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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it’s grim to come into work when you have a cold?

170 replies

sunfloweryy · 26/02/2020 08:59

If you can easily work from home/take the day off sick?

I’ve been off work with a particularly nasty cold for the last couple of days. I feel better today, but still not great so I’ve logged on from home to work as I’m still coughing and sneezing.

Colleague has just sent me an IM to see how I was and told me he’s got a cold too but he’s been in office. He was trying to make me feel guilty for taking time off for sure, and it’s bothered me!

He has form for coming in to work when he’s ill, coughing and sneezing all over the place and we hot desk so it isn’t even possible to contain him to one area. I get that the world can’t stop for colds, but surely common sense dictates that if you are able to work from home or take some days off you do so? Especially with this coronavirus going around!

AIBU?

OP posts:

Everanewbie · 26/02/2020 15:19

Colds vary in severity and vary in the symptoms they present. One person can be sneezy, the next have sinus pain. I think most people know where the line is here. If its a snuffle or whatever, lemsip up and get on with it, you'll probably feel better putting your mind into something. If you ache, nose is constantly leaking and you feel like you've been hit by a bus, why should you be a martyr? Most bosses would make a worker redundant in a heartbeat rather than take a lower bonus, or reduce the dividend to shareholders. I'm not saying screw them over, but just make use of your rights.

The reason that employed positions often pay less than self employed equivalents is that they pay sick, life cover, pension etc. If you genuinely don't feel up to going in, then don't. Don't give it a second thought. And spare your colleagues exposure to the virus.

bringincrazyback · 26/02/2020 15:21

Wow, if everyone took time off for a cold the country would collapse every winter.

Or, there's be fewer colds in the first place because they wouldn't spread so fast.

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 26/02/2020 15:40

Why do so many people feel the need to shame others for getting ill and taking a sick day?

but where does it stop?
In one month, I had a bad cold, a couple of headaches, bad period pains (and I mean the endometriosis-pissing blood-contractions-feeling sick joy of a period), I twisted my ankle enough to make it swell... and had a couple of sleepless nights with sick children.
Absolutely genuine, would have loved to stay in bed all day and sleep them away, and would have a been a lot more productive if I had a chance to rest. Would it be acceptable to work less than 2 weeks in a month?

IntermittentParps · 26/02/2020 15:46

Would it be acceptable to work less than 2 weeks in a month?
In the circumstances you describe, yes, obviously.

Littleninja1 · 26/02/2020 16:28

@JustInCaseCakeHappens that sounds like an awful month! I'd assume that isn't usual though? I hope not, for your sake! But if you were in fact unable to work for any of those reasons why should you be shamed for it? You aren't purposely making yourself ill I assume and I would expect you are a reasonable person who can tell when you really can't work and when you can push through. If people take the piss that is totally different and there are policies for that. But as the question is around working from home, sure I'd say a sprained ankle is exactly the type of reason you should work from home. Period pains could require a sick day or working from home. I know some people suffer badly and may need to let their boss know if it's chronic and most HR will deal with chronic conditions differently. I wouldn't have to stay home from period pains but my friend has endometriosis and it frequently keeps her at home. I would never assume I know the pain she's in because I don't, thankfully.

SimonJT · 26/02/2020 16:32

If the person with a cold has good hygiene they won’t pass it on to someone else.

I have type 1 diabetes, if I had time off every time I have a cold I would be sacked.

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 26/02/2020 16:32

that sounds like an awful month! I'd assume that isn't usual though?

it kind of is when you have younger children, they tend to catch (and spread) all kind of bugs for a couple of years of nursery/preschool

But honestly, taking time off for all these minor problems- which are minor in the grand scheme of things - would not be accepted or acceptable. That's the point, a simple cold or inconvenience is not a valid reason to have a day off.

Obviously if you have surgery or are really unwell, that's what sick days are for. Not feeling up to work is not. It's not a prison, if you don't feel like working you are free to quit!

Flopjustwantscoffee · 26/02/2020 16:40

I saw your colleague the Iranian deputy health minister?

Littleninja1 · 26/02/2020 16:41

I guess we are talking at cross purposes though as I'm talking about working from home and you're referring to a day off. If you called in sick four separate times in a month that's a problem, but if you have a sprained ankle you can't put weight on and can do your job from home I can't personally see an issue with that.

TopoftheT0wer · 26/02/2020 17:33

Zero paid sick pay for the first year

We are expected to come into work with a cold or other minor illness at other times

Most common illnesses can be treated with medicine from pharmacy or doctors

Rowgtfc72 · 26/02/2020 17:39

Read this this afternoon sat at work on a break. I'm doped up on cold and flu tablets, coughing, snotty with a headache and jelly legs. I dont get sick pay. At all. Ever. Just SSP after four days. Cant afford to take time off unless I cant crawl in at all.
I work in food production and must have washed my hands and sanitised them a zillion times today. I also probably work with people with health issues.

Chanel05 · 26/02/2020 17:44

I used to work as an early years teacher and had a cold at least once every half term, sometimes more regularly. Obviously unable to work from home and working with small children means you pick up colds left right and centre so most definitely couldn't be at home every time.

bellalou1234 · 26/02/2020 17:47

I'd disagree with the majority.. I think it's reasonable having a day off for a heavy cold... they spread quick, I feel rubbish, shivers, nose running like a drip, throat sore the lot, cant give work my all.

QuestionableMouse · 26/02/2020 17:50

I don't get paid if I don't go to work and can't work from home.

CondorDays · 26/02/2020 17:54

What is classed as a cold today, could be classed as corona virus tomorrow.

nonsensicalmess · 26/02/2020 18:49

You don't sit next people on public transport for that long and if they do cough or sneeze I move.

My train journey is an hour each way and the carriage will be packed with standing commuters during rush hours. No place to go or escape, no windows to open. A million times worse than my workplace.

Regardless, my period pains, peri-menopause woes etc are all usually worse than most colds. I simply can't take time off for every minor ailment and keep my job.

woodchuck99 · 26/02/2020 20:39

My train journey is an hour each way and the carriage will be packed with standing commuters during rush hours. No place to go or escape, no windows to open. A million times worse than my workplace.

I go before or after the busiest times to avoid that.

Regardless, my period pains, peri-menopause woes etc are all usually worse than most colds. I simply can't take time off for every minor ailment and keep my job.

Yes but you won't infect other people with your period pains and while they may be worse than most colds for you it isn't the same for everyone.Colds can make me seriously ill.

nonsensicalmess · 26/02/2020 22:45

Woodchuck- your suggestions simply aren't feasible for 99% of us. Nor are colds harmful for the vast majority of us either; they're simply a minor ailment and a slight nuisance. Given that, it's just not practical for the majority to take time off with every one.

woodchuck99 · 26/02/2020 23:20

I'm not making suggestions for you. I'm telling you why I can avoid viruses on public transport whereas I can't avoid them if someone comes into work with a cold and coughs and sneezes everywhere. I appreciate that colds are just a nuisance for you but they aren't for some of us and my guess is that you wouldn't find it nearly so unfeasible to avoid catching them if they weren't such a minor illness for you personally.

user1497644963 · 27/02/2020 01:12

If you can work from home I would. But in my job it would be considered rather precious to call in sick for a cold.

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