Emetophobia related - To want to shake colleague (when he’s well again of course!

[Haphazardhacker]

I’m emetophobic, I work in a shop.
Walked in this morning and one of my colleagues says he feels awful and has been ill all night and twice since coming in. He proceeded to go to the loo every half hour or so. I have popped out to do some deliveries. We have another colleague who is the manager and he is running the store perfectly fine, we are not busy. My ill colleague is messaging me (I had asked how he was feeling) and has just told me he was now in kitchen sitting on the floor with a bucket.
He also shared with me that the bucket has just been used.

Now I have not properly educated my team about my phobia but even if I wasn’t phobic surely you take yourself home. He is trying to be a hero, I’ve told him repeatedly to go home, the manager has also said it’s fine to go but he is not budging.

Already faced with two days of no food or drink at work ( that’s what I tend to do if someone is unwell at work) I know it’s irrational and selfish of me but hey that’s phobias!
Also wondering what possessed him to even come in if he had been up all night.
Sorry just needed to rant this phobia isn’t easy to deal at times.

Nasty! If he’s got a vomiting bug he shouldn’t really be around other people. I don’t have emetophobia but I’d still be pissed off that someone was being sick at work with me. I don’t want your bug thanks!

He's a fuckwit.

If he works in a shop he is exposing members of the public as well. Some of which may be immune suppressed or pregnant etc. People like him are the reason these bugs circulate.

Unless he has a bad hangover. I did used to work with someone who would claim to have a bug when hungover.

He's an actual shit. It doesn't matter that you're emetophobic, you don't go to work puking up and spreading your disgusting germs to everyone.

He needs to be told to go home, and not come back until 48 hours after he's stopping vomming.

Sorry you have to work with such a dick.

Your manager should be telling him to go home not asking him to go

He’s just messaged and he has gone. I’m relieved but still annoyed he stayed this long . It’s hard as he is a lovely chap but it doesn’t seem to compute with him that he needs to not be there and to be honest there’s nothing he can do in the team when he’s in that state.
I’ve got to go back in a minute, won’t want to use the loo so need to find somewhere before I get back. I’ve grabbed some crisps for lunch so that will do.
Hate this phobia but even if I didn’t have the phobia I would still be doing everything in my power not to catch it, it’s exhausting being on high alert.
I hope he feels better soon but I know he will be back in tomorrow as if he feels fine he will feel guilty staying off.

He should be told to go home. Nobody else wants his disgusting germs. I would really struggle to stay in the building with him being sick 

You'll need to properly clean the loo, bucket, door handles etc or it will spread.

If its a bug he should definitely be going home. How would you cope if it was mrning sickness in someone or aomeone like me who is sick often, and with minimal notice due to digestive issues? Poor you. I honestly can't imagine how hard it must be for you. Maybe worth asking your manager to speak to the whole team and expkain (if you aree happy to share) about your condition and its implications for you.i hope you are ok.

Other forms of sickness i handle a lot better it’s when I think it’s a bug that it takes over. I will talk to my manager and try explain. My other colleague who was in last time this happened (same guy) knows i have a phobia and has seen first hand what a state it gets me in.

I'm the same way with vomit. I go right into panic mode is anyone around me is throwing up, so totally sympathise OP. He's an inconsiderate twat, posing as a martyr.

I hate people who spread bugs but after having a year from hell with illness (all documented and with sick certificates) I was put on a warning for my abscence. So now I go in come hell or high water as I can't afford to lose my job.

Poor you. I'm an emetophobe too, although for me it's far worse when other people are sick than me. So my fear doesn't differentiate between travel sickness/morning sickness/digestive issues or a bug. Or even someone being sick on tv. There is no way I could have stayed with someone holding a bucket. You poor poor thing.

Oh no I’m still scared and want to run when it’s other reasons for sickness but it just means I can get home, shower and feel reasonably ok (I will play it over in my mind a lot though) Whereas a bug I tend to go into panic mode for at least 48 hours as I worry I’ve or others have caught it.

Got back and he has gone. I spoke to the manager and asked him if he minded giving the loo a clean and he actually asked why?

Then walked past the kitchen and saw the bucket that was used, upside down on top of the draining board. I sense I will be on edge about eating in the kitchen for some time to come.
Last time he was ill it was just me in so I went and bought bleach and had a frenzy but this time with someone else in I don’t feel as free to do what I usually do to make myself feel better about it all.
Manager has agreed he will clean the loo but I don’t think he understands quite why.

Gross, Health and Safety at Work Regulations are pretty clear on the business owners responsibility when it comes to dealing with vomit and other bodily fluids in the workplace.

EMETOPHOBES, DO NOT READ ON!

I work in an office. One bloke was ill a few weeks ago and, while I stood at the photocopier, I saw him vomit into a plastic bag. At his desk. And then put the bag to one side to use again.

I'm not emetophobic and I felt quite ill. Grim.

Yanbu, this is stupid and selfish.

This is actually vile op! I am emetephobic but even if not it's just disgusting, no one should be vommiting into a bucket in the work kitchen ffs and then put it on the draining board! Fair enough if he'd come down at work and had to throw up in the toilet but he knew he was sick

He's not being a hero hes being a selfish twat. Now you are going to have to clean up after him as well, which would realistically have to be done emetephobic or not.

I would have gone home myself. My anxiety is too high right now to deal with that as well