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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel pissed off with work colleague

44 replies

twocats335 · 06/12/2018 20:48

I work in healthcare one day a week on a self employed basis. The staff who I work with are employed by the company but we rarely see the boss as we are based at a remote site so it's usually just two or three of us.
I've had a cold which as usual, has left me with a tickly cough but feel fine now and carried out my work as normal this morning wearing a mask all the time. I was doing great with only the occasional slight cough.
Next thing I knew, one of the assistants who wasn't working directly with me stated that I should go home because she didn't want to catch anything. The other assistant meekly contributed with her agreement. Despite my protest, she cancelled the afternoon session, phoned the boss to tell him (I've no idea what she said) and made me go home. I've lost half a day's much needed pay plus the cost in terms of travel. They, on the other hand, have had another nice early finish Hmm
I'm prepared to be told IBU but right now I'm pretty pissed off about it. It's not the first time I've noticed her take advantage of her position. The boss is pretty weak and has no idea what's going on half the time.

OP posts:
AjasLipstick · 06/12/2018 20:59

Sorry but you shouldn';t be in work coughing on people.

skybluee · 06/12/2018 21:01

When did the cold start - are you even contagious now?
If out of the contagious period they're being unfair as they're probably equally likely to have something yet not be showing symptoms.

cheesywotnots · 06/12/2018 21:09

Why do you think she's taking advantage, what position is she in that's different to you. If she's employed by the company do you think she might have a responsibility to speak with her manager if she feels either the staff or clients are at risk of catching a cold or infection. Maybe the manager could have asked to speak to you first to hear your side. What sort of things is the boss not aware of.

Hecticlifeanddrowning8 · 06/12/2018 21:10

Yabu . If you were unwell enough to wear a mask then you shouldnt be at a healthcare setting.
If you weren't losing a days pay would you have gone into work?

Original poster
twocats335 · 06/12/2018 21:23

Started with the cold three weeks ago. The feeling ill and sinusitis stage has gone - it's just a tickly cough now. I took a couple of days off at the beginning but if I stay off work until the cough has completely gone, I'm going to really struggle financially.

OP posts:
Regnamechanger · 06/12/2018 21:25

Why did you wear a mask? I'm coughing a bit at the end of a cold, I just cover my mouth...
So assuming you've just had a nasty cold, and now are a bit chesty, of course there was nothing wrong with going into work. Are you even still infectious by then? When my Dad's immune system wasn't great his doctor told us we were most infective before symptoms of a cold showed and at the very start.

LampHat · 06/12/2018 21:27

They sound ridiculous. You can’t stay off work for a tickly cough, especially when you’re self employed. Urgh.

Yidette86 · 06/12/2018 21:32

A cough can last a few weeks after an illness so anyone saying you shouldn't have gone in are being very unreasonable and I doubt you were coughing all over people Hmm

Your colleague sounds like a drama queen and a shit stirrer.

Jengnr · 06/12/2018 21:37

Why did you go?

Deerstalker · 06/12/2018 21:38

Depends who you are looking after. Are these vulnerable people? If so the. Yabu for being around them when ill

Original poster
twocats335 · 06/12/2018 21:38

hecticlife I always wear a mask for my job. If they were losing pay for the afternoon, would they have wanted to cancel the session I wonder?

OP posts:
Original poster
twocats335 · 06/12/2018 21:43

I don't work with vulnerable people so no concerns there.
I should've stood my ground. I felt bullied and outnumbered. I've no doubt that they wanted an early dart.

OP posts:
Avrannakern · 06/12/2018 21:45

If you're a regular worker there, even as self employed, do you not have something in your contract which requires them to pay if they cancel a session?

Avrannakern · 06/12/2018 21:46

You should speak directly to your boss and say you were there, ready and willing to work with no health concerns which would prevent it. You have a ticket cough; it is not enough to miss work.

He chose to cancel the session; but you still need to be paid. I have this in my contracts when I hire out my skills.

CrabbyPatty · 06/12/2018 21:50

The healthcare system would fall apart if everyone with a cold stayed off work!! Infection risks based on staff illnesses will be covered in policies and procedures and I've never worked in a setting where there is procedure for common colds and I've worked with prem babies! Hand hygiene and obviously covering your mouth when you cough should be sufficient.

Original poster
twocats335 · 06/12/2018 22:08

Exactly crabby. I've worked in healthcare for years and have only ever known that with a common cold, you might take a day or two off when feeling ill but you're back to work when over the worst.
I may need to ring the boss. I'm worried about the backlash next week though if he pulls her up about it. She has a bit of an attitude and I feel uncomfortable at the best of times with her unfortunately.

OP posts:
JennyHolzersGhost · 06/12/2018 22:13

I don’t understand your contractual set up. Who is your boss ? Who gets to decide when you work ? What does your contract say about sick leave ?

Original poster
twocats335 · 06/12/2018 22:24

jenny my contract states that I 'fund my own arrangements for sickness pay'. I guess that means income protection insurance which I haven't got.

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 06/12/2018 23:57

OP, I would be concerned about what she us telling your boss. You really should be speaking to the boss yourself, as she could be saying that YOU decided you were too ill to work.

WhateverHappenedToTheHeatwave · 07/12/2018 06:38

You need to put in writing how you feel to your boss. She's a bully yes, next time refuse to leave. What's she going to do?

You shouldn't lose wages but ultimately your boss will say you chose to leave. You need to report her for bullying. It will get nasty as bullies do when cornered but otherwise she will keep doing it.

Original poster
twocats335 · 07/12/2018 06:57

Thank you all. Yes, I do need to speak to him I think. If I'm still coughing, is she going to try and make me go home again next week? I need to clarify that with him too. She's young and full of attitude. The boss is meek and seems to let her rule roost as he's never there.

OP posts:
Howhot · 07/12/2018 07:02

That's ridiculous. I had a cold recently, my cough trailed on for 6-8 weeks! Yes it's annoying but you can't stop every day life because of it. Doctor's round here recommended an appointment for a cough after 3+ weeks. Could you go just to report back that the doctor is happy with your health incase they try it again?

flumpybear · 07/12/2018 07:04

Bloody hell shes being a drama queen! Did they finish early because you had to leave? Is there any reason why she jnteferred with Your work - that's not her business surely!! If some random employee sent one of my staff home I'd be hauling them into my office to explain why!
You get exposed to around 50-100 bugs a day in a normal setting, let alone health care so I suspect patients were more risky to you guys (if they're unwell!)
Stupid woman! Angry

GaryBaldbiscuit · 07/12/2018 07:06

yanbu, that is ridiculous! its not like a contagious skin condition

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/12/2018 07:06

I always get coughs with colds. I used to also get sinusitis every time as well. I now have a cheap nebuliser and nebulise sterile saline solution - contact lense 100% saline solution. It really really helps with the cough and I’ve not had sinusitis since. It’s recommended by the NHS for people with COPD. Perhaps you could have a go?