please don't. If you told me to take time off when I had a cold, I'd have you to the tribunal before you could say "baby bump"

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 03/05/2016 08:46

Yes and no. Not much fun for anyone, but a) it's a cold and b) given that most places only pay SSP and discipline for sickness, she's not got much choice. D&V is a different ballgame. We had a twat bring giardiasis into the office some years back and his workstation had to professionally sanitised at vast expense.

LouBlue1507 · 03/05/2016 08:47

YABVU

BadDoGooder · 03/05/2016 08:47

Most people can't afford to take time off for a cold ffs!
You'll be fine, people get colds all the time.

The only way you'll avoid ill people is by not seeing anyone for the whole pregnancy, no shopping/public transport/work/bank etc.

Better not use money either, someone with a cold might have touched it!

BadDoGooder · 03/05/2016 08:48

Oh and YABVVVU!!

BadDoGooder · 03/05/2016 08:49

Just seen the bit about you being senior and getting her to work from home!
If you did that to me, just for having a cold, I would complain!

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 03/05/2016 08:52

It's usually either because of pay or because of attendance meetings. I imagine attending one and saying you had a cold would look pretty bad.

reallybadidea · 03/05/2016 08:53

Why don't you work from home for a few days? That way you won't catch anything from the plebs.

Helenluvsrob · 03/05/2016 08:54

Are you sure it's not hayfever anyway?

Time off for a cold? You may be senior but your employers would absolutely love you for suggesting she went home ( not!)

PurpleDaisies · 03/05/2016 08:56

You are being precious. Flu absolutely means stay home. A cough and the sniffles is fine to go to work. The whole country would grind to a halt if everyone with a cold took time off.

Ilovenannyplum · 03/05/2016 08:59

I wouldn't take time off for a cold and I would be massively offended if I was told to work from home by a manager.

If you're senior enough to tell her to work from home, surely you're also able to work from home too?

If it's bothering you that much, you go home....

snowgirl1 · 03/05/2016 09:03

YABU. It irritates me when people say that colleagues with a cold shouldn't be in the office spreading their germs around - as a PP has said, it's a cold not ebola. You haven't even had your baby yet and you're acting all PFB.

If you want to take better care while you're pregnant, wash your hands more frequently, take vitamins and make a concerted effort not to touch your face/mouth/eyes etc.

BoopTheSnoot · 03/05/2016 09:04

I had a heavy cold that I caught from a colleague at about 33 weeks into this pregnancy. Still went to work with it myself. Wasn't upset with the colleague that I caught it off either. It's a cold. It happens. You really can't expect someone to go home because of a common cold. Up to you if you want to move into another office till she gets over it, but I think it's a bit OTT.

oliviaclottedcream · 03/05/2016 09:06

of course they shouldn't amd in an ideal world they wouldn't have to. But they feel pressured not have time off. Is this news to you OP?

Oysterbabe · 03/05/2016 09:08

It's a cold. Get over yourself.
If I took time off for colds in my place I'd be on a disciplinary and performance management before the year was out. I need my job.

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 03/05/2016 09:11

Christ it's a cold, if everyone took time off for the a cold the country would grind to a halt for half the year!

You would be massively out of order to ask her to work from home. If you are that precious about catching s cold, you work from home!

Sheesh, does pregnancy entitlement know no bounds?! Confused

ElinoristhenewEnid · 03/05/2016 09:11

Jesus wept! When did attitudes change towards sickness absence?
When I worked you were not disciplined for being sick and you were paid!

One employer 'only' paid 2 weeks full/2 weeks half pay for the first 6 months (thought that was stingy) followed by 3 months full/3 months half for next 5 years then the traditional 6 months full/6 months half for 'white collar' workers.

One of my colleagues had just completed her 6 months and then went off sick for 5 months with a long term debilitating disease - employers felt sorry for her and helped her, not disciplined her, and she was paid for the whole time in line with above.

Some years later same colleague had terminally ill husband and she asked for time off to be with him during his final weeks (happy to take unpaid) - she was paid her full salary for the 3+ months she was absent.

Another stance taken by my dsis employers was that you could be disciplined if you came into work ill - you were expected to stay off on full pay. They did not want employees in the office spreading viruses etc and it took the pressure off the employees to be seen to perform.

Whatever system is in place there will always be people who try to take advantage and will get away with it - but why penalise the majority for the sins of the minority?

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 03/05/2016 09:12

x post purpledaisies

eurochick · 03/05/2016 09:14

Wait until your baby is a toddler. They are little germ factories and pass everything they get on to you. I don't think I've had more than a week between colds in a year. If I took time off every time I'm ill I would never be at work!

jimpam · 03/05/2016 09:16

Someone came into my office with diarrhoea & vomiting the other week. They were asked to leave & we had to clean her desk & all the door handles etc. No clue why you would come in with symptoms like that Envy

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 03/05/2016 09:20

Elinor - I'm not sure when it changed. Where I used to work it was the 6months full pay, 6months half pay but they brought in the Bradford Scale in about 2000 I think. Where DP works it's SSP only but no "disciplinary". Where he used to work it was SSP only and disciplinary. It's seriously shit these days.

Racheyg · 03/05/2016 09:22

I don't get sick pay, so I would go in for just a cold s&d is different. It's only a cold.

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