WIBU to speak to manager about colleagues coming into work when they are s

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I have a primary immunodeficiency, as well as taking immunosuppressive medication for an autoimmune condition. I also have other complex health problems and I am disabled as defined by the Equality Act.

My manager has begun to make "you're off sick a lot" comments and talking about an Occy Health referral and further adjustments, which I understand and have accepted. I totally see it from their view and have nothing bad to say about my employer. I'm nowhere near official disciplinary stages, although I worry that I am edging towards that if my health doesn't improve

I'm a bit miffed at colleagues who insist on coming into the office when they are clearly unwell. I'm not talking about simple colds. They come in, cough, splutter and moan about their temperatures whilst looking hideous but refuse any suggestion that they should be at home. Frustratingly, people come in with stomach bugs too. I wouldn't mind but we are encouraged to work from home, so they don't have to be in the office. I totally understand that my colleagues have responsibilities and bills to pay

I don't know what I would gain from telling my manager this because he is aware that people come in when they shouldn't. I just feel like he should be aware that sometimes I am catching bugs from fellow colleagues.

I'm totally 50-50 on whether I should even say the words; "I am catching infections from colleagues". I'm open to being told I'm BU. I'm also keen to hear suggestions from other people who've been in my shoes. I really love my job and I'd hate not to work. Mentally, it's really important to me.

This is really tricky one.
If your colleagues have the option of working at home when I'll then it's a good idea for them to use it.
On the other hand, you might, and most likely will come in contact with iall sorts of sickness in your everyday life, trains, busses, shops and restaurants.
It's very difficult to avoid it.

I do think that whilst if someone has something highly infectious they should avoid spreading it but realistically we couldn't operate as a society if everyone who had a cold stayed at home in isolation. In the end someone has to pay.

We have a culture in which being not 100% well is seen as being unable to work - yet we expect not to lose out. It is not sustainable.

Take precautions and protect yourself as best you can. Gloves, WFH when possible, anti-bac gel etc.

Boogers

Wind it in!

Unfortunately it sounds like there is a culture there of intolerance of illness and presenteeism.

You are not wrong, but speaking up probably won't change anything.

But addressing such issues is always good if you feel up to it and it wont make you worry about your job

Generally businesses care more about making money rather than being fair to staff.it is more in their interests to get rid if the immune suppressed person than tell the rest of the staff to take more sick days . I would keep your head below the parapet.

Sadly true..but actually discriminatory and hopefully illegal.

My staff don't get sick pay, therefore they drag themselves in, make each other and the vulnerable people they care for sick and the whole cycle goes round.But they literally can't afford to stay home sometimes.
In your case op your colleagues could stay home, and WFH.
But that said so could you as you have been...were I you I would continue (try and up?) the WFH-your health unfortunately won't be anyone else's first priority except your own (understandably) and if you can protect yourself by working from
Home (albeit you may like it less as its boring and what not) then you should.
Also yes to asking work to extend your trigger point levels for sickness if you have a recognised medical condition-they can't really say no to that I would my have thought.

I am pregnant and have a lowered immune system. I am catching every single thing going at the moment, as soon as I get over one thing I get something else. It's due to my colleagues coming in when sick and coughing/sneezing everywhere with no though for personal hygiene! I slather myself in anti bac and deep clean my desk frequently but I still catch things.

It's miserable as I cannot take anything for it so I end up taking time off to "rest" as that is all I can do!

Can see both sides as i am currently heading into work with a streaming cold, bit feel well enough to work and no way would be allowed time off.

But have some health issues and personal commitments which make it hard when i get sick, like when colleagues come in being sick and stay at work.

The culture of presenteeism in UK does need to change IMO. Its become OK to exploit people.

Last night, in desperation I bought a box of 50 surgical masks (£11.50 on Amazon Prime for slightly more elegant black ones). I will not be afraid to use them in the coming weeks to prevent picking up any more viruses, because for me they turn into bacterial infections. I might look like a paranoid plank in the office but it's better than having a panic attack when yet another colleague comes in sick!

I'm having an OH review soon and an HR review on Thursday. To my mind I'm doing everything I can to prevent my own illness and now it's up to them to see if there are any reasonable adjustments they can make. I may be able to swing WFH on days when there is high sickness or if I have yet another stomach bug. If my boss can WFH I don't see why they can't arrange it for me on health grounds. At previous jobs WFH has been the answer - at my last job I barely had any sickness because I was able to WFH whenever I wanted - which meant all stomach complaints were worked through and the only time off I had was for pneumonia or when my transplant rejected, requiring hospitalisation.

I think if you can say honestly op that you are doing all you can to help yourself then they have a duty to make reasonable adjustments like adjusting your trigger point and allowing you more flexibility to WFH.

The bog standard surgical masks only work for about 30 seconds.

Excellent hand hygiene and trying not to touch your face work better than the masks will.

I'm already doing that Libitina. I work in a hospital (away from patients), I'm trained in hand hygiene, infection control and have access to copious amounts of hand gel. I used to teach hand hygiene to schoolkids so I have no concerns over my own hygiene. DS has had noro and rota virus before and I've not caught it because I can clean and control our environment effectively. The problem arises when sick colleagues come in and don't cover themselves when they cough/sneeze and the fact that the men in the office don't wash their hands after using the loos.

The masks are a last ditch attempt to reduce any remaining risks and to say to HR "Hey look, I'm trying my best here!" as the last time I was reviewed I was told to "try harder [to not get sick]". They're a prop to make my disability more visible really, which is sad I'm going to such lengths.

We have a team member out having cancer treatment at the moment, I wonder if they'll make adjustments for when they come back, bearing in mind what's been said up thread.

I would ask about wfh on an almost permanent basis. A few people at dp's work do this due to commitment they have. They come in from time to time,

It may also be worth looking st your commute. I have just got off a train full of coughed, sneezers and sniffles. They problem is they cover their mouths with hand so think that's fine. Then go on to touch handrails and the germs then get transferred to everyone touching the same items as they have. Use gloves and anti/bac on public transportation.