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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I wrong to tell her to stay away?

36 replies

Byebyebye · 17/03/2018 13:55

So on Thursday I come in and see my colleague in early. She’s never in early so I was surprised. She then left at 10 as she didn’t feel well.

Turns out she woke up with vomiting and diarrhea so that’s why she was in early. Why do people come into work sick??? We get paid full pay whilst off sick so she wouldn’t have lost money, we’re ahead in work so it wouldn’t have mattered if she wasn’t in and I know she hasn’t taken any other sick days so she wouldn’t have got into trouble.

Next day she’s in!!! Our boss isn’t as they’ve caught her sickness and my other colleague vomited whilst driving - this colleague just got back to work this week having recovered from cancer treatment.

Anyway over she trots to me saying can you just look at this for me. I said sorry can you please stay away from me I don’t want to get sick.

Apparently she’s upset 🤷🏼‍♀️

Was I in the wrong?

OP posts:
RoseWhiteTips · 17/03/2018 13:57

You were very rude. I would not utter such words.

AtrociousCircumstance · 17/03/2018 13:58

You’ve a got a point.

MerryShitmas · 17/03/2018 13:59

Banishing her to her own section/corner isn't going to stop you getting sick, saying what you said was rude.
YABU.

Greenyogagirl · 17/03/2018 13:59

Wow you were a bit harsh!
Maybe she thought it was food poisoning and not something contagious

Nanny0gg · 17/03/2018 14:00

48 hours clear.

She was very thoughtless and if upset- tough!

CoalitionOfChaos · 17/03/2018 14:02

No you had every right to say that, she should have stayed at home. Very selfish.

BaldricksTrousers · 17/03/2018 14:04

She shouldn't have come in as she had no way of knowing what type of bug she had (food sickness or d&v or the myriad of other reasons she could be ill. But yabu for assuming that your boss caught her bug as your boss is likely to have picked it up anywhere. If you were concerned you should have just washed your hands. Seriously anything you touch in public is just as likely to get you sick.

She also might have an underlying health/medicine issue that causes that sort of reaction but she knows it's not contagious.

Nocabbageinmyeye · 17/03/2018 14:04

Yeah op was the rude one Confused yanbu op

Graphista · 17/03/2018 14:10

Steering clear DOES make sense as most things that cause d&v are droplet spread.

Food poisoning IS infectious.

She was bloody selfish ESPECIALLY in regard to your colleague recently treated for cancer, what was she thinking?!

Yanbu at all.

FissionChips · 17/03/2018 14:11

YANBU.

BaldricksTrousers · 17/03/2018 14:13

Like I said, it is possible that the person has a medical condition or takes medication that causes that sort of reaction. Which would explain why she came in as she would know it's not contagious. I have IBS and have diarrhoea a lot; I also take a lot of medication which can make me nauseous. None of that is contagious!

Jassmells · 17/03/2018 14:19

YANBU. Good for you. People are so silly.

Original poster
Byebyebye · 17/03/2018 14:24

Baldricks

I very much doubt she has anything like IBS, on Thursday she was back and forwards to the toilet and visibly looked sick - pale but hot cheeks, sweaty and weak.

I was annoyed because the only reason she was asking me for help was because she took out the two people who’s job it is to help her and she didn’t even need to come to my desk for the help.

OP posts:
MrsMozart · 17/03/2018 14:24

YANBU. Doesn't your company handbook have something about staying away if v & d?

JaneEyre70 · 17/03/2018 14:38

You were far politer than I'd have been OP.

feathermucker · 17/03/2018 14:43

YADNBU

I'd have said the same. What the he'll was she doing in, especially as you get paid whilst I'll and she's not got a sickness record.

Greenyogagirl · 17/03/2018 14:43

Haha irrelevent but ‘she took them out’ made me chuckle

ChasedByBees · 17/03/2018 14:44

I don’t think you were rude at all. YANBU.

Allthewaves · 17/03/2018 14:47

Was she being pressured for deadlines? Has she not been there long? Most people wouldn't drag themselves in in the get full wage sick pay.

Billben · 17/03/2018 14:49

I would have asked her to stay away from me as well. And I’m not known for sugarcoating my words either.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 17/03/2018 15:00

I wouldn't have let her within 10 paces of me.

In my workplace we have some plastic cones which we deploy around anyone who's not well. Stigmatising perhaps, but serves a purpose.

Original poster
Byebyebye · 17/03/2018 15:04

allthewaves

Not to out what I do but we work on applications rather than projects that have deadlines. Our targets are to work on applications within 4 weeks of receiving them, we’re currently working on applications we received that week so really up to date so no pressure.

I’ve worked there two years and I think she’s worked there about twelve so why she needed my help I don’t know.

She has in the past displayed some behaviour that I would consider attention seeking so that would be my guess why she’s in.

OP posts:
MoodyTwo · 17/03/2018 15:09

Are you sure she isn't pregnant and just doesn't want to tell anyone as it's early days? It would explain her being upset at you being rude.

Cantusethatname · 17/03/2018 15:15

She's very selfish to come in and you were completely right to say what you did.

Findingdotty · 17/03/2018 15:24

I think you were very rude in the way you spoke to her although I can understand you not wanted her near you.

That said I didn't think D&V bugs were passed on as air borne germs. I think they are through touching areas that would be affected by bodily fluids like toilet seats, door handles, taps, etc. That would most likely be were your colleagues caught it from.