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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Inastatus · 15/12/2021 16:39

[quote Nickwinkle]@Inastatus There is an incubation period where you may get a neg lateral flow but then a couple of days later you could get positive. Plus, lateral flow aren't always accurate and you're best getting a PCR if you've been in direct contact with someone.

Like I said, it's down to personal risk and if OP wants to walk out until they're positive it's safe and there's no risk of covid then I fully support that...[/quote]
@Nickwinkle - a PCR test won’t show a positive result during the incubation period either and is not required for a vaccinated person. The guidelines ask you to do daily LFT’s if vaccinated and a close contact.

Original poster
organisedmother · 15/12/2021 16:50

There is more than enough staff, if your ever so desperate to find an issue with it the toilet won’t be cleaned today as I’m the only one that does it

OP posts:
Original poster
organisedmother · 15/12/2021 16:53

Honestly I have a crap minimum wage job, nothing special.

OP posts:
Nuffaluff · 15/12/2021 17:06

I would have stayed at work.
Well, I’m a teacher and have been in contact with four positive cases this week. So I did. I stayed four times this week alone. Xmas Grin
And that’s just this week. (sorry, it’s funny, we have to laugh about it).

Inastatus · 15/12/2021 17:17

@Nuffaluff

I would have stayed at work. Well, I’m a teacher and have been in contact with four positive cases this week. So I did. I stayed four times this week alone. Xmas Grin And that’s just this week. (sorry, it’s funny, we have to laugh about it).
@Nuffaluff - thank you and yes thank God all you teachers and other key workers don’t have the same attitude as the OP.
GrandmasCat · 15/12/2021 17:21

It is true that you are not required to isolate anymore if you are in contact with a positive case, but the virus doesn’t follow virus idiotic rules and it is blatantly inconsiderate to follow them.

We had someone at work who had a positive case at home but came to the office anyway as she “felt fine”, my very thought manager send her out for a PCR that came positive the next day, so the office had to close that day for desinfection and all of us were sent for PCRs, sadly that meant cancelling our weekend plans as the PCR results were not available until Saturday night and we were due to meet with vulnerable people.

So I don’t blame you, I would have not had the courage to walk out but would be seething inside.

GrandmasCat · 15/12/2021 17:22

“Boris’ rules” not “virus rules”

Tabbydancer · 15/12/2021 17:25

I would have done the same. I have vulnerable relatives to protect. I don’t trust the government directives. They don’t want to send anyone home as they don’t want the economy to collapse and they’re not going to release furlough money to enable people
To stay at home.

saraclara · 15/12/2021 17:30

I get it, OP. It's nerve-wracking.
But my DCs and their partners are all teachers or nurses. So I would never walk out of work when faced, for one day, with something that they face every day (worse, because your colleagues isn't even positive or contagious yet, and many of their contacts are). They've been dealing with this for 20 months, day in day out.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 15/12/2021 17:38

I'm also a teacher and been in close contact with 6 confirmed cases this week alone, but I absolutely want schools to stay open so I understand this is how it has to be.

LizzieW1969 · 15/12/2021 17:38

As mad as it seems if you are fully vaccinated you don’t need to wait for a PCR or isolate. Daily LFT and carry on as normal.

My DD2 (9) has Covid right now. We were all advised to take PCR tests as close contacts not just LFTs. But we didn’t have to self isolate. (She doesn’t have Omicron.)

LizzieW1969 · 15/12/2021 17:42

I understand where you’re coming from, OP, these are worrying times. Although so far no one else in our household has developed symptoms (6 days after her PCR test). Your colleague may not even develop Covid!

cansu · 15/12/2021 17:43

Most people cannot simply walk out of work. I work alongside people whose family members have covid. I am a teacher. I can't see my head or indeed any parents being happy if I just decided it was too risky so I could go home.

Anonymouslyposting · 15/12/2021 17:44

She’s free to be there but you’re equally free to leave. I would have left in your shoes but I don’t agree with other posters saying she should have to leave.

Eatingsoupwithafork · 15/12/2021 17:44

She’s following the guidance issued to her by the government:

chaosrabbitland · 15/12/2021 17:45

i would have stayed , its hysterical behaviour to just walk out ,

drpaddington · 15/12/2021 17:49

She hasn't done anything wrong. If she's identified as a close contact she'll be 'strongly advised' to go for a PCR.

I can understand why you're worried. I can't distance or wear a mask at work, we don't have windows and can't leave doors open for ventilation. It's frightening but if you need your job you have to get on with it.

SinoohXaenaHide · 15/12/2021 17:56

She was with the friend yesterday, so even if she did get infected yesterday she wouldn't test positive today or be infectious today. It was a bit of an over-reaction to walk out of work.

If she was infected, she might start being infectious in about 5-7 days time and this might be picked up by an LFT test from around about the weekend (though as we know, LFTs aren't hugely reliable)

I would have just carried on as normal this week but would be a lot more cautious about any contact with her next week, if there is any scheduled.

Doris86 · 15/12/2021 17:58

Your colleague has a contact who has tested positive for covid. As long as your colleague is double vaccinated and not showing symptoms she is allowed to carry on as normal without even taking a test. She has decided to take a lft anyway (which she didn’t need to) and it has come back negative.

You have completely over reacted by walking out of work.

FatBettyintheCoop · 15/12/2021 17:58

YANBU OP.

If she had an ounce of common sense, she wouldn’t have gone into work today.

The rules in England are a complete joke. So glad I no longer live there.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/12/2021 18:03

@FatBettyintheCoop

YANBU OP.

If she had an ounce of common sense, she wouldn’t have gone into work today.

The rules in England are a complete joke. So glad I no longer live there.

And not get paid? It's brilliant if you can afford to do that. Not so much if you can't.
gogohm · 15/12/2021 18:04

If she was with her friend yesterday there is no point in doing a pcr for 3-4 days because of the incubation period, lft is all that is advised anyway. I understand your worries but your actions were overly dramatic

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/12/2021 18:05

@Lacedwithgrace

I would leave too, and you were right to do what feels comfortable and what is safe for everyone else as well as you as clearly she doesn't care enough.
She did nothing wrong. I am afraid I wouldn't be able to afford just not to go to work. Nothing about caring enough ffs
shatinapyrexdish · 15/12/2021 18:09

@organisedmother

Honestly I have a crap minimum wage job, nothing special.
In that case, how can you afford not to be paid?
CakeRabbit · 15/12/2021 18:11

Teacher here. Positive children in my class nearly every week since September. No mitigations!