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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my colleague is being irresponsible?

61 replies

Iwillbouceback · 15/03/2022 12:35

Just want to start this by saying that I know the updated guidelines suggest that how she is behaving is perfectly fine so this isn’t an AIBU regarding the following or breaking of guidelines, merely one on doing something that is morally right given the rising rates of Covid again.

Colleague’s husband has Covid. She developed symptoms Sunday but her LFT is negative so she’s at work, going about her business as normal, and not even wearing a mask when in close contact with others, including those who are vulnerable and extremely vulnerable. (Not health care!)

Aibu to think she is acting quite irresponsibly? She’s refusing to get a PCR as her LFT is fine, even though she’s complaining about feeling unwell.

OP posts:
waitingandhoping243 · 15/03/2022 12:38

Most of us are just getting on with life now. You may disagree and that's fine but I don't blame anyone for either a) taking precautions or b) not taking precautions.

waitingandhoping243 · 15/03/2022 12:40

LFTs are really accurate too. Mine have only ever been positive when I've had covid, same for family and friends.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/03/2022 12:41

Just stay away from her it it bothers you

ThereIsNoSuchThingAsRoadTax · 15/03/2022 12:42

@waitingandhoping243

LFTs are really accurate too. Mine have only ever been positive when I've had covid, same for family and friends.
LFTs don't give many false positives, but they are prone to miss cases that PCR will detect. Accuracy involves both sensitivity and specificity, not just one or the other.
WhenDovesFly · 15/03/2022 12:42

I think your colleague is inconsiderate. LFTs are not highly accurate, and if she's mixing with people who are vulnerable or highly vulnerable, whilst feeling unwell herself, then she should at the very least wear a type IIR mask in the workplace to protect others.

TempNameChangexx · 15/03/2022 12:52

If she's still got symptoms, she should at least test every day - it can take a few days for the LFTs to show a positive result

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/03/2022 12:58

I've not been able to get tests for weeks. So it's all well and good saying test everyday

ohhooh · 15/03/2022 13:15

It's following the latest guidelines so I wouldn't say it's irresponsible. It's part of moving on to live with COVID, this sort of situation will be happening more often.

Biker47 · 15/03/2022 13:24

I wouldn't have even done an LFT before going into work, so there's that.

CourgetteSeason · 15/03/2022 13:25

This is just life now. I know people in the same position (spouse positive) who have been told they have to go to work if they have a negative LFT.

girlmom21 · 15/03/2022 13:26

If she doesn't have covid she doesn't have covid. Her being around vulnerable people is irrelevant if she's got nothing to pass on.

ThePontiacBandit · 15/03/2022 13:30

She’s following the rules though…
I had this last week…DD tested positive. I was testing negative (LFT and PCR), felt okay. I was expected into work as I was negative. Felt a bit hot one day (several days after DD tested positive). Positive LFT the next day. This is a a healthcare job. I followed policy and I was at least wearing a mask but I feel dreadful thinking I could have infected patients.

MaudieandMe · 15/03/2022 13:32

Your colleague is being a unreasonable. She cannot be 100% certain that she doesn’t have Covid so as a minimum, she ought to be wearing a face mask at work.

But some folk are selfish like that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 15/03/2022 13:33

@MaudieandMe

Your colleague is being a unreasonable. She cannot be 100% certain that she doesn’t have Covid so as a minimum, she ought to be wearing a face mask at work.

But some folk are selfish like that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

No one can be 100% certain unless they are 100% isolating.

Are you not fed up of the selfish line yet?

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/03/2022 13:36

Loads of work places are insisting people go in even if they’ve had positive LFTs. It’s crap but what can you do.

betwixtlives · 15/03/2022 13:40

If she’s symptomatic she should have a PCR as they pick up covid sooner than it shows on an LF. YANBU

Bananabutter · 15/03/2022 13:54

YABU. We need to get on with things now.

ClaudiaWankleman · 15/03/2022 14:02

She took a test and it was negative. That is already going beyond what she is required to do. YABU.

Imaysnapandfart · 15/03/2022 14:04

@ClaudiaWankleman

She took a test and it was negative. That is already going beyond what she is required to do. YABU.
But if she's showing symptoms, she should at least have the courtesy to social distance / wear a mask while at work.
Imaysnapandfart · 15/03/2022 14:05

I'd put money on the fact that she'll get a positive LFT in the next few days

Imaysnapandfart · 15/03/2022 14:06

You can be infectious before LFT shows a positive. And it's all well and good saying "we have to live with COVID" now, but it's not the same for vulnerable people / those with low or no immunity.

KylieKoKo · 15/03/2022 14:09

If she is feeling unwell then I am sure that she isn't going to work for fun and would much rather be at home. I would imagine that she feels pressure to because of her employer. I think the "selfish" comments are directed at the wrong person here ...

Imaysnapandfart · 15/03/2022 14:10

Why is she refusing to get a PCR? If she was feeling pressure from her employer then surely that would be the first thing she'd do!

SartresSoul · 15/03/2022 14:12

She is following current guidelines tbf, you don’t even need to isolate if you test positive now so she isn’t doing anything wrong per se. Just think about how many asymptomatic people have spread it around over the past couple of years. I had it in December and wouldn’t have had a clue if DD hadn’t had symptoms and tested positive. It’s an annoying virus in circulation now along with many others, just have to get on with it.

Twizbe · 15/03/2022 14:17

There are no rules saying she has to socially distance or keep testing.

Some people just don't have the luxury of not working if they live with someone positive.

Before all this I'd drag my ass to work with horrible colds because I had to. I'd be dosed up with lemsip but there was no distancing or anything. Someone who is extremely vulnerable could also be that vulnerable to a cold ... sadly life goes on.

Keep away from her if it makes you feel better but she's not being unreasonable.

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