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!

@SummaLuvin

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

@summaluvin Going a bit off topic but glad its not just me this happens to...!!

When i was little i was worried there was something wrong with me because saliva built up in my mouth, took me far too long worrying about this before realising its totally normal and why people swallow.... 😂

She went home, it is right there in her OP.

Yeah but she sat there seething for a couple of hours when if she was that stressed over a few coughs she could have left herself immediately. I doubt she was being that productive in the office if she was so focused on counting his coughs.

Well, i thought it was pretty clear I didn't mean a little clearing your throat-cough.

Clearly you weren’t otherwise many of us wouldn’t have asked if the cough was persistent or replied that a random cough does not mean he should be going home, what you’ve described in your OP is a common cold.

@PinkWaferBiscuit

Eh, he can.

Yeah because that's exactly how real life works. You're talking nonsense, your company wouldn't take long to stop operating if everyone with a cough simply got up and went home.

Although still curious as to how you know his medical history.

Dh and his colleagues can chose to work in the office or from home. Lots of our friends have similar rules in their jobs. They are all set up to work from home if and when they need to, or choose to.

Not sure why that would be seen as so unusual, especially at the moment.

There are no words 😶

Oh here we fucking go, start a thread in a section OPEN to debate and opinion yet turn into an utter shit stain when told 'YABU'

Get a life, OP.

@Hankunamatata

if he is symptomatic then he has been contagious for at least the last two days

So people should just ignore the symptoms and not bother testing at that point then??

@CallMeNutribullet

Op if you've been colleagues that long could you not just suggest he buggered off?

I did say 'would you like to go home perhaps' and he said no. 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. Hopefully that means he stays home tomorrow😂

@Tailendofsummer

We wouldn't have been able to work from home but if it was a persistent cough we'd have to PCR and be off till it came back. Was he at least wearing a mask? No one wants a cold now, if it affects you in a Covid-similar way will cause all sorts of problems

Absolutely not. No masks required. I'm the only one wearing one.

So nobody is allowed to cough anymore without immediately isolating themselves? Bloody hell, get a grip.

If you've been sat next to him all day there's no point him going home mid-afternoon.

Are you sure the air wasn't just a bit dry?

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

Well, i thought it was pretty clear I didn't mean a little clearing your throat-cough.

Clearly you weren’t otherwise many of us wouldn’t have asked if the cough was persistent or replied that a random cough does not mean he should be going home, what you’ve described in your OP is a common cold.

Yeah, you know, like the delta variant tends to behave like in fully vaccinated people especially. Again, someone needs to contact WHO.

@stingofthebutterfly

So nobody is allowed to cough anymore without immediately isolating themselves? Bloody hell, get a grip.

Evidently not. I wonder how the OP would react if her kids teachers didn't come to work or shops shut due to lack of staff. After all its almost November and approximately 80% of the population at present have a cough or cold.

Should have dumped an LFT in his lap

I think if you'd included your original post that your office policy is to not come in with 'any coughs, runny noses, weird headaches, fevers or sore throats' you'd have got a very different response from people!

I don't think YABU OP and to me this thread demonstrates why the UK has such high infection rates compared to pretty much any where else. I'm not in the UK and we have to isolate with any new respiratory infection symptoms until we have a negative covid test. If it's just a cold, fine, get yourself tested and once it's confirmed you can get back to work.

Again your interpretation of the WHO guidance is somewhat lacking.

3 main key symptoms of the delta variant are headaches, sore throats and runny nose...

If you have the covid delta variant, having a cough is even rarer than the original variant.

YABU and a child throwing a temper tantrum with it, if your going to sprout WHO guidance, at least read and understand the guidance first before sprouting your nonsense!

As someone with sinus issues I can randomly start sniffing at any time if something triggers it or just randomly and sometimes sniffles mean coughing. I could be talking to someone and all of a sudden I'll be really bunged up.

Well if he has covid symptoms then obviously he should have gone home and arranged a test.

I'm surprised how many people don't think he should have considering - you know - that's the current rules.

Typical OP "AIBU" MN "YABU" OP "no I'm not!!! You're all wrong!!"

@amysaurus87

I think if you'd included your original post that your office policy is to not come in with 'any coughs, runny noses, weird headaches, fevers or sore throats' you'd have got a very different response from people!

But surely that's every office right now?!

Slight cough and lots of sniffling - just like a summer cold - were and continued to be my symptoms when I tested positive for Covid. At this stage of the pandemic I'd avoid being somewhere i didn't have to be be if I was visibly showing signs of a cold, in case it actually was covid

Coughing isn't a symptom in most people with Covid anymore. Covid coughs are positively retro.

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

Again your interpretation of the WHO guidance is somewhat lacking.

3 main key symptoms of the delta variant are headaches, sore throats and runny nose...

If you have the covid delta variant, having a cough is even rarer than the original variant.

YABU and a child throwing a temper tantrum with it, if your going to sprout WHO guidance, at least read and understand the guidance first before sprouting your nonsense!

Wow l didn't know you a cough isnt an indicator with the delta variant!

It seems OP is quite anxious about the c word still- l don't disagree as all rules should be followed - but better to speak to them rather than get more and more angry about it.

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend

Again your interpretation of the WHO guidance is somewhat lacking.

3 main key symptoms of the delta variant are headaches, sore throats and runny nose...

If you have the covid delta variant, having a cough is even rarer than the original variant.

YABU and a child throwing a temper tantrum with it, if your going to sprout WHO guidance, at least read and understand the guidance first before sprouting your nonsense!

Yeah, he had a runny nose though, didn't he. You're the one reading the guidance wrong, wtf are you on about. Show me where WHO says 'runny nose fine as long as accompanied by persistent cough' pls 😅