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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not go to work (teacher) when I have Covid?

86 replies

biggirlknickers · 05/07/2022 22:14

Have just tested positive for Covid. I have symptoms (coughing, loss of voice, runny nose, lack of energy - feels like a medium to bad cold). Contacted my line manager at school who says I should be going in if I feel well enough to work.

I probably do feel well enough to work - as I said, it feels like a bad cold. Not great to work with but I can cope if I have to.

But the NHS advice says to stay home for 5 days and avoid contact with people “if you can”. And I would be shut in a room with a class of children all day. Who of course all go home to their families at the end of the day, potentially carrying my bastard bug with them.

What should I do? I think I should be staying away but I know my school is struggling for cover and I don’t want to go against what my line manager is telling me.

OP posts:
ShakespearesSisters · 05/07/2022 22:41

Had a message to say daughters teacher tested positive this evening. She will be teaching via zoom with the TA in the class.

flumposie · 05/07/2022 22:41

The 5 day advice is ridiculous of the government. Everyone reacts differently. If I'd caught it this time last year the advice would have been to isolate longer. I feel under pressure to get back to work and yet I can not walk properly. It's not like I can sit quietly in a corner.

Original poster
biggirlknickers · 05/07/2022 22:41

sorry, I meant we are being told to go in if we are well enough. Not even a mention of wearing a mask.

OP posts:
chosenone · 05/07/2022 22:44

Our school were clear I was not to go in for 5 days after the positive test. Even of I tested negative or felt ropey. Why ate they all different?

I would say you felt awful in the night and rest up. Loads of places are struggling due to sickness but that's for someone else to worry about.

HoneyFlowers · 05/07/2022 22:45

I would not be best pleased if my child's teacher turned up with Covid. Take care and get better soon.

TheFairyCaravan · 05/07/2022 22:45

I’d be feeling dreadful and be unable to get out of bed tomorrow morning tbh. No wonder Covid is on the rise again.

DH has Covid atm, he’s got similar symptoms. He’s working from home atm because he’s not allowed into work. We’re meant to be going to a concert on Friday but it’s not looking like we will be going to that either.

I hope you feel better soon.

Summerwhereareyou · 05/07/2022 22:47

When it went around our work people couldnt work with it.
So I can't understand why they are keen to get people in.

FlamingoQueen · 05/07/2022 22:48

I work in a school and the last thing everyone needs before the summer hols is an outbreak of Covid. I would lie and say you are not well enough to go in.

Kylereese · 05/07/2022 22:49

I would be complaining to the school if I found out my kids teachers’ were workninr with covid

Benjispruce4 · 05/07/2022 22:50

I stayed off even though I could have worked. School are sticking to 5 days but we have chn in that are still positive and being given Calpol. Nobody cares anymore.

redsky21 · 05/07/2022 22:50

How is everyone still testing, are you all buying tests? We ran out of free ones a long time ago but so many people seem to be testing still

PurpleDaisies · 05/07/2022 22:51

redsky21 · 05/07/2022 22:50

How is everyone still testing, are you all buying tests? We ran out of free ones a long time ago but so many people seem to be testing still

Yes. I buy tests.

ToooOldForThis · 05/07/2022 22:51

I am a teacher and had 4 days off with covid a couple of weeks ago. Went back when I was still feeling ill, couldn't hack the snidey comments about "why did you even bother to test" "enjoy your long weekend"Angry

saraclara · 05/07/2022 22:54

The schools I know are following the five day guidance. I think it's incredibly irresponsible for any SMTs to tell staff to come in during that period.
I would definitely be too ill to come in, in your position, OP

Popfan · 05/07/2022 22:56

I'm a teacher and we are following the guidance of 5 days off and only coming back in if feeling OK and have no temperature. I'm shocked you are being told to go in! I'd be so cross if my son's teacher was in having just tested positive with covid!

safclass · 05/07/2022 23:00

My husband is a teacher and tested positive today. Immediately told to be off work for the five days (at least). I ve not heard of any school saying you should go in if you feel well enough. If you have symptoms you should be off.

caringcarer · 05/07/2022 23:02

Your life me manager is being extremely irresponsible. If you go in you put your colleagues at risk then school will be even more short staffed. Covid is worst on days 3/4/5 for many people. Tell line manager you too I'll to come in. Plus kids don't want to be I'll and pass on Covid to parents/grandparents just before summer holidays.

dapsnotplimsolls · 05/07/2022 23:03

Don't go in. It's irresponsible of them to tell you to.

whynotwhatknot · 05/07/2022 23:04

just say youre feeling worse cant come in

no wonder the rates are sky high

as for tests my dh gets free ones from work

caringcarer · 05/07/2022 23:07

My son's school offers free test to any child who so much as sneezes. DS gets heyfever and school have asked him to text 3 times in 3 weeks. They have sent a box of test home asking for him to do 2 a week and have done 2 in school. They won't believe it is just heyfever. I think they must have stockpiled when they were free.

Merryoldgoat · 05/07/2022 23:09

I work for a school and we would expect you to stay home.

LovinglifeAF · 05/07/2022 23:13

As long as you get paid, stay off and say you don’t feel well enough to go. I’d maybe think twice if I didn’t get paid, but even though I I don’t really care about Covid any more it did feel wrong to go out when I had it, but thankfully I didn’t need to decide between staying at home:getting paid as I wfh.

Lavendersparkles22 · 05/07/2022 23:16

Teacher in a short staffed secondary here. Do not go in. My work would not dream of even suggesting this either.

I am in Scotland though, where the schools are less mad.

TokenGinger · 05/07/2022 23:27

All of my schools (I clerk governing body meetings), and the Local Authority, are not allowing people into school for five days if they have tested.

If they have symptoms but have not tested, they're letting them in! But given you've done a test, you shouldn't going in.

Eeksteek · 05/07/2022 23:28

Ours break up Friday. There would be a lot of furious-if-they-found-out-you-had parents cancelling holidays! Everyone gues as soon as they break up because we always break up a bit early.

Don’t. Say you can’t drag yourself in if it helps, but don’t. No one should work with something infectious - I’ve been saying it for years.