Should I go back to work in this situation?

[Trojancheese]

I've been in my new job (that can't be done from home as it's customer facing) for a matter of months. I tested positive for covid yesterday on an lft and have minor cold like symptoms.
My manager told me I could still go in as per the new regulations or I could stay home if I felt unwell enough. However, now my symptoms are starting to subside I keep thinking I should go back to work as it's both a new job and my symptoms are lessening.
If I'm completely honest I really do not want to because if I'm testing positive I could pass it on, but then my partner thinks I should go if I don't feel bad especially because I'm within my probationary period.
I'm stuck here and I really want to do the right thing but I also don't want to lose my new job, I really need it!
Would I BU to stay off work even if my symptoms are mild or disappear until I test negative?

I’d go if feeling well. Wear a face mask, distance etc. Your manager has said to go in.

I think the new regulations are very wrong, we should have to stay home, we are never going to get rid of it keep spreading it.
What about vulnerable people too, these rules are so silly. X

If it's a new job and you need this job then I'd go in to make a good impression/not get a reputation for being flaky. I know that sounds awful and it shouldn't be the case, in an ideal world we'd all take 2 weeks off when we have covid but it's just not sustainable.

And as @WomblingWilma says, wear a mask!

If you’re feeling better of course you should go to work. Wear a mask and take a bottle of hand sanitizer.

@lisaandalan Of course we’re not going to get rid of it! It’s here now and that’s that.

And fuck any clinically vulnerable colleagues? Great. This is all fucking Boris's fault.

I'd feel funny about it too. I had covid the last week of January and I'm still affected by symptoms now. I'd hate to be the reason someone caught it and was really ill.
But I guess seeing as the guidelines have changed and work wants you to go in, you should probably go in. Just wear a mask and keep your distance where you can.

If I was a customer I’d be fairly shocked that a company would put me at risk by exposing me to a known covid case.
Maybe you could tell us so we can avoid this company?

Don't go in until you have a negative test - you're putting vulnerable customers and colleagues at risk. And if you have cold like symptoms, no one wants you sniffing all over the reception desk (or wherever it is you're based).

Lifting the isolation period is so irresponsible, I understand lifting other restrictions but why on earth just let people go places with an infectious illness?

Thank you everyone, the subject is still so sore but I needed some advice. I know there is someone happy to take my hours this week, I'm just scared it could be a reason to let me go at the end of the 3 months.
We will be how we used to someday!

It's hugely misleading - if you read the "new" guidance it is exactly the same as the old regulations except for changing one word. Literally the only difference is that people are now "advised" to isolate / take a test etc, whereas before people were "required" to.

So it now throws up all these problems especially for people who don't feel secure in their jobs - because government aren't making decisions any more, so they've punted responsibility back onto individuals and employers.

In your shoes OP, I like to think I would stay at home and hope to test negative on day 5 and 6. But that's easy to type when I'm not in a new job.

If you need the job I’d go, agree with above posters though, this is on the gov, they can’t tell ppl they ought to do the right thing and isolate, but no support them to do so, be that with sick pay or job security

@lisaandalan

I think the new regulations are very wrong, we should have to stay home, we are never going to get rid of it keep spreading it. What about vulnerable people too, these rules are so silly. X

Do you honestly still believe that we were ever going to be able to get rid of it. Covid was never going anywhere, it is here and we have to get on with life. If you honestly think that it was ever a possiblity then you are deluded.

I would send this link to your manager and say while you are happy to return you just want to double check as the nhs advise is still to remain at home if positive. Emphasise you are willing to return and feel well enough at present to work, but that you are concerned about your colleagues and want to make sure that the company policy is that you should return. It’s no longer a legal requirement to isolate but it is still recommended medically - same as many infectious illnesses!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

I would be staying at home, even if we’ll and doing LFT day 5 and 6 as before and if negative go in

I th8nk the wrong decision has been made to allow people to go in with covid if well enough as it will continue to spread

Your manager has said if you are ill you don't have to go. So if you want to you can say you are ill. If someone will cover your hours the company will be OK?

But only you can judge the probation issue.

I was under the impression the rules have changed now as the strains people are getting are much milder so at this stage we essentially do want to spread it around as then we’re building up some level of herd immunity while it’s mild?

But I would struggle too - for such a long time they’ve been putting the fear of God in us at the thought of spreading it around and now all of a sudden it feels very weird to be essentially actively encouraged to do the very thing we’ve spent the last two years avoiding!

@lisaandalan

I think the new regulations are very wrong, we should have to stay home, we are never going to get rid of it keep spreading it. What about vulnerable people too, these rules are so silly. X

Agree with this

Customer facing with Covid symptoms. Yes wear a mask. That won't look good on your employers.
Stay safe OP and keep others safe too. Just because your employers are irresponsible doe's mean you have to be too.
This thing [covid] hasn't gone away no matter what Boris idiot says.
You take care of yourself. 💐

@User839516

I was under the impression the rules have changed now as the strains people are getting are much milder so at this stage we essentially do want to spread it around as then we’re building up some level of herd immunity while it’s mild?

I don’t think that’s the rationale.

I would stay away from as many people as possible for 5 days. You could go in work today and become unwell, for some people symptoms don’t appear until 3 days. Yes, I appreciate we need to get on with life and work with this virus, but I wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone vulnerable catching covid so I would say I’ve got symptoms so won’t be coming in.

I would say home its only been one day. You might get much worse today. I know it took until day 3 for things to start really kicking in for me though.

You might well find that whilst you're feeling ok at home OP, by the time you made it into the office you might not feel as good. I'd take at least a couple more days of wfh - exaggerating your symptoms if you feel you need to - to ensure you're properly well.