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AIBU?

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Original poster

I just walked out of work over covid.

245 replies

organisedmother · 15/12/2021 13:12

When I arrived to work this morning my colleague told me that her friend she was with yesterday had just tested positive for covid and she has done a lft herself and was negative, she hasn’t done a pcr. I work in a very small space with no windows if she has picked up covid I’m more than likely going to get it from her as we share a till, toilet, fridge microwave in such a small space.

I said maybe she should of stayed home until she got a negative pcr, she was with this friend in her house having a drink,no masks of corse, windows shut, I feel like there is a 50/50 chance she will more than likely pick this up.

With Christmas so close and the schools finishing this week I thought is this worth the risk for a 3 hour shift when I could potentially pick this up and spread to my family.

I decided to go home and she said she understood their was a risk and is fine with it.

I feel a little guilty now, but I just keep thinking of the points…

-With her friend in a house chatting who has covid.
-we have no windows so are breathing each others air
-sharing everything at work
-schools closing tomorrow
-Xmas
-only lost out on £30

The nightmare and hassle it would of been if she does have it and I pick it up would of been catastrophic!

Would you of stayed or been out the door

OP posts:
HoldingTheDoor · 15/12/2021 14:36

The US and the UK. Two countries/areas I wouldn't want to go near for love nor money at the moment.

Thank fuck for that. We've more than enough doom mongers and hysterics over here as it is.

TheKeatingFive · 15/12/2021 14:36

The US and the UK. Two countries/areas I wouldn't want to go near for love nor money at the moment. No logic or common sense in either of them.

Don't then

No ones holding a gun to your head.

girlmom21 · 15/12/2021 14:37

Unfortunately for key workers, you know, the ones that kept the country running last year while you hid behind the sofa, we don’t have that choice.

Loads of people don't have that choice.
Your job doesn't make you any better than anyone else.
Stop with the nonsense sniping.

Inastatus · 15/12/2021 14:37

I think you were being unreasonable. She did an LFT and it was negative so she is unlikely to be infectious. The whole country is going to grind to a halt a lot quicker than feared if everyone is this cautious and just walks out of work for these reasons.

Unsure33 · 15/12/2021 14:37

in your circumstances I would have left as well . If it turns out to be omicron she should be self isolating and I think the guidance is to do a PCR anyway .
if you are in a job where you can SD and keep apart with ventilation its different .

StellaGibson118 · 15/12/2021 14:38

It would be lovely to have that option. Unfortunately for key workers, you know, the ones that kept the country running last year while you hid behind the sofa, we don’t have that choice.

It's like COVID bingo in here.

ElleGettingBetter · 15/12/2021 14:38

All the “could pick it up at Tesco, could stand next to someone with covid” is irrelevant bollocks.

The FACTS are the OP had to work alongside a colleague who has been in close contact with someone who has just tested positive. They work in close proximity to each other and share a till and staff facilities.

Cases are sky high, why would you take the risk a week before Christmas?!

Pedalpushers · 15/12/2021 14:39

It takes up to a week for covid to show on a PCR test, people suggesting we should be using them like lfts are being ridiculous. There is an estimated 1 in 28 chance of a double vaccinated person getting (non omicron) covid from a close contact, not to mention someone who came into contact with covid yesterday is not going to be particularly infectious or infectious at all today.

@ClaudiaJ1 if the vaccines hold against severe disease with omicron, and it looks like they will, the UK will be in one of the best covid positions in the world, so not sure where you're getting that we are so messed up.

shinynewapple21 · 15/12/2021 14:39

@ClaudiaJ1

The US and the UK. Two countries/areas I wouldn't want to go near for love nor money at the moment. No logic or common sense in either of them.

Not particularly helpful either to the OP or the majority of users of this site. Plus are you aware that Covid rules differ throughout the different states of the USA and also England/Scotland/ Wales /NI.

cadburyegg · 15/12/2021 14:39

Your logic is skewed.

I was in close contact with a friend on saturday who then tested positive on Monday. As per guidance I am doing daily LFTs and not going out unless it's essential (taking my 6 year old to school) because fortunately I work from home. But if i had a job where I had to go into work then I would still go because that is the expectation. I have not done a PCR test because I don't think it is necessary. I am triple vaxxed btw

ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 14:39

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maddening · 15/12/2021 14:41

Whether or not the colleague needs to isolate depends on whether she is:

Fully vaccinated
Under 18
Taking part jn vaccine trial
Not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

If she is none of the above then yes she does need to isolate.

Suranjeep · 15/12/2021 14:43

@ElleGettingBetter

All the “could pick it up at Tesco, could stand next to someone with covid” is irrelevant bollocks.

The FACTS are the OP had to work alongside a colleague who has been in close contact with someone who has just tested positive. They work in close proximity to each other and share a till and staff facilities.

Cases are sky high, why would you take the risk a week before Christmas?!

Because themes the rules. You don’t need to isolate in this case.
Cottagepieandpeas · 15/12/2021 14:43

@organisedmother

Apologies if someone has mentioned this - but there is legislation which covers refusal to work because of a health and safety risk. There's an explanation here www.uvwunion.org.uk/en/know-your-rights/covid-19/work-refusal/

shinynewapple21 · 15/12/2021 14:43

@ClaudiaJ1 not sure how long you've been on MN but you only need to read through one or two threads on the Coronavirus board to see that there is not one homogeneous response to Covid!!!

ElleGettingBetter · 15/12/2021 14:44

@StellaGibson118

It would be lovely to have that option. Unfortunately for key workers, you know, the ones that kept the country running last year while you hid behind the sofa, we don’t have that choice.

It's like COVID bingo in here.

Isn’t it just Grin
HoldingTheDoor · 15/12/2021 14:45

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saraclara · 15/12/2021 14:45

@EvilPea

I thought guidance was get a PCR if you’ve been a close contact of someone who has tested positive
There's no point in doing a PCR when the contact was the day before. It takes two to three days for the virus to incubate and to test positive.

The colleague couldn't give the OP covid today, because she won't yet have incubated it and become infectious..

This whole "get a pcr if you've had a contact" thing had been so badly communicated. People rush off and get one straight away, it's negative because they've done it too soon, so they confidently.go out there and mix, and a day later they're positive, infectious, and they don't know it.

If you discover you're a contact if someone with Covid, get a PCR two days later after the contact. NOT straight away.

You'd have been okay working today, OP. Not so much tomorrow though.

ElleGettingBetter · 15/12/2021 14:46

@Suranjeep my goodness, so regardless of whether we might get covid or pass it to a family member we just do what the government say because “thems the rules”?

NigellaBangBangTurkey · 15/12/2021 14:46

@ClaudiaJ1

The US and the UK. Two countries/areas I wouldn't want to go near for love nor money at the moment. No logic or common sense in either of them.
Good for you. Do you also have a job, a non abusive relationship and a healthy bank balance, because there's loads of threads that need your comments.
Ariann · 15/12/2021 14:46

I would have done the same as you - I would have been gone .

julieca · 15/12/2021 14:46

OP so many on MN seem to think staff (you can just hear their implied sneering) should work on whatever conditions their boss demands. They don't realise that we have rights, and that we can easily get another job now. So no don't have to put up with shit any longer.

ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 14:47

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Original poster
organisedmother · 15/12/2021 14:49

This is 100% and thank you! Last year your would of been isolating if been in contact with someone with covid to reduce the spread

OP posts:
Nickwinkle · 15/12/2021 14:51

I'm going to say that no, you're not being unreasonable. For a normal, healthy person with a normal, healthy family then the risk of being seriously ill or dying from covid is minimal. However, if you do feel like she's put you or your family at risk then of course you're not being silly walking out as you believe that is what is best and safest for you and your family and no one can/should be able to tell you otherwise.

My dad is currently extremely unwell and a common cold would kill him so I would be beyond furious if someone adopted your colleagues attitude of 'oh well' and was willing to pass it on to you because they're okay.

Again, it all depends on personal circumstances and risks and so if you believe walking out was the right thing to do then it absolutely was.