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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you don't need a whole day off to get your Covid jab?

64 replies

Outofexcuses · 02/06/2021 11:18

In brief, someone promised to send me something by the end of last week. I sent a (polite) reminder email on Friday and got a reply from their boss to say this person was out of the office all day getting their vaccination. I know some people have had to travel longish distances and queue for ages to get their jab, but do you really need to take a whole day off?
I should add, today is Wednesday and they still haven't sent what they promised.

OP posts:
Bellyups · 02/06/2021 11:20

The issue is the fact it’s Wednesday and they haven’t provided what you requested. Not that they took a whole day off for the vaccine

TheQueef · 02/06/2021 11:21

Depends on the reaction to vax which you won't know in advance so I would say not unreasonable.

Brefugee · 02/06/2021 11:22

None of your business, though. Escalate it because it's overdue though

Original poster
Outofexcuses · 02/06/2021 11:22

True - if they'd sent it I wouldn't be making a fuss. But this feels like another lame excuse to add to all the other brush offs, but perhaps it's genuine?

OP posts:
SticksAndStoned · 02/06/2021 11:24

Maybe they had a bad reaction to the first one and have taken the day off just in case it's the same this time. I know some people have been poorly for a week after theirs.

Do you know they are back at work?

MangoM · 02/06/2021 11:25

If they've booked it as annual leave then I don't see the problem.

But ... they're already three days late for a deadline, so that's an issue in itself and they should really have acknowledged that, regardless of the vaccination appointment.

HugeAckmansWife · 02/06/2021 11:25

Just talking to someone whose nearest Jab offered was a 2hr drive away, so it's perfectly possible, and thats assuming they have a car

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 02/06/2021 11:25

Agree with PP. They've had other working days to fulfill the request. The fact that theyve taken a full day for the vaccine is neither here nor there.

Original poster
Outofexcuses · 02/06/2021 11:26

They were back at work yesterday. With another brush off.
I have escalated.

OP posts:
Lagomtransplant · 02/06/2021 11:26

I got one of most severe migraines after my jab, literally started 2 hours after it and knocked me out for 6 for the next 2 days. Also, being in a support group for people with migraines, it seems to be quite common.

Escalate it if its an issue.

Also, you don't come across as a very caring or understanding person.

EnidPrunehat · 02/06/2021 11:28

I'd not be making assumptions about other people's vaccinations and the details of which you have no need to know. I'm sorry to sound sniffy but it is this sort of attitude that makes it harder than necessary for some people to get vaccinated. DS2 who already works in a high risk job chose to wait longer than necessary precisely because of the assumption that getting the jab was a five minute job you could fit in at the end of a coffee break. The reality being a ludicrously long journey to a vaccination centre that borders the next county!

What is unreasonable is being promised work that simply isn't delivered.

SticksAndStoned · 02/06/2021 11:28

In truth, they should have sent it before Friday, if they knew they were going to be off all day. Tbh their boss really should not have disclosed why they are off. Even though it's just the covid vaccine, doesn't give the boss the right to disclose medical information.

ddl1 · 02/06/2021 11:28

True - if they'd sent it I wouldn't be making a fuss. But this feels like another lame excuse to add to all the other brush offs, but perhaps it's genuine?

Could well be genuine. It wouldn't have been in my case, because I was able to have mine at my GP's surgery, a very short walk from where I live. But I know people who had to travel quite long distances - e.g. some who had to go to Heathrow from Oxford. Add to that, that public transport is still not quite back to normal, and that the queue can be quite long at large vaccination centres.

aiwblam · 02/06/2021 11:29

I was very ill after my jab - minimum 2 days off needed. Plus some people have been offered jabs 50+ miles away from them.

Others have had jabs less than half a mile from home with zero side effects.

Best not to assume I think.

MangoM · 02/06/2021 11:29

@Lagomtransplant

I got one of most severe migraines after my jab, literally started 2 hours after it and knocked me out for 6 for the next 2 days. Also, being in a support group for people with migraines, it seems to be quite common.

Escalate it if its an issue.

Also, you don't come across as a very caring or understanding person.

OP has mentioned that the colleague is back at work, and keeps fobbing them off. Doesn't look like a side effect issue, just a very unreliable person.
lurker101 · 02/06/2021 11:32

Whether they need it off or not is moot - a lot of employers are giving a day or half a day off per jab, so their employees are taking their entitlement. It’s also probably easier for people to schedule them around other commitments that way too - can go in the middle of the day around school drop off/pick ups etc etc. It also leaves more “prime” spots for people with less flexibility

Lagomtransplant · 02/06/2021 11:37

@MangoM

True, but they may be scrambling to get back on top of things, in which case I can see how leaving badgers at the back of the queue may be tempting.

ZombeaArthur · 02/06/2021 11:37

My DH had quite a bad reaction following his first vaccine, there’s absolutely no way he could have worked afterwards and, as someone needed to take care of him, neither could I. If we have to have our second vaccination on a normal working day, neither of us will be working afterwards.

Additionally, when I choose to take annual leave and what I chose to do with my time is my business and I don’t feel the need to justify if to anyone.

It doesn’t sound like the OP’s problem is remotely connected to how someone chooses to use their annual leave, but rather someone avoiding doing something they should have already done by now.

Original poster
Outofexcuses · 02/06/2021 11:39

Thank you for your replies everyone. For me and most people I know it's been a relatively quick and straightforward process, which is why I wanted to ask a wider group before saying anything. I will take the day off at face value and not mention it in my complaint.
As for coming across as not very understanding or caring, you'll just have to take my word for it that I have very good reasons to be exceptionally pissed off with these people, so as far as they are concerned my caring and understanding is limited.
As for being a badger, why not go the whole hog and call me Karen?

OP posts:
MangoM · 02/06/2021 11:40

@Lagomtransplant

If it's the case that they're struggling to catch up then they should just tell the OP. It doesn't sound like they have.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 02/06/2021 11:40

why not go the whole hog and call me Karen?

Oh god....

Moondust001 · 02/06/2021 11:43

I am more concerned their boss shared private medical information with someone. All that was needed to be said was that "X was not in the office today" - why they were not in is between them and their manager and nobody else.

Lagomtransplant · 02/06/2021 11:45

I have nothing against Karens, in fact i know quite a few very nice ones. In fact, I resent your use of the term.

zingally · 02/06/2021 11:46

You're cross at the wrong thing.

If something was promised at the end of last week, and still hasn't been received, despite reminders - then you can absolutely go over their heads to their boss.

Original poster
Outofexcuses · 02/06/2021 11:47

Apologies. I know lots of lovely Karens too. Note to self: don't get cross with strangers on the internet.
Thanks for all the replies - honestly.

OP posts: