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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:
Cathpot · 05/07/2022 23:38

I’m off having tested positive on Sunday- hope to be back for work reasons Friday if I’m better but school would be ok if I wasn’t. I also felt like I had a bad cold on Sunday and then Monday it hit me , so you might well not be in a position to go in.

InChocolateWeTrust · 05/07/2022 23:38

I dont really know anyone still testing for Covid so I'm always confused by these threads as to how anyone know knows they have it

echt · 05/07/2022 23:39

It's a pity you got into any kind of discussion with your line manager, but since you have, just email them with: "I am ill and will not be at work. I will inform you when I'll be coming back."

Shouldn't all this go through whatever version of HR you have at your school? At my last school, all absence calls went by voicemail to the relevant HR person and we were asked not to go into details about illness. Covid was the exception, and only for notification purposes. No way would a line manager ever ring someone at home.

Wavygravy1 · 05/07/2022 23:41

I’d be fuming if I knew my child’s teacher had it and was at work! Stay off xx

echt · 05/07/2022 23:42

InChocolateWeTrust · 05/07/2022 23:38

I dont really know anyone still testing for Covid so I'm always confused by these threads as to how anyone know knows they have it

The OP said they tested positive in their OP.

Wavygravy1 · 05/07/2022 23:43

InChocolateWeTrust · 05/07/2022 23:38

I dont really know anyone still testing for Covid so I'm always confused by these threads as to how anyone know knows they have it

I’ve just tested for the first time since I had it in January because I’m feeling unwell. I work with vulnerable children so would never forgive myself if I gave it to one of them! My mum has covid at the moment, she tests regularly as she works in a care home.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 06/07/2022 00:01

I am an immunosuppressed person with dc in schools. I'd be grateful if you stayed home.
My dc are vaccinated up to their eyeballs.

theyhavenothingbuttheaudacity · 06/07/2022 00:01

Are you in a union? Please stay off whilst infectious and raise this advice you were given

worriedatthistime · 06/07/2022 00:03

@caringcarer they can't ask him to do that , they have no right to

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 06/07/2022 00:03

InChocolateWeTrust · 05/07/2022 23:38

I dont really know anyone still testing for Covid so I'm always confused by these threads as to how anyone know knows they have it

We are testing. I get them free because I'm at risk.

worriedatthistime · 06/07/2022 00:07

Many people now can't afford to test all the time
Cost me £10 for 5 tests the other day , family of four , that works out expensive
I know of several people who have been told to fo in with covid as long as they feel well in other jobs as well
Many people can't afford to have 5 days off , potentially 2/3 times a year , then throw in colds and other illnesses as well and could be a lot of time off
Don't know the answer and for all those moaning about the government , many countries have very similar rules now

Booklover3 · 06/07/2022 00:24

Personally in your situation I would just say I was too ill.

Booklover3 · 06/07/2022 00:26

And I say that as a self employed person who can’t afford to take five days off myself. if I had a job with sick pay I definitely wouldn’t go in…

Dancingwithhyenas · 06/07/2022 00:27

Obviously stay off work.

Are you in a Union?
If so, wait a week or two and ask the rep to challenge this rule with the academy chain or LA. It’s clearly against guidance.

Feart · 06/07/2022 00:40

Covid is now being counted towards regular sickness in my school. Many of my colleagues are now on absence warnings because they are all picking up everything going due to a decline in natural immunity and less social contact over the past 2 years. This means that they have to choose between absence disciplinary procedures and working with covid! 😳 You only need 2 absences in 6 months to hit the first trigger! It’s awful!

Libertybear80 · 06/07/2022 00:53

I wish the person my DH works with in his school had stayed off. He's passed it around the whole family now and I blame them!

Floralnomad · 06/07/2022 01:21

At the school where our son works they are encouraged to test if they think they have covid and if positive it’s 5 days off ( minimum) and then 5 days wearing a mask .

UrsulaBursula · 06/07/2022 01:23

I’m a lecturer and I have just tested for covid this evening. I will be doing the 5 days isolation.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 06/07/2022 06:33

I can't believe somw schools are doing this; I know of none locally to me or where I have friends.

We still have tests for staff and are encouraged to test if unwell. We automatically get 5 days off and more if we are unwell, and it doesn't count as sickness.

We are again decimated by it and the only reason are aren't having to think about shutting down year groups is the fact that yesr 11 and year 13 have left. I had it 5 weeks ago (4th time) and I was so ill again and off for 10 days. Mtiple students off, my head has been ill for weeks. I'm still taking antibiotics as it lead to a chest infection.

The only saving grace is that it has now done the rounds in the house again so at least we know we will be able to go on holiday in a few weeks; I stopped us in half term, DD at Easter.

artisanbread · 06/07/2022 06:43

Very short-sighted of your line manager. You go in, spread it to five other members of staff who all feel too sick to come in next week then you've got a whole lot more cover to sort out.

Threetulips · 06/07/2022 07:10

Feart same hear.

DD works behind the bar in a restaurant - an upmarket one, the waiting staff all have it and have to work.

You know those with masks and gloves are no longer scared of the virus - they HAVE the virus. I’ve seen the same in the supermarket and avoid any masked members of staff.

balalake · 06/07/2022 07:11

Please don't go in. Sorry your line manager is irresponsible, hope it is the only instance.

maddening · 06/07/2022 07:15

My sister's school won't let her back for 5 days even if feeling better.

diamondpony80 · 06/07/2022 07:16

DH had to stay off work until he got a positive test, and that took longer than 10 days as he got a really bad dose of it. If he'd gone back after 5 he would've infected a lot of people, especially if cooped up in a classroom full of children. I think most parents expect that their kids will pick it up in a classroom setting, but not from the teacher! At this time of year when kids are soon to be going on holidays, visiting grandparents etc. I think it would be a bad idea to go in to work.

megletthesecond · 06/07/2022 07:19

Stay at home and rest. I'd rather my dcs had substitute teachers than got sick and messed everything up.