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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Boss wants people to arrange booster jab for a Friday

181 replies

Wantubackforgood · 07/12/2021 18:01

DP had just come home and the owner of the company he works for has suggested that staff should only be arranging booster jabs for a Friday after work so that if they suffer side effects they won't need to take time off .
For context,DP had one day off after his third jab .There have been a couple of others off in the last few weeks.These are all people who would never normally take a day off and only get SSP .

AIBU to think this is a shocking way to treat people who are trying to do the right thing ?

OP posts:
Elieza · 07/12/2021 18:21

Getting it on a Friday sounds sensible. If it’s available.

However if there are slots sooner and especially if you are at risk, I’d not be delaying.

Imagine someone got covid really badly as they were mixing more at this time of year etc, and it delayed their booster for, say, a fortnight to try and get the first sensible Friday appointment like the boss wants.

And ended up off work for 6 months with long covid. Yeah that wouldn’t be good for the workplace!

Blahdyblahbla · 07/12/2021 18:21

Where I am you are told when and where to attend, and the phone-line to rearrange never gets answered. If you miss the appointment you then have to wait for another. So its not viable for everyone to arrange it around work.

thewhatsit · 07/12/2021 18:28

@Whitefire

If only it was that easy to book such a specific slot, you take what there is.

I have only had a sore arm after my booster, though if you need to be lifting your arm above shoulder level this could be restrictive.

Is it not? That was how it worked first time around. I took a Saturday slot both times because of children. I remember my Mum only looking for slots that were first thing in the morning and near to her work so she could go on the way in.

If it’s take what you’re given that doesn’t work for a lot of people when you get down to the population most likely to have work and childcare commitments really.

AndreaC67 · 07/12/2021 18:29

I would advise people to get any vaccines they need ASAP and not wait, Omicron is doubling every few days.

Loads of walk in centres that start early and a sore arm is no reason not to go to work, i felt a bit sick but a sandwich fixed that.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 07/12/2021 18:29

It's hard to predict when your side effects will come on, if you have them. Jab on Friday doesn't guarantee ill on Saturday - it can take a few days.

bluetowers · 07/12/2021 18:30

Everyone I know does it when off next day or working from home.. in case they feel rubbish after. In our area there are tons of appointments at loads of locations

Hopeful201 · 07/12/2021 18:30

I had my jab on a Sat afternoon so it wouldn't muck me up for work, I had quite a bad reaction so I am very glad I did.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/12/2021 18:33

I've got mine booked for Sunday. I could have had it on Friday, Saturday or Sunday but I'm away until Friday and seeing family on Saturday so I had no choice. If I'm ill on Monday then so be it, I'll take the day sick but I'm not ruining my weekend plans.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 07/12/2021 18:35

It's what our family did. All on the same Friday. Laid in a supply of juice and painkillers (and some chocolate!) in anticipation of an uncomfortable weekend. We all felt fine. (I ate the chocolate to keep it from being wasted.)

mrsdolittle · 07/12/2021 18:36

Around here appointments are like hens teeth.

Having it on a Friday is a great idea in principle but in some areas you have to take what you are offered

Kshhuxnxk · 07/12/2021 18:37

Don't see the issue with this myself. I'd rather do that than have sick leave on my record.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 07/12/2021 18:38

It’s a very good idea. Can’t think why you are moaning.

HollaHolla · 07/12/2021 18:39

I got mine when I was on annual leave for a couple of days. Mainly because it was the first chance I got. I've told my team to get an appointment whenever they can, once they're eligible. It's more important that they get it, and although there's disruption if they're off, we will just live with that. (I did have one person off yesterday, after they were vaccinated on Saturday.... we survived.)

gofg · 07/12/2021 18:40

It sounds sensible to me - although i don't understand why so many people are convinced they are going to have side effects. I don't know anyone who hasn't been able to work after all of their jabs.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/12/2021 18:41

Did mine on a Tuesday morning and went back to work afterwards.

We don't seem to get many people taking time off after vaccinations. I wonder whether there's a particular subset of people who all have severe reactions and have purely coincidentally all joined similar organisations?

SickAndTiredAgain · 07/12/2021 18:41

Doesn’t seem massively unreasonable, it’s only a suggestion, he doesn’t have the authority to prevent them getting it another time.
My first two doses knocked me sideways, I was in bed for 2 days in pain with severe nausea, I’ll be getting my booster on a Friday if possible. I’d do the same for anything else medical that potentially had a couple of days of side effects.
I wouldn’t not get it another day, but I have a strong preference if I have a choice.

Thegreencup · 07/12/2021 18:45

@unfortunateevents

Great if you can pick and choose your appointments like that! Where I live people are still struggling to book any appointment at all! So if you log on for the umpteenth time and are offered any appointment (which in many cases isn't even close to home) you grab it! The idea of picking and choosing around here is simply laughable.
We didn't even get a choice! We got sent letters telling us when our appointment was. If you dared phone to rearrange, you were told that you'd be bumped to the back of the queue and waiting for an eternity.

If people are going to be banned from working If they're not jabbed, they'll be taking the first appointment they can get!

ItsSnowJokes · 07/12/2021 18:45

I got mine on a Saturday morning, ended up with us both having a week off work after we both had horrendous side effects from Pfizer. Literally couldn't get out of bed until the Thursday afternoon.

User3579 · 07/12/2021 18:47

Seems sensible. I had mine on a Friday to give myself a couple of days in case I felt crap. I was fine though.

Musicaltheatremum · 07/12/2021 18:48

We all tried to plan boosters for when we had a day off the next day. I was ok but 3/5 of my colleagues were unwell after it. As GPs we felt it was our duty not to take time off work as we were so busy. Imagine telling patients " no you can't get an appointment Dr X is off with vaccine side effects...not very professional Had a few reception staff who needed time off.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/12/2021 18:50

Fridays my favourite day for things like jabs because I’ve got two days off if I get side effects.

Aprilx · 07/12/2021 18:51

I think if the option is there and so long as nobody is delaying it so that they can go on a Friday, it is quite sensible.

Christabellaxx · 07/12/2021 18:52

Seems sensible to me.

alexdgr8 · 07/12/2021 18:55

i 'm surprised at people saying they had to take an appt sent to them, or wait longer, no one answering phone.
is there not the option to book online, and/or go to a walk-in session, where you are, or near where you work.
i manged to book one 2 and half hours before appt time. mind you, it was a saturday, so lots of people keeping the sabbath.
my friend had several options between walk-ins and booking appt time and location to suit her.
and don't forget your flu jabs everyone. widely available at pharmacies.

HangOnToYourself · 07/12/2021 18:56

I'd personally rather feel shit on works time than my own 😂 jokes of course, I'm a conscientious employee 👀