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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:
ParalysisByAnalysis · 08/03/2022 00:36

I’d go in. They probably assume you’re taking the piss because Christmas.

Let’s not pretend people haven’t milked this for all it’s worth. Not saying that’s you, OP. I’m talking about all the times people had to isolate and miss work (with absolutely no evidence) when they were close contacts. “Oh my husband has tested positive. Oh my LFT was positive but my PCR two days later was negative” chinny reckon

user468375484 · 08/03/2022 00:55

No sick pay and no promotion opportunity?

YANBU to go to work. I would.

BeckyWithTheGoodHair010101 · 08/03/2022 07:37

So your work have stopped paying sick pay for covid.
Work know you likely have covid (why don't you book a PCR test?!)
Work say you come in or don't get paid.
You need the money.
Then you actually don't have any choice. You have to go in if you're well enough. This will be happening everywhere now there are no restrictions and workplaces don't have to pay for isolation periods.
If I were you I'd go in too!

BeckyWithTheGoodHair010101 · 08/03/2022 07:38

I'd tell all my colleagues that I was poorly that it was likely covid and to keep away though. Sure they will get complaints from other staff then and be forced to look again at the rules.

Morph22010 · 08/03/2022 07:44

If you’ve told work the situation and they’ve said come in, I’d go in. No point in making yourself a martyr, people saying you are selfish are more than likely not in your position and either get full sick pay, can work from home or don’t work anyway.

Theresamagicalplace · 08/03/2022 09:24

@Morph22010

If you’ve told work the situation and they’ve said come in, I’d go in. No point in making yourself a martyr, people saying you are selfish are more than likely not in your position and either get full sick pay, can work from home or don’t work anyway.
I don't get full sick pay and can't work from home. I still wouldn't go in. And before I get "oh lucky you can afford that" I can't. Still wouldn't go in and risk other people after spending 2 years being classed as cev, I know what it's like to worry about potentially serious consequences of catching it and wouldn't want to inflict that on anyone else.
LyricalBlowToTheJaw · 08/03/2022 09:30

Sounds like you did all you realistically and reasonably could in the circumstances OP. Would agree with other posters that your employer sounds shit and I'd be having a look at what else is out there.

Trojancheese · 08/03/2022 10:46

I had covid last week and didn't go in (I work in hospitality and they said I could go in if I was feeling okay otherwise). I tested positive on Monday morning, my partner came home from work that night and also tested positive then wfh the rest of the week.
This week all his colleagues are off with it.

Justcallmebebes · 08/03/2022 10:51

If feeling well enough, I’d be in. But I wouldn’t have done the test in the first place so wouldn’t know.

^This. Covid is well and truly over as far as my employers are concerned. They have never paid us for being off with it and take an even more hard line view now.

feministqueen · 08/03/2022 11:46

Your work need to be considering Covid under hse guidance in their risk assessment. What does that say?

LyricalBlowToTheJaw · 08/03/2022 12:02

@Justcallmebebes

If feeling well enough, I’d be in. But I wouldn’t have done the test in the first place so wouldn’t know.

^This. Covid is well and truly over as far as my employers are concerned. They have never paid us for being off with it and take an even more hard line view now.

There are lots like you. Given the cost of living crisis and the virtual certainty that things are going to get worse, for all the moralising in this thread, lots of people simply aren't going to be in a position to stay off work.
SpringRainbow · 08/03/2022 13:56

I have gone from knowing loads of people with Covid to suddenly knowing no one in a matter of weeks.

Given that we still have high levels of Covid in the community I do find it surprising.

The majority of people I know who had Covid were surprised by the result. It was picked up during a LFT that they took because a) they were doing them routinely or b) they were testing before going somewhere. No one even mentions testing anymore.

I only know a few people who were actually ill, but no one severely ill or hospitalised. All said it was like a cold/ flu.

I know a few people who currently have some sort of cold/ flu. No mentions of taking any tests or anything. Just staying at home until it passes.

In my little corner it is almost like the last couple of years never happen.

Bonkerz · 08/03/2022 15:20

My friend is an NHS nurse and new rules state she has to attend work regardless. They are still wearing masks on wards and with patients.

Bonkerz · 08/03/2022 15:21

My DD is year 11 and school have told them not to test as she has GCSEs this week and again in a few weeks.

Bonkerz · 08/03/2022 15:22

Yet I have a second daughter who works in a shoe shop and has just had 10 full days off paid because she had mild symptoms!

rhowton · 08/03/2022 15:50

I would absolutely go in. The rules have changed and you cannot afford to not go in.

Hankunamatata · 08/03/2022 15:55

But at the moment you dont officially have covid. You have flu like symptoms 🤷‍♀️

Sunnytwobridges · 08/03/2022 16:06

I definitely would not. I would be afraid to knowingly spread it to someone and possibly make them ill or worse. Not sure I could live with myself if that happened.

I have serious asthma and I would hate that someone came into work and possibly give it to me and I could end up in the hospital or worse.

Doggydreaming · 08/03/2022 16:27

I would go down the passive aggressive route and let HR and all of your colleagues know that you have COVID and can't afford (financially or career-wise) to miss work for the reasons you have stated above. There is bound to be outcry about the effect of your companies new policy once they see the reality of it in action.
.

Meandthesky · 08/03/2022 16:27

If you can possibly work from home then do. If not, go in, wear a mask and keep away from everyone as much as possible.

It’s shit but your employer (who sounds awful btw) hasn’t given you much choice.

I wouldn’t personally go to work with covid but my employer is decent and wouldn’t want me to, I get full sick pay if too unwell to work and I can wfh, so I appreciate I’m in a very fortunate position compared to many.

whatisforteamum · 08/03/2022 16:32

I came on here to ask this question.Tested positive Monday feeling dreadful,temp,shivering headache tum pains aching all over but I've been overworking so I'm not surprised.
I don't want to go to work and potentially spread it to an older colleague who is morbidly obese and has chest issues.He is in his 60s.
Anyway I feel too unwell to do anything that is coming from a workaholic.
It has floored me.

zaffa · 08/03/2022 17:17

If I were in that situation I think I would go in but make sure everyone I was near knew I was covid positive with symptoms.

Out work had told us to work from home if we are at all unwell (not just covid) so I have options, but I don't know what it would be like if I didn't.

crunchermuncher · 08/03/2022 23:42

@Bonkerz

My friend is an NHS nurse and new rules state she has to attend work regardless. They are still wearing masks on wards and with patients.
In our NHS Trust we have been told that nothing changes for us, continue as if the rules were still in place. No point trying to isolate covid patients if staff are spreading it about!

And to the pp who said it's like a cold/flu - flu is not like a cold. Flu is a serious illness that can knock you out of action for weeks. It kills thousands every year and most workplaces would tell you not to come in with it. Flu is not the same as a bloody cold!

crunchermuncher · 08/03/2022 23:43

@Doggydreaming

I would go down the passive aggressive route and let HR and all of your colleagues know that you have COVID and can't afford (financially or career-wise) to miss work for the reasons you have stated above. There is bound to be outcry about the effect of your companies new policy once they see the reality of it in action. .
This is a good idea, make it their problem!
PakkaMakka · 09/03/2022 09:45

I'd go into work and find every excuse to stay as close to the boss as possible, coughing in their direction, while keeping a safe distance from my colleagues.

I personally wouldn't go into work with symptoms but like others in the thread, my employer is still asking people to isolate and will pay full sick pay, so it's not a decision I have to really think about. I have family who work in hospitality and they seem to have a 'don't ask don't tell' approach which worries me and feels very unfair, it is a completely different culture though - and due to the impact of businesses being shut in lockdowns, they're balancing against the risk of the business going under and everyone being out of a job.