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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you go to work with a temperature of 38?

53 replies

Greymalkin12 · 16/09/2019 06:56

I don't seem to have any other symptoms but feel woozy. Also I sit next to a heavily pregnant coworker. I don't particularly mind going in but wondered what the hive mind thought! Thanks x

OP posts:
northernknickers · 16/09/2019 06:58

Yes I would if that was all I had...but you're the boss of you're own health so 🤷‍♀️

northernknickers · 16/09/2019 06:58

'Your own health'.

MindyStClaire · 16/09/2019 06:59

If I feel well enough to go to work with a dose of paracetamol, I go. Or maybe work from home but I'm guessing you don't have the option.

Don't know that I would actually feel well enough with a temperature of 38 though.

sanityisamyth · 16/09/2019 06:59

You don't mind going in? Are you always so blasé about working? A temperature of 38 is barely elevated and you have no symptoms. What reason will you give your boss?

SushiGo · 16/09/2019 06:59

Stay home!

I know what you mean, I often think well, I'm not that ill but in reality after a couple of hours at work I feel awful and I would have been better off resting and getting better at home.

Original poster
Greymalkin12 · 16/09/2019 07:02

Ok thanks very much for replies - I'll woman up and go in! As it happens I've been lucky enough to not take a day off in twelve years of working so not entirely sure what is normal practice!

OP posts:
WaterSheep · 16/09/2019 07:03

I'm surprised you've taken your temperature if you don't actually feel unwell.

If you didn't own a thermometer would you have gone into work?

coconuttelegraph · 16/09/2019 07:05

As I don't have a thermometer I have no idea, do adults regularly take their own temperature?

Ginfordinner · 16/09/2019 07:05

And what about the pregnant colleague?

Teachermaths · 16/09/2019 07:09

Watch out for pregnant colleague, it would be unfair for her to get ill.

Livedandlearned · 16/09/2019 07:13

You must have a temperature of 38 for a reason. So probably don't go in.

Anothernotherone · 16/09/2019 07:15

Hold on - if you feel "woozy" are you going to drive to work, or do you walk/ take public transport?

Do tell your pregnant colleague and give her a chance to sit elsewhere.

Unless someone else would have to cover your work you should stay home IMO, mainly because of being contagious.

If you not going in would seriously inconvenience your colleagues it's less clear cut, but a lot of workers do work which can be left untouched for a day without anyone having to cover - in that case the presenteeism at the expense of infecting colleagues and potentially driving woozy is actually very selfish not praiseworthy.

Anothernotherone · 16/09/2019 07:19

WaterSheep and coconut presumably she took her temperature because she feels "woozy". That could be the only symptom you notice yourself of a proper fever, which can make you dizzy and confused before other symptoms, so checking your temperature is sensible, if it had been 40 nobody would have asked why she took it!

GrandmaSharksDentures · 16/09/2019 07:27

Take 1g paracetamol, chances are you'll be fine. If you feel unwell then go home.

tooyoungat40 · 16/09/2019 07:28

temperatures differ throughout the day. Temperatures are usually on the lower side when you first wake up. Therefore a temperature of 38 might get a lot higher as the day goes on. It's a tricky one. You could dose up and see how it goes. But we've all made that call before and then had to leave work as we fell like death's door by 11am (and conversely stayed at home and been bouncing around feeling fine by the same time Hmm

Hope you feel better soon either way.

Original poster
Greymalkin12 · 16/09/2019 07:31

Thanks for all your replies (and no I quite agree I don't take my temperature for no reason)! Xx

OP posts:
Carthage · 16/09/2019 07:55

If you've not taken a day off in twelve years you're obviously not a hypochondriac or a slacker. Think of your coworkers. Some people get very ill with a bug and they can be really harmful to pregnant women. I know that she could get it from the train, shops etc but why knowingly expose her to it. Spend the day in bed and go back tomorrow or the next day.

Isleepinahedgefund · 16/09/2019 07:57

Would depend how I felt. I'd probably just work from home to save myself the commute but I've got the flexibility to do that.

insancerre · 16/09/2019 08:10

Yes I would go in
I only have time off if I can’t physically get out of bed

kaytee87 · 16/09/2019 08:13

If you haven't had a sick day in 12 years I think you're pretty safe to take one now. You have a temperate and feel woozy/dizzy. The flu can start with no other symptoms other than a high temperature and then the following day the other's symptoms hit. Pregnant colleague probably hasn't had her flu jab yet.

Passthecherrycoke · 16/09/2019 08:15

It’s always surprises me that adults take their temperature. Although I notice some Russian and German friends seem to do it a lot so wonder if it’s not really a British thing

iVampire · 16/09/2019 08:18

No. I would be on the phone to haematology department.

This is one of the symptoms which those cancer treatments have to take very seriously

I hope you are properly well soon. And that you know if you are likely to come onto contact with immune compromised people

You’ve barely had any time of sick at all - they’re not suddenly going to accuse you of malingering if you decide to take a few hours to see if you perk up or are really coming down with something

Yabbers · 16/09/2019 08:23

only have time off if I can’t physically get out of bed

And that “heroic” attitude means you pass on colds to other co-workers.

We had a director like that. Would come in with a bad cold, spent the day groaning and coughing and sneezing, letting everyone know how sick he was. It was incredibly irritating. Then when his team went off in the following days with colds, he would moan about how awful it was that they took time off for illness and they just weren’t team players. 🙄

CoinOperatedBoy · 16/09/2019 08:28

I would but I'd keep an eye on it. Is it not coming down with paracetamol? If not that's slightly worrying.

When I told 111 mine was 39 they sent me an ambulance (had dizziness, vomiting and was shaking also. Was monitored in hospital until it came down. I had labyrinthitis - -- really really nasty wouldn't wish it on anyone.

PurpleWithRed · 16/09/2019 08:32

If you feel woozy and unwell so took your temperature and found it was 38, then no, I wouldn’t go in if I could avoid it. Definitely not if I could work from home.

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