That he is lacking sensitivity and empathy?!

[fullofcovid]

I have a new boss, I don't know him very well yet.

After battling through Tuesday in the office feeling bloody awful, I rang in on Wednesday morning as I was unable to even get myself out of bed I was feeling so awful - high temp, sore throat, headache, body aches, etc. I told my boss via email that I would do a lateral flow asap, but assuming it was negative I'd try to come in the next day regardless of how rubbish I was feeling, as I had an important meeting booked with a client and I didn't want to let them down. Boss replied simply "ok, I'll see you tomorrow". I thought this was an odd response - managers I've had in the past would have discouraged a member of staff from working whilst sick. But I thought fine, whatever, employee well-being clearly isn't high on his agenda. Later, I did a lateral flow test - it was positive. I messaged my boss to inform him of this. His reply was: "Can you book confirmatory PCR as soon as possible, and let me know whether you plan to work from home tomorrow".

AIBU that this was a bit uncaring and blunt? I'd have expected a simple "sorry to hear that" or "get well soon"; or even just "let me know if you feel well enough to WFH tomorrow". Especially given I had horrible symptoms and was feeling quite poorly, of which my boss was aware. Shouldn't managers have at least a little empathy and regard for their employees' wellbeing? Or am I being overly sensitive?

Yabu - there was nothing wrong with his message / you're being overly sensitive

Yanbu - he sounds blunt & uncaring / he could have at least said "get well soon"

I'm prepared to be told I'm being overly sensitive as I have a lot of other difficult emotional things going on, so it's possible!

YANBU it is very insensitive. He sounds like an arse.

Well yanbu in wanting a little empathy and gentler / less factual interactions….

But not everyone is the same. Perhaps he’s just a very factual and to the point type of person who doesn’t want or like being overly personal with his staff.

Just because his messages were perfunctory doesn’t mean that he is a robot who doesn’t care about people.
So unless you know differently I would just view this as his personality type and leave it at that - we are all different.

When you say things like “I expected a get well soon” etc - you’re seeing life through your own lens and treating your perspective as the default perspective for everyone.
Not everyone would say get well soon or structure their sentence to add polite sentiment. This is what you would do sure, but not everyone is you.
Not right or wrong. Just different.

Hope you feel better soon!

This could be my dh. He just doesn’t think of niceties like that. He’s not an arse, just very matter of fact.

Yanbu

He shouldn’t be making you feel guilty for being sick, hope you get better soon 💐

I rang in on Wednesday morning as I was unable to even get myself out of bed I was feeling so awful - high temp, sore throat, headache, body aches, etc.

I know this isn’t the point of your thread, but you needed to do a pcr not a lateral flow test with a high temperature and isolate until the result came back.

Have people totally forgotten what the covid rules are now? You shouldn’t have been leaving the house with a high temperature, let alone dragging yourself into work.

I think you boss’ messages were a bit perfunctory.

YANBU. From personal experience when a manager does this it makes you feel weird and bad and guilty about being ill - adding unnecessary stress.

Arguing that 'this is some people's style' is unreasonable: part of being a manager (and taking a managers salary!) is to manage.. which includes the welfare of the team.

Try not to let it get to you OP, and most importantly feel better - put yourself first.