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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed that I am expected to work whilst off work with Covid

37 replies

ShirkerWorker · 13/01/2022 11:34

Shortened story is, I have been expected to be in the office everyday and work over the last two years through the pandemic, which I have done and never missed a day.

Others in my workplace that don't work in the office and are site based have had numerous 10 day isolation periods away from work fully paid because they can't work from home. Some of these individuals have had three or more of these paid isolation periods in the last two years.

I am unlucky enough to have caught Covid last weekend and was told "its ok just work from home" (This has never been an option before) however I have been quite bad for a couple of days with a fever and never leaving my bed.

I am now being questioned as to why I haven't been online replying to emails and ringing people back.

AIBU to be miffed at being criticised for not working whilst being ill while others that haven't been ill tossing it off for 10 days fully paid when self isolating?

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 13/01/2022 11:35

YANBU, put your out of office and voicemail on to say you're off sick

Comefromaway · 13/01/2022 11:36

If you are off sick then you should tell work that you are sick and be expected to be paid either SSP or contractual sick pay according to your contract.

ToppersMum · 13/01/2022 11:36

That's miserable and they are being totally unreasonable. I hope you feel better soon Flowers

DoodleBelle · 13/01/2022 11:37

Talk to your manager, they may not realise how ill you are as it can affect everyone in different ways.

CornishGem1975 · 13/01/2022 11:37

If you're actually sick then you need to inform work that you are taking the time off as sick.

dementedpixie · 13/01/2022 11:38

It would be different if you weren't actually ill. My dh worked from home with covid but his symptoms were scratchy throat, runny nose and mild headache. If he'd felt ill he would have rung in sick and said he wasn't available to work

Opus17 · 13/01/2022 11:39

So now it suits them, you can work from home? Despite not allowing it for 2 years. Your company sounds like they really don't give a shit about their employees. Risking them catching COVID by making you go into the office for 2 years, then making you work from home when sick?
I'd be telling them you are ill, switch everything to out of office, and don't answer until you are well again

HeatonGrove · 13/01/2022 11:40

I think it is unreasonable of an employer to ask you to work if you are sick. You should reply to their question by saying you have Covid and are too ill to work.

But if you are at home with Covid and fully recovered and/or asymptomatic/experiencing only mild cold symptoms and you are able to work from home you should do so. Covid quarantine is not a reason not to work if you are able to. You are still being paid.

What has happened to other staff at different stages of the Covid epidemic is not relevant.

Ihatestripysocks · 13/01/2022 11:41

Yes remind them you are too ill to work and be in touch when you feel well enough. I’d also be questioning if I had travel in to office through pandemic how I could now work from home!

Lazypuppy · 13/01/2022 11:42

Have you told them you are sick with covid, or just you have covid. Maybr they think you aren't ill with it

DropYourSword · 13/01/2022 11:42

Firstly, forget about what other people have or haven’t received.

This is about you. You’re sick. You should absolutely be allowed to take sick leave and not be expected to work.
But has there been some crossed wires or miscommunication here? Is your manager expecting to pay you as normal rather than sick leave? Have they misunderstood you to be asymptomatic or isolating as a close contact and are expecting you to WFH.

AlexaShutUp · 13/01/2022 11:43

Have you actually made it clear to them that you are too sick to work? Lots of people are well enough to work through it if they can wfh, so I think the onus is on you to tell them if you need time off.

backtolifebacktoreality · 13/01/2022 11:43

Tell them you are sick with Covid, not just at home as someone has tested positive!

museumum · 13/01/2022 11:47

You have to tell them you're off sick, not working from home. It's called 'self certification' because you are certifying that you are sick. Don't leave room for uncertainty as to whether you are sick or wfh, don't pick up emails.

WheekestLink · 13/01/2022 11:49

So you've rang in sick and they're asking why you're not replying to emails? If that's the case, they're very unreasonable.

If you are just not replying to emails because you don't think they will "let you" ring in sick, then YABU.

SilverHairedCat · 13/01/2022 11:50

Sign off sick.

EmmaH2022 · 13/01/2022 11:53

OP "I am unlucky enough to have caught Covid last weekend and was told "its ok just work from home"

So you reply "I am ill, can't work, I am off sick".

Ricksteinsfishwife · 13/01/2022 11:54

This isn’t very clear. Did you tell them you were off sick?

Having Covid and self isolating is very different and they’d expect you to work, being Sick is something else and you need to call in sick as per your companies sickness policy.

Original poster
ShirkerWorker · 13/01/2022 11:54

Thanks for replies.

I am still paid my full wage when off sick. Its not about somebody getting something that I'm not other than the expectation that I should work because its only a cold whereas others that have had no symptoms what so ever are just expected to sit at home and twiddle their thumbs on full pay.

Today is the first day since the weekend that it feels "like a cold" so I have fired my laptop up and switched my phone on, but I still feel miffed!

OP posts:
whatisforteamum · 13/01/2022 11:55

Tell them you are ill.I had to message my boss when he and my other boss were both ill at Xmas for advice.
One wasn't ill the other became unwell.
They could advise by text though just couldn't come in.
Sorry you are suffering.

Ihatestripysocks · 13/01/2022 11:57

I’d been carefully about rushing back to work home to soon, many people report having a good day then clobbered for part 2 relapse. You be better off waiting a few days and resting give yourself body proper chance to recover.

Frankola · 13/01/2022 11:58

You should tell them you are too sick to work, turn on your ooo and then take your contracted sick pay while you are too ill to be working.

Covid affects people in different ways. Some people have been wfh whilst they have had covid if they've been well enough. Several of my colleagues have done so.

You cannot compare your situation with people in a different contractual situation. If they are site employees without an ability to work from home then that's just the way it is. They need to be at home isolating.

If you are office based with an ability to wfh then your manager probably just hasn't realised how bad your covid is

daisybrown37 · 13/01/2022 11:58

Did you tell them you were taking sick leave? When I had covid I emailed to tell work and said I was taking the day off sick and would update them if I needed more days off. I am WFH full time currently.

However, I would be annoyed that WFH is suddenly possible for you now, when it wasn’t previously!

Strokethefurrywall · 13/01/2022 12:47

FFS tell them you’re symptomatic with Covid and that you’re unable to work. Switch on your ooo and switch off your phone.

I’m a manager (not UK) and pretty much all of my team have had / currently have Covid. My rules is that nobody is to do any wfh when they’re symptomatic, I don’t want them to work.
Whenever they’re feeling strong enough and no longer symptomatic will they be allowed to sign in remotely because the last thing I want are people feeling “obliged” to work when they should be resting and recovering.

I had Covid in November (delta) along with my two kids. Tried to work on day 1, by lunchtime I called my CFO and told him I wouldn’t be working until I was stronger.

Employers seem to have ridiculous expectations of their employees and it’s unacceptable. Yes, some will have a “cold”, others are going to be experiencing far worse symptoms and should be left alone and not have to think about fucking work!

Qthemusic · 13/01/2022 12:53

Sounds like they have different roles though that can't be done from home so of course they couldn't work if isolating as required. Swings and roundabouts really. Those working out of the home are generally put at more risk of getting infected so are more likely to be required to isolate. Would you prefer that?