Fed up with unvaccinated colleague isolating

[Peevedcolleague]

Name changed 'cos I'll probably get slated but aibu to be pissed off about a colleague self isolating yet again while the rest of us have to carry on and pick up the pieces?

A new colleague chose not to be jabbed and is now facing numerous isolation periods at home on full pay where the rest of us have to carry on and cover her workload. Nature of the job means she's likely to be a close contact fairly regularly.

Even if she changed her mind and gets jabbed tomorrow, it'll be 10 weeks minimum before she's exempt from isolation so this could happen several more times yet.

Aibu to feel resentful and wish she bloody well got jabbed like the rest of us?

@AnAutumnAfternoon

YABU, sorry. It's her right to refuse a vaccine, so it's not your business. Your manager needs to have something in place to cover staff shortages so the rest of the staff don't have to cover people who are off sick or isolating.

Quite difficult don't you think..... you know I'm isolating, no I'm not, yes I am.

How does a manager deal with that?

@Grapewrath

Yabu She has made a decision about her own body, presumably an informed decision. Vaccines don’t come without risks and she feels the vaccine risk possess greater threat than covid in her case. Yanbu to be annoyed but she didn’t make up the isolation rules

Covid was a massive threat to humanity until the vaccine .What state would the world be in if everyone had decided to not take the jab? if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem

YADNBU. Completely different if someone is unable to have the vaccination. Selfish on all counts, especially when colleagues are having to cover for her while she sits at home with her feet up all day!

**Offmyfence

AnAutumnAfternoon

YABU, sorry. It's her right to refuse a vaccine, so it's not your business. Your manager needs to have something in place to cover staff shortages so the rest of the staff don't have to cover people who are off sick or isolating.

Quite difficult don't you think..... you know I'm isolating, no I'm not, yes I am.

How does a manager deal with that?**

Perhaps, but it doesn't take away the colleagues right to refuse the vaccine. These are logistics that managers are paid to workout.

@AnAutumnAfternoon

**Offmyfence

AnAutumnAfternoon

YABU, sorry. It's her right to refuse a vaccine, so it's not your business. Your manager needs to have something in place to cover staff shortages so the rest of the staff don't have to cover people who are off sick or isolating.

Quite difficult don't you think..... you know I'm isolating, no I'm not, yes I am.

How does a manager deal with that?**

Perhaps, but it doesn't take away the colleagues right to refuse the vaccine. These are logistics that managers are paid to workout.

That's true, so presumably as a manager with a new colleague, she got the right to dismiss?

Maybe the best option.

She has the right to refuse vaccine. But yes, I would feel slightly resentful if a colleague was doing similar.

I had a colleague who had to isolate when her housemate got covid. She immediately got her second jab when she was allowed to. I think she honestly felt shit not being able to come into work.

Wonder what would happen if most teachers refused the vaccine, home schooling would be on repeat

@Ugzbugz

Wonder what would happen if most teachers refused the vaccine, home schooling would be on repeat

Quite a few 'your body your choice' people might feel differently then.

Not sure of the law on that, but if it is not against employment law then yes.

Self-isolation is a government rule, so not sure if she can be dismissed for following the government guidelines though.

Don't hate the player hate the game (sounds like she's onto a good thing!)

@InFiveMins

YABU. Her body, her choice.

Nobody has said otherwise?

Choices have consequence. Choices can be judged by others.

There you go, more statements of the fucking obvious.

First care home staff

Then nhs staff

Are expected to have vaccinations

I'm sure this will follow on in education, police etc.......

I wonder if she'll have a re-think then???

@User2638483

Bit unfair she won't have refused it due to pregnancy. Pregnant women have been advised not to have it!

Absolutely not true. Please check your facts before posting stuff like this.

I think the problem with this is at the beginning they were not allowed to have it, then were suddenly told go ahead. I can understand not wanting to do it whilst pregnant for this reason

Her choice - but barmy of emplyers to not require her to take unpaid leave

Yes her body her choice etc etc. But she is taking the piss and any reasonable person knows it.

I agree. The way “my body, my choice” has been co-opted by antivaxxers makes me see red. I am so tired of seeing this phrase trotted out by these idiots.

This phrase was originally about women’s right to autonomy over their own sexual and reproductive health. It sickens me that it’s become a charter for self indulgent people who think that poorly informed posturing is more important than other people’s right to safety.

I could have written this! My colleague is an anti vaxxer, refused jab despite being high risk. Totally their choice and I respect that.
Unfortunately, they're terrified of catching it. so every sniffle, every cough and we dont see them for a week. Doesn't trust LFT so has to travel distance for PCR, then 48hrs wait for result. Thats the week nearly over. No point coming in for one day.
I do understand their fear and the isolating. whats frustrating is the frequency of this-at least once a month-meaning if someone else on holiday we are constantly scrabbling for cover. I'm far behind in my own job.
Nothing we can do but its tiring.

Yabu
She’s just following the rules

@Eyesofdisarray

Pregnant women are advised to have covid vaccinations

Yea but that a huge decision to make so I don't think a pregnant woman temporarily delaying a vaccine is the same as the person OP is talking about.

@SquishMonsta

Yes her body her choice etc etc. But she is taking the piss and any reasonable person knows it.

Absolutely agree.

"We don't have the luxury of this unfortunately, think education / childcare setting that can't function without staff."

Then it's up to management to make sure you're adequately staffed. Anybody could be ill at any time - sounds like you're short staffed.

It’s a MEGA reward for not doing the right thing and having the vax. Frankly if I were you I’d be furious I HAD had it, and wishing I too could stay at home, doing my own stuff and getting paid…

She is not "taking the piss", she is exercising her right to refuse the vaccine and following the government guidelines. If it was not law for her to self-isolate she wouldn't have to/be able to self-isolate/ stay at home.

In the NHS trust where I work , you need to self isolate if someone in your household tests positive for covid (PCR) even if you have had every vaccine known to man, you then get given lots of lovely admin to do at home if you are not unwell yourself. Could they be given tasks to do at home if it is going to be a regular occurence @Peevedcolleague ? Reports, tax/VAT return, updating files etc ?