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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is DH's company unreasonable?

61 replies

MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 09:16

Whole household had to be tested Wed's night. Due to waiting for results DH took leave yesterday. All came back yesterday as negative.

DH went back into work today and greeted a Co worker with "Good Morning" and was completely blanked. He said good morning again only slightly louder and got "Stay away from me with your covid shit" A stand up row ensued and DH's boss walked into the situation and told DH that he had to wear a mask all day. DH replied that he didn't have to as we tested negative and pointed out that when a fellow employee tested negative at the height of the peak he returned the following day and wasn't required to wear a mask. His boss replied "if you want to work for this fucking company you will wear a mask" DH replied that if he was that concerned then perhaps he should go home and self isolate for 14 days. His boss threw back that if he did that he would only be paid SSP. DH said that he would take another leave day (doesn't work on a Friday) and walked out. He's now sitting at home moping.

His company is being unreasonable - YANBU
DH is being unreasonable and should have just sucked it up and put a mask on for the day - YABU

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 30/07/2020 09:24

😵 Obviously the first person who had a go at him was.

The second person, his boss, is harder to understand as we don’t know what was the situation when he walked in. Who was saying what to whom.

Did the boss take your husband somewhere else for this part of the conversation?You would imagine there would be a policy for mask wearing as to who had to wear one in what circumstances. Has he been told anything prior to this?

The boss shouldn’t have said ‘ if you want to work for this fucking company you will wear a mask’. Your dh shouldn’t have walked out.

What a mess.

chocolateaddict7 · 30/07/2020 09:24

I would be more concerned about the way they all speak to each other. Very unprofessional in a work setting imo. I don't think your DH was unreasonable tbh.

Northernparent68 · 30/07/2020 09:25

Yes he should have worn the mask, arguing with your boss is a fools errand.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 30/07/2020 09:27

I do think people can test negative and then test positive a few days later, so it's not unreasonable to ask him to take extra precautions.

If they wanted him to do that though they should have advised him politely and outlined the company stance (eg if you have tested negative you need to wear a mask prior to a second negative test a week later or something), before he came back into the office.

There is no excuse for his colleague not speaking to him, and no excuse for being sworn at

FlaskMaster · 30/07/2020 09:29

I can't vote because it's both. They're being really weird and unreasonable. Either masks are mandatory for everyone or they're not. On the other hand when you've got a job you do whatever shit they tell you. Why are they treating him so badly, and differently from the last tested person? Something about him? Discrimination? Is he generally disliked? Were you tested because he's been voluntarily rubbing himself up against the nearest covid ward windows or something?? What's going on?!

Smallsteps88 · 30/07/2020 09:29

Sounds like a shitty company with poor management.

contrmary · 30/07/2020 09:32

I can't vote on this because both options are correct.

The coworker and boss are obviously unreasonable to act like that. However, they are definitely not unreasonable to be fearful of someone walking into the building with COVID-19. The coworker because they don't want to bloody get it, and the boss because it could cause massive problems if a large portion of the workforce get it at once.

Tests aren't 100% accurate. In the circumstances it seems fair to expect him to wear a mask for a couple of weeks.

Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 09:34

It's a small independent, all male engineering firm. They always talk to each other like that, it's the norm. There is no company policy on Covid. They've worked through the whole pandemic. Only thing they have is a bottle of hand sanitiser between them all. It's a large-ish factory they work at with machines spaced apart in general so SD isn't an issue. There hasn't been one mask in the factory. Ever. Boss didn't take him to one side it was all done on the shop floor. DH has always said that he is bullied. I've always shrugged it off as him being over sensitive, but to be perfectly honest today they have singled him out, despite the other employee being treated completely different but he is "mates" with the boss and production manager.

OP posts:
GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 30/07/2020 09:34

Similar happened to my partner. He went home unwell and took a test which came back negative. When he returned to work, they had moved his desk and tools outside the room and expected him to work like that. His colleagues complete blanked him. He was really upset by it.

GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 30/07/2020 09:36

OP, my DP also works in an engineering factory in conditions exactly as you describe! Not in the North East are you!?

dontdisturbmenow · 30/07/2020 09:37

They might have been wrong but your oh attitude is appauling.

Maybe they were waiting for confirmation that the results had been negative. Did he provide official evidence?

Hardbackwriter · 30/07/2020 09:39

The only thing I would say is that at the height of the pandemic was when the government was still saying that there was no need for masks outside hospital settings, that the jury was out on the evidence for masks, etc and they were actively telling the public not to buy them due to the shortages in the NHS - whereas now it's very clear that masks help prevent spread (it was then, too, but that wasn't the message) and we're all being urged to wear them in lots of settings. I think the way your DH was treated and spoken to was appalling, but I don't think you can directly compare to the other guy.

Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 09:43

@dontdisturbmenow

He showed him his email confirmation, yes.

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

No, wish I was! Bloody love Newcastle. Used to live there and miss it like crazy. Howay the lads!!

OP posts:
Oakmaiden · 30/07/2020 09:49

I don't think the comparison with the previous staff member is relevant - guidelines have changed.

LemonTT · 30/07/2020 09:51

Why were you all tested? I thought anyone tested had to isolate for a period. Why isn’t he doing that?

I would be raising concerns about his presence and lack of mask.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/07/2020 09:53

I thought you still had to isolate due to false negatives? I’d not be happy with someone being back in next day either if they had had cause for concern to test in the first instance.

LemonTT · 30/07/2020 09:56

To clarify my post. If you eligible for a test then you either have a high risk of exposure or are symptomatic.

The testing is not conclusive so you need to isolate. The negative result doesn’t mean you can go out and about. That’s made very clear on testing. Why is he running around exposing more people. I don’t think people need to be rude to him. But he should not have been there.

Bluntness100 · 30/07/2020 10:00

Personally I’d just have worn the mask because I doubt this is about him and more people being worried about Covid. Masks protect other people. If it makes your colleagues feel comfortable why refuse. It’s not about whether someone else had to, that’s just childish.

Dulra · 30/07/2020 10:02

There is no company policy on Covid. Really? I am not sure of rules in UK I am in Ireland but over here no business was allowed reopen (stay open) without a covid policy and designated covid officer. I am sure it is similar in UK so I would definitely look into that.

I think your dh's boss and colleague were Unreasonable but unfortunately your dh did not respond very well he should have stayed calm and queried what the policy was on this? The boss can't make it up as he goes along fgs

dementedpixie · 30/07/2020 10:03

If they all tested negative then nobody needs to self isolate

Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 10:07

If you all test negative you don't have to isolate.

NHS website

Is DH's company unreasonable?
OP posts:
Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 10:10

The only person with A symptom was my 1 year old who had her MMR last Monday . She had a temp on Wednesday and was holding her ear so thought it was either MMR related or she had an ear infection. I called the dr to see if it was related and because she had a temp we had to get tested. Her temp was down as of Wed's night and has been fine ever since.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 10:12

@Bluntness100

Understood, but if they were so concerned (when infection rates are at their lowest in months) why were they happy working with an unmasked colleague when infections were at their highest? PPE has been on the agenda for months.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 30/07/2020 10:27

Op does it really matter? It’s incredibly childish to shout oh he didn’t have to so why should I.

They said they are now uncomdtable and worried, so just wear the mask not refuse then stomp off home like a petulant child.

Original poster
MrsWarleggan · 30/07/2020 10:34

@Bluntness100

They didn't say they were uncomfortable or worried. His boss said you are wearing a mask. DH questioned this based on another employee and was greeted with "If you want to work for this company you will wear a fucking mask". End of conversation. If he had said "look, glad it was negative, but guidance has changed, could you just stick a mask on for today, it would be really appreciated.

The more I think about it the more it's pissing ME off, and normally I'm a" If he says jump, you ask how high" kind of person.

Don't pick and sodding choose your policies, just because you like someone a bit more and expect someone to swallow it.

OP posts:
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