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?

@Lightisnotwhite

A person who lives as part of a society, happily enjoying all the benefits of that society whilst refusing to take reasonable steps to keep that society safe has plenty to do with everyone

Sorry but the “no harm” argument is hideous.
Every year things done for our good are forced upon our society, Of course Covid vaccines are good and smoking and alcohol are bad. In probably similar amounts. But the relentless push to there being “a right way” to live is Orwellian.
You might wonder why metal health is so shit despite all our seatbelt, smoking, health and safety law and a massive increase in overall wealth.

None of these things are "forced" upon society.

You don't want to have a vaccine? Fine, but be a grown-up and accept that some choices have consequences.

@Peevedcolleague

Of course YANBU, and I can't believe anyone is saying you are!

Surely there should be a limit on the amount of time off you can have for 'self isolating.' What if we ALL decided to be stupid enough to not be vaccinated, and ALL decided to spend 50% of the working year 'self-isolating.'

I think the rules need to change tbh, and once you have had 3 lots of 'self-isolating' you only get 50% of your pay.

Also, I bet this woman - and people like her, would not be having ANY time off if they only got statutory sick pay! £96.35 a week! Funny how people are 'sick' and 'ill' more often, when they get full pay!

Totally YANBU. Why should everyone else carry the load for her? What a convenient choice for her.

I’m probably being dense, but I don’t really understand what you mean

Well, in one case we have someone having to stay home because of a choice that they made. An ill-informed, ridiculous and frankly, dangerous to others-choice.
In the other case, we have someone who has done everything they possibly can but is still told they need to stay at home (which is only reasonable anyway). The choice is 100% out of their hands, there's nothing they could have possibly done to change it.

Apples and oranges.

@LoveGrooveDanceParty

No, the law as it stands means they have to stay at home. That is not their choice.

It is their choice not to get vaccinated.

Why do you assume the reason the person on the OP is not vaccinated is so they can have time off? OP has not stated a reason that this person has not had the vaccine... and as a PP said, their medical reason is no one's business so they just state they have chosen not to have it.

Honestly, a lot of comments in this thread and making this person out to be someone who declined the vaccine so she could have time off, is an evil anti-vaxxer, is stupid, listens to misinformation etc.

This person is not just having time off. They are also not allowed to leave their house. I don't see that as being something they are enjoying at the expense of their colleagues.

@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.

This is very true. And I cannot tell you the number of sad stories I've heard here in the States about unvaccinated women catching COVID, having emergency C-sections, then dying before holding their child.

The main places saying that pregnant women should not be vaccinated are doing so via memes...ie, social media. Hardly expert opinions.

Why do you assume the reason the person on the OP is not vaccinated is so they can have time off

Where did @LoveGrooveDanceParty say that?

@OrangeVelour

YABU. I'd be more worried about vaccinated people NOT isolating and spreading the virus at work.

Totally this

I agree OP I would be fuming too it’s very different when medically you can’t have it or a pregnancy related time off. Those are for short periods of time this could go on for years and years and years.

I think at some point workplaces will have to say this is job requires face to face contact and high risk of covid. No jab and constantly isolating means we can’t pay staff to be off. If you CHOOSE and your right and all that fine but this isn’t the job for you. See also social care and NHS shortly. Or you take risk of having no pay on regular basis. It can only encourage others think sod this for a laugh and when their immune wanes after 6-12m not to continue with booster shots.

@girlmom21

I think you should be angry at the rules rather than the colleague.

I agree - the rules are bonkers imo. It seems like a shirkers' charter for the unvaccinated!😖

@GoodnightGrandma

Join the club, we had this with a colleague who refused the vaccine due to pregnancy.

And she has every bloody right to!

@FreshFreesias

YABU. It’s not her fault, it is the fault of Covid cultists who are insisting on everyone, including pregnant women, taking a potentially dangerous treatment for a virus that is of minimal risk to healthy people.

So funny

Her choice but equally your employer’s choice to put her on unpaid leave. I would be raging in your shoes

Maybe you should start a campaign for the government to change the ridiculous rules.
If your a close contact you all take a test regardless of injection status, if it’s negative you stay working.
Otherwise all that’s happening is a lot of anger and the potential of the virus being spread by those still working who have had the injections.

YANBU I'm sick of people saying it's no one else's business, of course it is when choosing not to get vaccinated effects everyone else

YANBU. Mandatory where I work. You dont have it, you dont work. I have not time for the un vaxxed by choice - its different if you have a medical situation which means you cant take it.

@OrangeVelour

YABU. I'd be more worried about vaccinated people NOT isolating and spreading the virus at work.

If you are vaccinated you are not required to isolate if a close contact. Companies will not pay you if you isolate and are double jabbed. Does seem a bit crazy especially if you live in a house with a positive case!!

Your colleague has every right not be vaccinated. I bet she'd motor to the clinic if your employer put her on SSP instead of full pay.

She's taking the piss.

I am inclined to agree with the other posters who say that she is extremely selfish and would have no problem telling her so if she ever came back to work. The trouble is with these vaccine refusers is they are so self centered that they have no concept on how their actions impact on others.

YANU. I'm getting a bit sick of hearing things like this.

I'm not sure children understand when their human right are being violated. It's discrimination plain an simple. The colleague in question is just following the government rules. Not her fault at all.

Why do you assume the reason the person on the OP is not vaccinated is so they can have time off?

I have neither assumed, nor said that (thanks @JesusIsAnyNameFree).

OP has not stated a reason that this person has not had the vaccine

Yes she did, it’s in the very OP. She has chosen not to have it.

As a result, she gets to skive at home, perfectly well, on full pay.

This is not even remotely the same as someone who is off work sick, with an actual illness or because of an accident.

@catgirl1976

YANBU. My work won’t pay you if you have to isolate having chosen not to be double jabbed (different if you can’t have it but if you won’t it’s unpaid leave)

Don't they have to give you SSP?

@LoveGrooveDanceParty

No, the law as it stands means they have to stay at home. That is not their choice.

It is their choice not to get vaccinated.

Exactly. According to the law she has to stay at home because she declined to be vaccinated. That impacts on the OP and her colleagues and the manager needs to act to address this.