Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to go into work with COVID?

77 replies

Hagpie · 07/03/2022 21:00

Someone in my family tested positive and then I started getting symptoms since Sunday. I’ve been to work since Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and will be going into work tomorrow and need someone to tell me what they would have done. I had COVID over Christmas and self-isolated from 21/12/21- 8/01/22 because basically we are a very large family and we all came down with it in stages and wouldn’t stop testing positive on the LFTs for ages after our PCRs. 4 of us work at the same place and they wanted us to come in on 4/01/22 but I said no I think we are still positive and there was a minor disagreement over it but we came in on the 8/01/22. All has been well up until last week as COVID absences were not counted on our work record. When good old Boris changed the rules, my company changed their stance and now on top of only getting statutory sick pay (like £90 a week) in a household that cost a fair bit of cash to run, COVID sickness will end up with me kissing the next leadership role, goodbye. We all took the financial hit but are now on our overdrafts (on top of work messing up our collective pay by about £1000). My OH will get in A LOT of trouble if he misses anymore work due to a vomiting bug in November and I work away from most people.

Would you have gone in?
YABU - No
YANBU - Yes

If you think COVID is a hoax/never wore a mask/government chips in the vaccine I don’t want to hear from you please, but thanks for reading.

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 07/03/2022 21:52

YABU

I'm very relaxed about things but no I wouldn't have gone into work with vivid or flu or norovirus.

Overthebow · 07/03/2022 21:52

@Theresamagicalplace

So unreasonable! Just because the useless powers that be have decided covid doesn't exist anymore doesn't mean it's true. You wouldn't go in with d&v or chicken pox so why would you go with covid. As a cev pregnant person I hope you're at least informing work and if you were my colleague I would not be going in while you were positive. I'd deal with the loss of wages (in a household that also costs a fair amount to run) so you wouldn't have to kiss your leadership position goodbye. And probably look for a different job so I didn't have a leader who doesn't look out for their team.
That would be your choice to not go to work and not get paid. The op can choose to go to work if work say they can/must. There is no law to isolate now, this is what the rules are. People can choose to isolate, but don't have to. The OP isn't being unreasonable.
CowsAreNotGreen · 07/03/2022 21:54

I'd keep going in in your circumstances if you are well enough. It's rubbish and I'd really rather not. I would consider looking for alternative employment.

Theresamagicalplace · 07/03/2022 21:57

That would be your choice to not go to work and not get paid Wouldn't be my choice as such though, I'd be trying to keep myself and my unborn child as safe as I could. I would only be having to "choose" to do it because people like op and previous posters saying they would go in because it's not law. Just because it's not illegal doesn't mean it's moral or acceptable.

FloraPostePosts · 07/03/2022 21:59

I think it’s wrong to take in anything which makes people ill, but I am aware I am privileged in being able to work from home, and have paid sick leave.

I think your employers might have a rethink when it’s spread like wildfire among all the workforce and it makes half of them too ill to come in. We are finding that Omicron is making more people more ill than earlier strains did, counterintuitive as it might be; ‘mild’ illness just means it’s short of needing hospital, but it can still put you in bed for a week.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 07/03/2022 22:00

I’m not clear if you have covid or just know someone with it. If work wants you in I’d go in but I can understand if they are being firm with you as it sounds like you took the piss en masse over Christmas. The rule then was max 10 days isolation if you didn’t qualify for early release with two negative LFT.

Nelliephant1 · 07/03/2022 22:01

Absolutely irresponsible and selfish to even think about going in. Just because it's mild for you doesn't mean it is for everyone

CowsAreNotGreen · 07/03/2022 22:04

@Nelliephant1

Absolutely irresponsible and selfish to even think about going in. Just because it's mild for you doesn't mean it is for everyone
I think most people realise that. It just sends a confusing message when people have to choose between getting paid and not spreading covid. Not everyone can afford to live off sickpay
Overthebow · 07/03/2022 22:05

@Theresamagicalplace

That would be your choice to not go to work and not get paid Wouldn't be my choice as such though, I'd be trying to keep myself and my unborn child as safe as I could. I would only be having to "choose" to do it because people like op and previous posters saying they would go in because it's not law. Just because it's not illegal doesn't mean it's moral or acceptable.
It would be your choice though, as the OP is allowed to come in. You may think it immoral, but these are the rules now and there are going to be people everywhere out and about with covid. You can choose not to go anywhere if you'd like , that is your decision.
TyrannosaurusRegina · 07/03/2022 22:06

No, I wouldn't have went in to work. I'm 38 weeks pregnant and have been told my partner needs a negative LFT to come in to my labour. If you were working with him, then potentially, that could be a father losing out on the birth of his child if he caught it from you. It could also be very dangerous if he were to pass it on to me.

LucyFox · 07/03/2022 22:09

Tbh I think you were incredibly selfish and would lose all respect that I had for you – as obviously you had no respect for anyone you work with
Unfortunately we all get ill at times, whether that’s Covid, Norovirus or something else and we need to be responsible about spreading it

WhatsitWiggle · 07/03/2022 22:14

It sounds like you haven't really got a choice OP. If I were ill with it - coughing, sneezing, fatigued - then I'd stay home. But if my symptoms were more like a mild cold, then I'd go in.

I'm lucky though in that I can work from home and in fact my office has said if you're "germy" stay home, regardless of whether it's Covid confirmed or not. But I appreciate there are very many jobs where this isn't an option and staying at home for 5+ days every few months on SSP isn't viable.

crunchermuncher · 07/03/2022 22:25

If you really must go in (and I can see you're in a difficult situation thanks to Boris and co), at least tell your colleagues you have tested positive so they can make their own informed decisions about what to do.

It's not fair to put them at risk. You don't know if any of them are vulnerable or have vulnerable household members. You could be the cause of someone getting really sick - could you live with that?

Original poster
Hagpie · 07/03/2022 22:30

Getting the same questions so just to answer some:

  1. Yes I’m wearing a mask.
  2. I have told everyone to stay away or politely said “2 meters please” if they get close but they are taking it quite lightly.
  3. They told us in a briefing that these are the rules and we are expected to come in.
  4. I haven’t tested positive as I can’t get a test but after the person in my house tested positive at school, I am quite poorly. Coughing, sneezing, can’t talk that much, every step I take feels like I’m walking on my own head, temperature etc so it’s a reasonable assumption.
  5. We work in the same place as the pay is definitely decent and we can get a family friend to drop us in.
  6. Not NHS based.
  7. @Looneytune253 I do think a (new) stand-in manager thought I was taking the mick but the same night of our phone conversation, I managed to get my hands on a LFT and was proven right not to come in. My manager and others, were very happy with how I handled/documented everything. Plus I have a reputation as being a hard-worker so they knew it is never going to be a case of just not fancying coming in with me.
  8. I work by myself for most of the time and for the rest, my manger sent me to twiddle my thumbs for a few hours to be away from everyone else, as they knew the anxiety of getting everyone sick was getting to me.

My colleagues are nonchalant. I offered to pick my child up from school immediately and keep her home for a week as my schedule permitted home learning. They said no. I feel like a crazy person as everyone around me isn’t the slightest bit worried and yet I feel like the worst person in the world. Glad to see people here still think COVID is a thing even if they think I’m a selfish asshole.

OP posts:
CharlotteRose90 · 07/03/2022 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Outhouse71421 · 07/03/2022 22:35

No it's totally selfish.

rattlemehearties · 07/03/2022 22:36

Still can't follow your timeline op. Are you feeling ill now? Have you been ill since yesterday or since last Sunday ie one week ago?

BluebellsGreenbells · 07/03/2022 22:38

If you knew that you wouldn’t get paid and were expected to work, I’m not sure why you bothered testing. That said you sound unwell and shouldn’t be in work.

Original poster
Hagpie · 07/03/2022 22:45

@rattlemehearties Sorry lack of sleep, weird shift pattern and a bit of brain fog made me mess up my timeline.

Wed- Someone sent home from school with a positive test.
Thur- I had a headache (but I always have a headache)
Sat/Sun/Mon - I feel very rough

OP posts:
LightSpeeds · 07/03/2022 22:45

So you haven't been able to do a test but are unwell with Covid symptoms. So, whether it's COVID or something else you're probably infectious and risk spreading it to other people (and don't seem to care about it).

Irresponsible...

Original poster
Hagpie · 07/03/2022 22:46

@BluebellsGreenbells

I didn’t test. A family member got tested in school and sent home early.

OP posts:
Teenagequeenwithaloadedgun · 07/03/2022 22:52

I wouldn't want to work anywhere that would deny me a promotion and penalise me financially for being ill with covid.

I wouldn't have gone in because I can easily wfh and wouldn't want to infect others, but I can see why you may have felt pressurised.

I would seriously think of job hunting - all 4 of you working at the same unreas emoloyer isn't great.

Teenagequeenwithaloadedgun · 07/03/2022 22:53

Unreas = unreasonable, I blame my acrylic nails.

PikachuAndMe · 08/03/2022 00:13

If you need the money (and you feel well enough to work) then go in. Plenty of people are walking around spreading covid without knowing it, you being at work won't make much difference. Try to keep distance from people, wear a mask, regularly wash hands etc.

I wouldn't miss a mortgage payment or have my family going hungry because your workplace are c*s and won't pay sick pay for you to stay at home until you are not contagious. I would be looking for a better place to work though.

Branleuse · 08/03/2022 00:28

I wouldnt go in, and if i got grief for it, id contsct the union

Swipe left for the next trending thread