To be annoyed at colleague for spreading germs

[carol1234568]

I'm coming down with something after sitting next to a colleague with a dreadful cold last week.

My job doesn't pay sick pay, but does encourage people to work at home when they're unwell. This decreases the chance of them passing on germs to others and is more comfortable than the office.

Despite this, a colleague decided to come in sneezing, coughing with a sore throat etc for the whole week. They probably think it makes them look a good employee, but some of us have caught whatever they have already.

AIBU to think she's selfish? As I said, working home while feeling under the weather is perfectly acceptable for us to do.

I think your company is unreasonable for not paying sick pay! I agree sick people shouldn't come to work but it's a very difficult decision when you'll lose money for it.

Be angry with your employers not her. When people can't get sick pay, they go to work. There may be reasons why she didn't want to work at home.

I've been in work all week last week with a rotton cold. Still full but will be in tomorrow.
Don't get sick pay and can't afford to not work. Sorry but a cold is managable for most people. If I had D&V or a rash or something I would be off but can't stay home for every cold!

Your colleague may not be able to work from home for a variety of reasons.

I think I’d email the whole team with “hi all, I’ll be working from home today, I think I’ve come down with Davina’s cold”.

I was also at work all last with a cold, as I don't get paid full pay for sick. I know people were trying to avoid me... but everyone does it. It's the employers thought for not thinking it through.

I stay off with norovirus!

YANBU

AIBU to think she's selfish? As I said, working home while feeling under the weather is perfectly acceptable for us to do.

^Your colleague was being selfish. Why didn’t she just work from home?

Employers tend to be responsible for people working when they really shouldn’t be by not paying sick pay & for having strict sickness policies. I can’t have more than 5 in a year I think it is- which seems quite a lot but with 2 young children who seem to pick up everything going, it’s not that much really.

But if there’s an option to work from home I don’t see why she didn’t take that?

Perhaps she has small children at home who are distracting? No laptop? Crap internet connection? Noisy neighbours? Nowhere to work? Shit laptop?
If her tech at home isn't great then she won't be getting through the work like she would at her desk which her bosses may question and she may get in trouble for if they think she was distracted/occupied.

My kids school encourages you to send them in if they have a cold. Don't see why work should be any different.

bah can't get excited about this, most people i know come to work with a common cold/sore throat.

YANBU. My husband's colleague came to work with a shocking cold - passed to him. I was so annoyed as it was my 2 DS start of GCSE week. So inconsiderate of her I felt (I appreciate she didn't realise it was GCSEs)!

It's a cold, not D&V. I don't see why she needed to stay at home.

There are many people who have compromised immune systems for all sorts of reasons. They can't fight off a cold like you, and when they get it they will feel really ill, and it can take weeks to recover.

Shame on employers who don't value their workers, and create a culture where people have to come in sick.