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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Staff testing positive

76 replies

Boo65 · 22/12/2021 23:50

I run a pub with a very small team. Two staff have tested positive in two days, I think this is the beginning for us. Would i be being unreasonable to think that it's just 'a cold' what happened 3/4 years ago.... you just got on with it. These are young people in their late 20's. This is what is going to close businesses, not a lockdown!

OP posts:

LegArmpits · 23/12/2021 00:32

I agree Op

YerAWizardHarry · 23/12/2021 00:35

hospitality isn’t closed because they don’t want to pay furlough again

Wingedharpy · 23/12/2021 00:38

/

What s/he said.

TooTiredForThis2 · 23/12/2021 00:40

@Boo65 You can't say "nobody is dying from this variant"... it's too soon to tell. The variant started spreading in the UK under 2 weeks ago. Deaths do not happen immediately. We will not know how severe this is compared to other variants for at least another two weeks. You would be silly to really believe that "nobody is dying from this variant".

Bunnyfuller · 23/12/2021 00:40

You sound a lovely boss.

RoyalFamilyFan · 23/12/2021 00:47

Truthfully, everywhere around where I live seems really quiet anyway. I suspect if self-isolation was abolished, places would be even quieter.
I have been out the last few nights, but if staff were allowed to be positive and not-self isolate themselves, I would have stayed at home.
Because while it is just a cold to young people, as Delta was, people are still being hospitalised and dying.

sst1234 · 23/12/2021 00:49

OP, you won’t get any rational responses on here. Unfortunately the hysterical Covid crowd will come out to tell you that you are evil for thinking this way.

SantasGotABigOne · 23/12/2021 00:52

Are you saying it would be better if hospitality was told to close? Isn't taking some money, better than closing?

Reduce your menu, your opening hours etc do whatever it takes to keep your place going.

LadyGAgain · 23/12/2021 00:53

@sst1234

OP, you won’t get any rational responses on here. Unfortunately the hysterical Covid crowd will come out to tell you that you are evil for thinking this way.

This. YANBU. We have to live. If this new variant looks like it does then hallelujah! We have for there within 2 years.

LadyGAgain · 23/12/2021 00:54

*got there within 2 years

Nietzschethehiker · 23/12/2021 00:55

You aren't going to like my comment but before I say this I realise how easy it must seem to say this. My livelihood does not depend on hospitality so I can't empathise but I can absolutely understand how terrifying this is for you.

However.please stop with the rhetoric that it's just a cold, even angry scared and frustrated there is no need for that. For me personally? Absolutely its just a cold...I'm triple vaxxed and no underlying conditions chances are it will be a few days of feeling awful and that's it.

But for my DF, DM , DN , Some Friends, colleagues so on and so on its very likely to be far more. They are CEV and very likely to die as a result. Ambulances are overloaded , so right now in my area its a 1 hour wait even for the most urgent. The hospitals are full (possibly with people who will recover but full anyway). A serious car accident in my area tonight would be a borderline death sentence. It will clear I believe but tonight it is a dangerous position. It foesnt help you I know but it's not for no reason as crao as that's feel for you.

I get that you are angry and scared. Honestly. I would be the same if it affected my livelihood. I have two dc to feed and keep a roof over heir heads and that no less important than people being ill. But this is not about the 18 year olds with a cold. Its just not. It's about the lack of hospital beds for a bit , it's about the slow ambulances be ause they are overloaded. It's about the CEV for whom the cold wil be the last thing they experience.

I'm honestly sorry, but minimising this isn't great. It's royally shit for hospitality , I absolutely don't deny that. Please don't denigrate the level of deaths and suffering. You can be angry at the unfairness without doing that.

LynxGiftsetAndSocks · 23/12/2021 01:20

Is that really your attitude?

BlueBooby · 23/12/2021 01:26

I agree with you op and my df has had to close his hospitality business temporarily due to the number of staff having to isolate because of a positive test. Not because they're too ill to work, most of the affected have no symptoms. That's on top of what's been an already extremely difficult year for the business. He has a lot of connections in the industry and I know many of them are also finding things a real struggle. I really feel more lives are being ruined by these restrictions than by covid itself. Not to mention the anxiety so many people have about a disease that is unlikely to do them harm. Worrying because they stood too close to someone on the bus etc is not healthy or good for people either.

It just isn't dangerous for the vast majority of people, no matter what variant but especially the new one it appears. Even those who do feel really rough with it are unlikely to end up with their life at risk because of it. I know it is more dangerous for a minority of people, but that's true for many illnesses and it's just how life is. I'm sure someone will think I am heartless but I have severe asthma and am clinically underweight due to an eating disorder*, both of which put me more at risk of serious illness with covid. I still believe our covid rules and restrictions are the wrong thing.

I also wonder what is the long term plan? Not necessarily the government's plan, but the people who agree with the restrictions etc, what do they see as the future? Is there a point where you'd be willing to just put down your masks and go back to normal? The majority of people who want to be vaccinated have been vaccinated and the virus isn't going to magically disappear.

ilovesooty · 23/12/2021 01:29

@sst1234

OP, you won’t get any rational responses on here. Unfortunately the hysterical Covid crowd will come out to tell you that you are evil for thinking this way.

So it's 'irrational' or 'hysterical' to believe that covid positive employees shouldn't be interacting with members of the public?

BlueBooby · 23/12/2021 01:33

*an eating disorder I've had for years but I'd reached a point where I was gaining weight and was doing well. Now I've lost weight again and I'm struggling mentally and physically (being like this takes a toll on your body). I can't blame my not eating on a pandemic, but I know it hasn't helped. I am sure many people with mental health issues and disorders and addictions are struggling a lot more at the moment. I read that alcohol related deaths have risen a lot since this began and I was not surprised.

Yamayo · 23/12/2021 01:39

I'm triple jabbed and for me it is more like a bad flu.
It's been a long time since I have felt this bad.

It's the knockdown effect that is the main problem though.
Very contagious= more people statistically likely to end up in hospital= bed taken, surgeries cancelled etc.

RoyalFamilyFan · 23/12/2021 01:39

@BlueBooby I am sorry to hear that. I hope things get better for you.
And yes things feel so uncertain that it will be harder for anyone with existing mental health problems.

maddening · 23/12/2021 01:40

Put on your local fb that you need to cover some shifts, lots of people have worked pubs in there time tht might fancy a little extra cash without committing to a ft job

nordica · 23/12/2021 01:57

It might be mild for the young employees but what about your older customers, pregnant women, or anyone with other health issues?

Hopefully your attitude towards food hygiene isn't this bad too if you'd be happy for a virus to be spread like this.

Tealightsandd · 23/12/2021 02:07

[quote TooTiredForThis2]@Boo65 You can't say "nobody is dying from this variant"... it's too soon to tell. The variant started spreading in the UK under 2 weeks ago. Deaths do not happen immediately. We will not know how severe this is compared to other variants for at least another two weeks. You would be silly to really believe that "nobody is dying from this variant".[/quote]
Well also whichever variant, huge numbers of people are being killed by Covid (in the UK). Over a hundred yesterday. It's been a 'stable' 1000s a week for months (in the UK).

Then there's the significant minority of poor sods who've long-term lost their ability to make any livelihood. Due to Long Covid leaving them too unwell to work.

alphabetsoup1980 · 23/12/2021 02:23

I think you're the one that is confused!????

Redstorm2807 · 23/12/2021 02:58

I don't think people are worried enough about long covid tbh. It is absolutely devastating there is still so little understanding of why some people get it and what can be done to treat it. So yes it may be just a cold but the after effects are possibly a lot more concerning.
The idea that CEV people are at risk of other illnesses as well just doesn't hold up to scrutiny, we have flu jabs etc but generally they were about to function normally in society without fear of catching an illness that could kill them.
The point about a car crash is a good and frightening one, restrictions aren't just about catching covid it's about relieving pressure on the NHS in other ways as well - people not travelling means less accidents etc.

colourfulpuddles · 23/12/2021 03:43

One can only hope pubs will go under. Might be a good side effect of Covid.

Shiningpath · 23/12/2021 07:54

Long Covid is a very relevant point. I’m young (30s) and very fit. Covid for me was like a very mild cold. Long Covid, including from a recent infection in the Omicron period, was hellish.

I used to be at the pub a lot but would struggle to do one short visit per month these days due to my symptoms. The idea that your staff should be working while infectious and spreading disease to your customers is just ridiculous: you’d lose more through illness and reputation damage than any money you’d save/make.

vivainsomnia · 23/12/2021 08:43

How confused are you? Look at the stats, nobody is dying from this variant. It's essentially a cold
You're definitely the confused one. Colds dint send thousands in hospital and leave them with long lasting effects that require NHS resources.

The biggest issue with covid is the resources it takes from healthcare professionals that means they can't treat patients they normally would. People are dying just not not of covid but other conditions because they are not getting the treatment they require.

Your understandable frustration and worry is clouding your judgement.

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