Colleague started coughing and sniffling halfway through the day but just sat there

[JesusIsAnyNameFree]

This isn't a guy who has allergies or anything, it just came on all of a sudden.
I legged it after an hour or two of his random coughs and sniffles. AIBU here or should he have buggered off to WFH after the 3rd or 4th cough? Fun, the wait begins!

@satci it's the policy in our office. We are hybrid working with 3 days a week in office. But if we are poorly, we are supposed to stay home. My employer would rather as few people as possible are ill....its better for them to have one person WFH for a week rather than several people potentially get ill and take time off sick Most of my colleagues have had a week or two WFH since we went back to the office late summer - I had a bit of a cold and a sore throat last week so didn't go in. My work still got done, I was happier at not having to do the commute feeling a bit shitty, and I didn't pass it onto anyone else. Winning all round.

FFS. Give it a break. And maybe get some help.

Winter is coming. Most of us get colds and coughs at this time of year and I just don’t see how we can police every cough and sniffle in the office, as we’d just never get any work done. It’s gonna be a very looooong winter.....

Well clearly you're not. Health anxiety is a horrible thing.

There's no evidence that the OP has health anxiety. Covid is real, people do occasionally die or get seriously ill even if they've been vaccinated, and there's nothing wrong with being cautious.

I definitely don't have health anxiety. I'm of the "leave it a week and see if it goes away on its own" school of thought with almost all normal symptoms, although obviously in the current situation I would test if I had possible Covid symptoms for other people's sake. I don't think I've ever experienced fear in connection with this pandemic. But I do believe in social distancing, face coverings and other sensible precautions because I believe they will save a few lives and ultimately get us out of this whole situation sooner. Also, some of my customers are probably quite vulnerable, and more than anything I would hate to be held responsible for anything happening to any of them. I don't have colleagues, but if I had, I would certainly keep away from them if I had any suspicious symptoms at all, and I test regularly even when I haven't. It's just common sense.

I do absolutely agree with you about trying to stop the spread of the virus

So why not agree that what this man has done is foolish?

It could be worse op. I went to the bank yesterday and the guy in the lobby pointed out the person I should speak to by describing them: ‘the woman over there who’s coughing’. I stared at him and he, in an attempt to make it BETTER, said, ‘she doesn’t normally do that, it started today’.

I said OK cool and continued my teams meeting, which of course overran and then left. I didn't have the opportunity to start much of a thing. I gave him evils though.

Well aren't you the big strong girl then.

If you have a problem with him, then tell him!

@Franklyfrost

It could be worse op. I went to the bank yesterday and the guy in the lobby pointed out the person I should speak to by describing them: ‘the woman over there who’s coughing’. I stared at him and he, in an attempt to make it BETTER, said, ‘she doesn’t normally do that, it started today’.

Haha, that actually made me lol. Thank you.

No people don’t just go home with a standard cold? My work has told us we can’t work from home on our in-office days unless we are too ill to be there, a cold certainly doesn’t qualify going home else the office would be empty!

@Aprilshowers91

No people don’t just go home with a standard cold? My work has told us we can’t work from home on our in-office days unless we are too ill to be there, a cold certainly doesn’t qualify going home else the office would be empty!

All these people able to diagnose whether it's covid or not without testing. It's quite something, I must say.

Its been well over a week since my viral tonsilitus resolved itself. No longer infectious to anyone but on some days I'm still getting a tickling in my throat which is setting off coughing attacks and occasional post nasal drip that triggers coughing.

So you don't know it could be something as simple as that. Yet if I were next to you, you probably assume I have covid because of the coughing.

Some people just get dry throats as winter comes along too that causes coughing.

Think people need to just calm down a bit and be a bit more mindful that not every coughing attack means covid.

Colleague started coughing and sniffling halfway through the day but just sat there

.... I hate being a co-pilot on transatlantic flights.

I hope you're ok, OP. I'm with you and I'm sorry you've got a load of weird aggressive responses. I like the way you've not taken any shit but it will probably be less stressful to go and do something else and forget about these bizarre ignorant attitudes.

If you are not clinically vulnerable, and have been vaccinated then you need to chill out op.
I took my child to a hospital appointment yesterday, we were late after a parking fiasco, so we raced to the ward. When I got there I noticed a sign that said masks must be worn. I had left it in the car 🤦🏻‍♀️. I explained to the lady on reception and she went a bit mad! She said so you've walked through the whole hospital without a mask? And no one's stopped you? She was tutting and shaking her head in disbelief and then went on to tell me I should have known I'd need a mask. I did say I was very sorry and I meant it, I was quite embarrassed because I'm very law abiding but dear goodness she went a bit over the top.

@jcyclops

Colleague started coughing and sniffling halfway through the day but just sat there

.... I hate being a co-pilot on transatlantic flights.

😂😂

@JesusIsAnyNameFree I would have been fuming if I were you!!

We are in the middle of a pandemic. Coughing is a major symptom. I really don’t get why some people on here are not understanding why you would be pissed off sitting in a room all day with this guy especially given you’re pregnant!!!

He should have gone home end off. Selfish to stay if he could have gone and wfh.

Maybe the people being so negative about your post don’t work in an office so don’t get it, or decided they have had enough of worrying and moved on so obviously everyone else should too good for them ehe..... I mean it’s not like the numbers of Covid are huge or anything or more abd more people are dying is it. But that’s okay, we are all double jabbed so invincible 🙄

We can’t work from hone - work in a high street pharmacy - if one of us went home every time one of us sneezed or coughed it would be permanently closed. Ridiculous

Good job you don't work in my office op. (I or I )

However saying that if I couldn't go to work or had to go home every time I had a headache I would never be there.

@driftcompatible 🤣

Op can I ask why you've posted on AIBU if you don't think you are? You've literally not taken on board the huge majority who think you're unreasonable

@Beerwife

We can’t work from hone - work in a high street pharmacy - if one of us went home every time one of us sneezed or coughed it would be permanently closed. Ridiculous

I work in a hospital, same for us.

@TheNarwhalBalloon

I hope you're ok, OP. I'm with you and I'm sorry you've got a load of weird aggressive responses. I like the way you've not taken any shit but it will probably be less stressful to go and do something else and forget about these bizarre ignorant attitudes.

Ah, I'm fine! But I did just get an email through saying I am needed for a 6 am meeting so frankly, I am ready to cry. Shoot me.

If he hasn't tested and your work policy says not being in with coughs/colds etc then YANBU.

I'm also getting fed up of people saying they know they just have a cold and not testing. These people must have special magical powers where they can assess the exact reason for a cough, but for some reason they kept this brilliant talent hidden for the last couple of years when the world could really have used it.

@SummaLuvin

I sometimes cough because I manage to choke on my own spit, not exactly contagious....

I do that....!!

Op, here's a grip I think you need one (from a still-wearing-a-mask and social distancer)

[quote Workinghardeveryday]@JesusIsAnyNameFree I would have been fuming if I were you!!

We are in the middle of a pandemic. Coughing is a major symptom. I really don’t get why some people on here are not understanding why you would be pissed off sitting in a room all day with this guy especially given you’re pregnant!!!

He should have gone home end off. Selfish to stay if he could have gone and wfh.

Maybe the people being so negative about your post don’t work in an office so don’t get it, or decided they have had enough of worrying and moved on so obviously everyone else should too good for them ehe..... I mean it’s not like the numbers of Covid are huge or anything or more abd more people are dying is it. But that’s okay, we are all double jabbed so invincible 🙄[/quote]
It's great for people who don't have any reason to worry, isn't it? I have an asthmatic husband as well, and I am terrified of him dying and leaving me with 2 kids.

@Asleanna

Op can I ask why you've posted on AIBU if you don't think you are? You've literally not taken on board the huge majority who think you're unreasonable

I had a wobble. I swiftly realised I wasn't.