AIBU to just switch my laptop off and sod it? Unreasonable work colleagues

Youngatheart00 · 2020-08-05T13:50:56+00:00

Feeling unwell and feverish this morning with sore throat and dry cough. Took a hay fever tablet and some pAracetomal but no real effect. Obviously worried about potential covid so I’ve arrange a test for later on this aft. I struggled on with a morning meeting but then cancelled my afternoon ones (I’m wfh). I’ve let my line manager know and he responded, not with a get well or any kind of acknowledgement I’m unwell, simply asking me to get a piece of work back to him as ‘urgent’. Not sure whether it’s because I’m feeling majorly under the weather but it’s really riled me. I haven’t responded yet and am torn between emphasising fact I’m not well and have been told to go and take a test, or apologising and trying to find a way to get the work done this evening, however shit I’m feeling. WWYD?

Original poster

Youngatheart00 · 05/08/2020 14:51

Oh btw I have an impeccable attendance record - only been with the company a year but no time off and no performance issues

OP posts:

Moondust001 · 05/08/2020 14:56

He doesn't sound like he has much empathy, but there isn't a rule that he should have. Did you sign off sick. If you did then the answer is "Sorry, I'm signed off sick and can't do the work. I'll let you know the outcome of the test / whether I am feeling better tomorrow". If you haven't signed off sick, lack of empathy aside, you are working and so there is nothing unreasonable about him expecting the work.

It's not how I'd approach such a situation, but technically there's nothing that says managers have to be "nice people". Some aren't.

Original poster

Youngatheart00 · 05/08/2020 15:10

You’re right about the empathy. I think it’s the fever but I’m feeling really low now

Won’t get test result until Friday but irrespective of result I currently feel capable of not much than lying on my bed.

The reality is I will have to force myself to get the work done at some point tonight (it’s not really possible to handover, but then again I don’t necessarily agree it’s urgent and it IS something he could do himself) but then will make clear I’m off sick. I thought I had made it clear but not even an acknowledgement.

I work so hard and when I need a day or so back it’s not supported, I could cry.

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 05/08/2020 15:12

I would do what you can to complete it now, then send it and within the email say "please mark me as taking sick leave for the remainder of the week. I have put my Out of Office on and will respond to all other queries on my return. I will contact you Monday to confirm if I am well enough to return to work"

Darkestseasonofall · 05/08/2020 17:02

Did you make it explicitly clear that you are off sick, or just that you were going to take a Covid test?

mornington27 · 05/08/2020 17:09

Switch off as you are sick. Rest now may save a much longer time off sick.

Often 'urgent' comes from poor planning, and anyone can fall sick at any time.

vanillandhoney · 05/08/2020 17:13

Did you actually tell your manager you were too unwell to work and would be off sick for the rest of the day?

Original poster

Youngatheart00 · 05/08/2020 18:47

I got the work done. It was hanging over me and making me feel worse.

The problem with being ill during this new wfh reality is that people expect you to still be working. I did make clear I was unwell, had spoken to a doctor, been prescribed antibiotics but asked to take a test as a precaution. Haven’t taken any decisions about tomorrow yet as will see how I am when I wake but if I feel like this I will be sending an email to say I’ll be off for the rest of the week. Feel horrifically guilty though

OP posts:

Darkestseasonofall · 05/08/2020 19:08

I have no idea about you as a person obviously, but as a manager if someone told me they had woken up feeling unwell this morning and had already spoken to a GP and been prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat I'd think they were pulling a fast one.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 05/08/2020 19:16

if someone told me they had woken up feeling unwell this morning and had already spoken to a GP and been prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat I'd think they were pulling a fast one

Why?

The GP prescribed ABs. That's a fact. Is it that you think the OP is lying?

If I call my GP I'm in the same day. There's a pharmacist next door so easy to collect any meds. I rang once to book my smear and they said "come in 30 mins".

Darkestseasonofall · 05/08/2020 19:22

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz because I'm a clinician, and I'm aware of the drive to prescribe less antibiotics, especially for sore throat type symptoms.
Unless OP has a long history of needing antibiotics for a pre-existing condition (and she hasn't mentioned this as she thought an antihistamine may do the trick) it's very unlikely she'd have had antibiotics.

No doubt some GP practices are fantastic at giving out appointments, mine are too thankfully.

Besides, if there is a suspected Covid case antibiotics wouldn't be prescribed.

Call me cynical, but it would seem all a bit vague and "I'm a bit poorly but maybe not too poorly"

Pleasebeaflesbite · 05/08/2020 19:26

@Youngatheart00

I got the work done. It was hanging over me and making me feel worse.

The problem with being ill during this new wfh reality is that people expect you to still be working. I did make clear I was unwell, had spoken to a doctor, been prescribed antibiotics but asked to take a test as a precaution. Haven’t taken any decisions about tomorrow yet as will see how I am when I wake but if I feel like this I will be sending an email to say I’ll be off for the rest of the week. Feel horrifically guilty though

Did you actually say I am too unwell to work today?

Unless you clearly said that sounds like he expected that you were still working.

Fatherbrownsbicycle · 05/08/2020 19:31

@Darkestseasonofall

I have no idea about you as a person obviously, but as a manager if someone told me they had woken up feeling unwell this morning and had already spoken to a GP and been prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat I'd think they were pulling a fast one.

You would be wrong.

Our triage list is full of people with coughs and sore throats, the appointments for a telephone consultation are booked on the day, prescriptions are sent electronically to the chemist and pretty much everyone is getting antibiotics because the Drs & nurse prescribers don’t want to be left in the position of people becoming really poorly if they don’t give them treatment. With Covid 19 they certainly don’t want patients coming to be seen in person for a cough/sore throat so antibiotics are being handed out like smarties. A patient could ring at 8am and be back in bed having taken their first tablet by 9:30.

OdaMaeBrown · 05/08/2020 19:40

My old boss once told me he purposely didn't acknowledge people calling in sick to make them feel shit about doing it.

He was a massive cunt.

Original poster

Youngatheart00 · 05/08/2020 19:47

Why would I lie???!

My throat is blistered and I had a temperature. I rarely bother my doctor and can’t remember the last time I had an appt. But we had a letter in March to say due to covid all appts are online and there is a triage at 8am. I input my details and was offered an appt. did the GP just suggest anti bios and a covid test to cover all bases and avoid me having to visit a medical setting? Maybe???? Who knows but the thought that someone thinks I’m lying is upsetting.

Honestly, I do wonder why I am a member of MN sometimes. Thank you to those who have been helpful / supportive. I guess some people get their own kicks for kicking others while they’re down.

OP posts:

cstaff · 05/08/2020 20:11

Hey op. Maybe you work for darkestseasonofall. If that is the, all I can say is poor you

letmethinkaboutitfornow · 05/08/2020 20:12

YABU sorry
You clearly have enough energy to come to Mumsnet and complain 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Kaiserin · 05/08/2020 20:14

@Darkestseasonofall
You don't seem to understand the New Normal.
I had a fever and sore throat back in late March, and got issued antibiotics on the spot (very surprised about it too!)
I guess anything which could be COVID and/or a bacterial infection is treated very aggressively just to be safe.

OP, rest well. You should never have finished that urgent task, your manager is a twat. Make sure you look after yourself from now on. You're ill. Don't work.

letmethinkaboutitfornow · 05/08/2020 20:15

@Darkestseasonofall

I have no idea about you as a person obviously, but as a manager if someone told me they had woken up feeling unwell this morning and had already spoken to a GP and been prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat I'd think they were pulling a fast one.

I am with you! Some people think clinicians (or people who actually work at surgeries or medically qualified) are not on Mumsnet 😂😂

There is no way my surgery would prescribe AB for Covid symptoms/ and sore throat 😂

DoIneed1 · 05/08/2020 20:17

Op hope you feel better soon.

Popjam · 05/08/2020 20:24

I've tried working when sick like that with a temp and to be honest I made some mistakes that took time to fix so would have been better just not working. My head was like cotton wool.

Oh and I got prescribed antibiotics too for a temp/sore throat.

Be really blunt - I'm too sick to work - and set your out of office and don't check your emails.

Nanny0gg · 05/08/2020 20:30

Why do people think that because their surgery doesn't do XYZ, then no surgery does XYZ?

Hope you feel better soon, OP.

happytoday73 · 05/08/2020 20:35

Your covid test is horribly slow... I got my results back on the same day...

iklboo · 05/08/2020 20:40

Why do people think that because their surgery doesn't do XYZ, then no surgery does XYZ?

Exactly. If the OP had a FaceTime consultation (I've had a few recently) the doctor could have looked at her throat and seen the blistering / pus if there was any. For which antibiotics may have been appropriate.

Boireannachlaidir · 05/08/2020 20:44

@Darkestseasonofall

I have no idea about you as a person obviously, but as a manager if someone told me they had woken up feeling unwell this morning and had already spoken to a GP and been prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat I'd think they were pulling a fast one.

I agree with you!

Call me cynical but I'm always suspicious of people too ill to do their work but can be arsed to post on AIBU