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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New job, unwell with high temperature... WWYD?

102 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 11/12/2017 07:18

I started my new job 3 weeks ago after redundancy... I began to feel quite unwell yesterday afternoon and have woken up feeling pretty awful with a temp of 38.5°.
I’ve emailed my lovely HR woman so see what she advises... on the one hand I don’t want to have to take time off so soon, but at the same time it might be the kind of office where they think people who go in when they’re ill are dickheads.

WWYD?

OP posts:
positivity123 · 11/12/2017 07:20

Call in sick. Also when you go back don't make a massive deal about it to try and justify it.

JaneyEJones · 11/12/2017 07:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1471583707 · 11/12/2017 07:26

Take medicine and drink plenty and go in
Why do you need the hr woman to give you permission to be off

MimiSunshine · 11/12/2017 07:28

You shouldn’t have to do this and if it’s something contagious then no one will really thank you for it. BUT...

I always feel it’s better to go in obviously Ill and leave again than not go in at all. Sucks but often true. Then take a couple of days off sick, no one would expect you to go in tomorrow and wednesday would probably be fine and hopefully you’ll be ok by Thursday

Jobjobjob · 11/12/2017 07:32

Is 38.5 a high temperature? I'd probably dose up and go in.

Biboundeo · 11/12/2017 07:33

I'd go hoping to be sent back but it's not the empowering thing to do tbh, any chance of working (very visibly) form home?

JaneyEJones · 11/12/2017 07:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrankUnderwoodsWife · 11/12/2017 07:34

Go in and leave early. Generally one feels better during the middle of the day, and temperatures tend to spike early morning and evening.

Loads of liquids, paracetamol and ibroprofen and feel better

Frederickvonhefferneffer · 11/12/2017 07:35

If you are sick you stay home.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 11/12/2017 07:36

Is 38.5 a high temperature?

It’s 101.3 fahrenheit... yep pretty high.

Probably should have mentioned 2 of my colleagues in close proximity are pregnant

OP posts:
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 11/12/2017 07:37

Another one who says take tablets and go in and see how you feel later.

It's not really appropriate to email the lovely woman in HR to ask for advice - you've really put her on the spot now and kind of handed the decision over to her to make!

JaneyEJones · 11/12/2017 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GertrudeCB · 11/12/2017 07:41

Let hr guide you.
In my company we would prefer workers not to come in if they have a communicable disease but companies vary.

Bridechilla · 11/12/2017 07:41

I you're ILL, don't go to work. WTAF is wrong with people? No one wants to catch a colleagues illness or work next to a snot monster. Stay home and focus on getting well. It is appropriate to discuss it with HR, employee wellness is part of their job!

NNchangedforthis · 11/12/2017 07:41

What are your actual symptoms apart from a temp? Dose up and go to work. If it’s really that bad once you get there you can go home again.

allegretto · 11/12/2017 07:42

If you are sick you stay home.

This. Don't ask other people to make the decision for you. Only you know if you are well enough to work or not.

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 11/12/2017 07:43

It's not really appropriate to email the lovely woman in HR to ask for advice - you've really put her on the spot now and kind of handed the decision over to her to make!

Which was entirely my intention... she knows the office attitude towards sickness far better than I do! If she says come in and see how you feel then I will. If she says hell no stay far away then I’ll do that!

To clarify, the other symptoms are very swollen throat, coughing up green phlegm, ears ringing and splitting headache. I started on the paracetamol and ibuprofen last night and continued when I woke up at 6... no difference so far

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 11/12/2017 07:44

It is appropriate to discuss it with HR, employee wellness is part of their job!

Well being, yes, but unless they are medically qualified and/or psychic they will have no idea whether the OP is fit for work.

MsHarry · 11/12/2017 07:47

Don't go in with a temp like that. your body is saying rest.

extinctspecies · 11/12/2017 07:47

Sounds like a no-brainer. If you're not fit to work, call in sick.

When you feel better, go back to work.

Sounds like you might have a chest infection.

It's not like it's your first day in the new job.

thisagain · 11/12/2017 07:48

We had someone in work like that the other day. Certainly no one expected her in and she could have gone home at any point but no one questioned her decision to be in either. Probably contagious but there is so much illness around at the moment that no one thought about that. If you're up to dosing up on paracetamol and going in I would, if only for a few hours but certainly it isn't wrong to phone in sick. Personally my gauge is, do I feel so ill that if at home would I go to bed and sleep. If not, then I try to go to work.

MsHarry · 11/12/2017 07:48

I would not be grateful if I were your colleague. if you must can you work from home and deal with emails etc?

HeteronormativeHaybales · 11/12/2017 07:48

If you turned up to work in that state and I were your manager I'd ask you WTF you were doing there and send you home.

The UK attitude to work sickness absence is bonkers. Doesn't seem to do much for productivity either.

FuckyNellYaBastad · 11/12/2017 07:49

Go in ya wimp Xmas Grin

CotswoldStrife · 11/12/2017 07:50

It's not HR's decision to make - it's yours.