Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel a bit pissed off and resentful?

38 replies

Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 19:05

Work have arranged for me and the rest of my team to go to a 2 day conference in London next week and have the team Christmas party on one of the evenings. It’s all booked and paid for.

Even on a normal year I wouldn’t want to be messing about in London the week before Christmas but this year especially so.

I am SO worried about getting Covid and not being able to see my family this Christmas. My boss is seemingly unaware of the potential risks as nothing has been mentioned. I think that’s what annoying me the most.

WIBU to say something? I mentioned it to one of my colleagues who’s also attending and they were all ‘it’ be fine I’m sure, chill out.’ But that was a few weeks ago, before this Omnicron variant was around.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 07/12/2021 19:12

When was this arranged? I would be very surprised if it goes ahead. DH had a team dinner last night, one person has tested positive and now the whole team has been sent home. He is supposed to have a company wide party Thursday but 99% sure that’s getting scrapped. By next week I’d have thought for sure no parties

Original poster
Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 19:14

It was arranged in September I think.

When you say scrapped though, do you mean at the government’s insistence or the companies? I really don’t think the company will scrap it.

Just don’t know what to do, I don’t think it’ll look good on me if I’m the only one to bring it up but equally I just think it’s too risky.

OP posts:
Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 07/12/2021 19:24

Either/or at this point. If you’re worried then do not go. It’s close to Christmas, risk is high and it’s reasonable not to go

Chloemol · 07/12/2021 19:40

I would bring the matter up. If they insist it’s going ahead I would say I am not going and explain reasons

I am also not sure I would want to go to a conference either at the moment

WonderHen · 07/12/2021 19:50

Tell work you have covid.

Forion · 07/12/2021 19:51

Call in sick at the last minute.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 07/12/2021 19:53

Don’t lie about it, as others have suggested. Tell your boss the truth. It may well that your colleagues feel the same.

Original poster
Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 20:16

I did think about phoning in sick on the day or something but given I’ve already voiced concerns to one of my colleagues, I think it’ll be pretty obvious if I do.

It’s not worth risking my job over but I’m annoyed and resentful that we’ve been put in this position and that no thought has been given to our Christmas and the potential repercussions of attending.

OP posts:
sst1234 · 07/12/2021 20:24

Will you lock yourself away forever OP? With this irrational fear of Covid.

Original poster
Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 20:28

But it’s not really an irrational fear atm with cases so high is it? I wouldn’t normally give a shit, we’re all going to get it at some point but I didn’t get to see my family last year for Christmas, I don’t get to see them that much in general and I’m looking forward to a nice Christmas with them this year and it’s highly likely I’ll contract Covid next week if I attend this event and the work Christmas do.

Not sure why you think that’s exaggerated/ irrational. I have take public transport to get there for starters.

OP posts:
DorotheaDiamond · 07/12/2021 20:28

I think for a lot of people it’s not a fear of Covid as much as a fear of 10 days self isolation and all the attendant hassle!

bravotango · 07/12/2021 20:30

I have covid (Omicron) and my track and trace caller said that all my contacts have to isolate for 10 days even if double jabbed! So if that's indeed true, I've warned my family to be very very careful from 13th December just in case.

He sounded a bit..unsure tbh so of anyone has info to the contrary that would be good

sst1234 · 07/12/2021 20:32

Why do you thinks it’s highly likely. That statement is factually incorrect. Case rate is 0.5% per week. How does that equate to highly likely. The numbers suggest that your fear is irrational. Not arguing that you should go if you don’t want to. Just saying that the statistics make the fear of Covid irrational.

Original poster
Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 20:35

I’ll be using packed public transport and going into packed bars and restaurants in the UK’s capital city, so IMO the risk is high.

Ultimately I just don’t want the risk so don’t want to go, but I don’t feel like I can back out if I’m the only one raising the concern.

OP posts:
LaBellaTrix · 07/12/2021 20:36

@sst1234

Will you lock yourself away forever OP? With this irrational fear of Covid.
It's not an irrational fear, it's a very rational and real fear. We don't know enough about this new variant to be complacent about it.

I wouldn't go. I would also think there will be other colleagues who are concerned about a big gathering so close to Christmas.

minipie · 07/12/2021 20:38

I would make up an excuse tbh

Bet plenty of others will do the same. If it even goes ahead

MynameisWa · 07/12/2021 20:40

Don’t go. It’s madness. Covid is everywhere. I’m currently at home with two positive people. Everyday I hear of more and more.

I think the government is making a mistake not putting in stricter guidelines. It just gives everyone a dilemma.

We had a party on Saturday and I just wanted to stay home but thought I was looking for an excuse to get out of it. Now DH has it and so I expect I will too.

Wish I’d stayed home.

Coronado2 · 07/12/2021 20:40

Just don't go out in the evening if you don't want to. Say you have a headache. I realise that doesn't take away all your risk, but I imagine others do want to go so I wouldn't personally be raising concerns to my boss, just not going myself if I wasn't comfortable with it.

Sittingonabench · 07/12/2021 21:04

Can you clarify what parts are required attendance and what is optional (party’s are normally optional). Also if it’s this weekend and the worst happened you should have time to isolate and still have family over for Christmas I would think?

Original poster
Firefly04 · 07/12/2021 21:07

I don’t think either are optional as the company has paid for it all now.

It’s not this weekend, it’s Thursday/ Friday next week.

OP posts:
sjxoxo · 07/12/2021 21:15

I deffo think you are within rights to politely decline!!! I wouldn’t go. It’s not actual work, I would say you have family members who need you to be careful in the run up to Xmas and you don’t feel it’s a safe environment given the circumstances. I bet you have colleagues who feel the same. I’d speak out politely to my boss. Xox

sjxoxo · 07/12/2021 21:18

Another thought- You could contact the organisers and ask if there’s a virtual link for the conference; there may well be and then you can go to your boss armed with that saying I will of course attend that virtually but I can’t travel on public transport or risk crowded indoor areas, sorry! x

WhenSepEnds · 07/12/2021 21:18

@Firefly04

Work have arranged for me and the rest of my team to go to a 2 day conference in London next week and have the team Christmas party on one of the evenings. It’s all booked and paid for.

Even on a normal year I wouldn’t want to be messing about in London the week before Christmas but this year especially so.

I am SO worried about getting Covid and not being able to see my family this Christmas. My boss is seemingly unaware of the potential risks as nothing has been mentioned. I think that’s what annoying me the most.

WIBU to say something? I mentioned it to one of my colleagues who’s also attending and they were all ‘it’ be fine I’m sure, chill out.’ But that was a few weeks ago, before this Omnicron variant was around.

AIBU?

I think it's pretty reckless if it goes ahead? I think they will likely cancel - there's no way you're the only one concerned, I would be too. Don't phone in sick- far too obv - but definitely raise it. You have every right to be concerned
Bluntness100 · 07/12/2021 21:39

I think you need to speak to your manager, I don’t think it is “highly likely “ you will get Covid, but we all have different tolerances to risk.

RedSquirrelsAreAwesome · 07/12/2021 21:42

Go with your gut instinct. IMO YANBU and you don’t want to take any additional risks which this would be. Say thanks but no thanks and just accept the consequences.