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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call in sick for my first day of work?

290 replies

SicklyWorker · 21/08/2022 07:06

Starting a new job tomorrow but I have an awful cold. It's not Covid.

Nose streaming, sore throat, sinuses hurting, headache, feel dizzy and sick.

I'm meant to be going to the office for 9am tomorrow.

I do already have my laptop here as it was couriered to me.

Options are:

  1. Dose up on Lemsip and hope for the best
  1. Call in sick
  1. See if I can can WFH on my first day and try and do the inductions over Teams

None of these options seem like a great first impression.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Quincythequince · 21/08/2022 07:09

Gosh OP. Bad luck.
You have 24 hours to decide, but if you’re very unwell, don’t go in.

Whoareyoumyfriend · 21/08/2022 07:09

Do you have a line manager? Maybe give them a buzz and say you have a stinking cold, as a company do they have preferences? Some companies may prefer wfh with a cold

crumble82 · 21/08/2022 07:09

Option 1 and then if you’re feeling really awful still at lunchtime apologise profusely, explain the situation and ask if you could work from home. It’s not great but these things happen and I think they’ll appreciate it if you at least try and be there. Also if you’re obviously ill they’ll be able to see for themselves.

fufflecake · 21/08/2022 07:10

I would suggest the wfh thing to your new manager just to say hello etc

Cervinia · 21/08/2022 07:10

1 for me.

Forestgate · 21/08/2022 07:11

Option 1

BronnauMawrion · 21/08/2022 07:12

I would go with 1. Shows willing.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 21/08/2022 07:12

Dose up on lemsip and hope for the best, it’s 24 hours away.

HumptyDumpty2022 · 21/08/2022 07:13

Option 1 for me, hope you feel better soon.

PurBal · 21/08/2022 07:13

Option 1. It sucks. But if you’re too sick to go in, you’re too sick to WFH. Definitely tell them when you arrive that you’re not well.

MissCrowley · 21/08/2022 07:14

I'd be ringing a higher up and see what their view is on a sick person coming into work.
You run the risk of passing it to everyone else and I really do hate the "if you're ill still go in" culture this country has.
I work from home so don't have this issue and I'm very fortunate.
I'm also an asthma sufferer/ long covid and would not appreciate you infecting me when it'll goes straight to my chest and probably end up with me having to take antibiotics and steroids.

HappinesDependsOnYou · 21/08/2022 07:14

I would be getting some day and night nurse today. Take the full dosage of day nurse and night nurse with an early night. Set multiple alarms and take day nurse to start tomorrow

Quincythequince · 21/08/2022 07:15

MissCrowley · 21/08/2022 07:14

I'd be ringing a higher up and see what their view is on a sick person coming into work.
You run the risk of passing it to everyone else and I really do hate the "if you're ill still go in" culture this country has.
I work from home so don't have this issue and I'm very fortunate.
I'm also an asthma sufferer/ long covid and would not appreciate you infecting me when it'll goes straight to my chest and probably end up with me having to take antibiotics and steroids.

Yep, this.
Crazy that people are telling you, as unwell as you are, that you should go in.

Pinkmagic1 · 21/08/2022 07:15

Option 1 is the only one really, unfortunately.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/08/2022 07:16

Option 1

frustratedacademic · 21/08/2022 07:16
  1. Has cov
Maireas · 21/08/2022 07:16

Please don't go in. You'll spread it around and people won't thank you. Take time off, recover, then start. You can make it good impression later and the delayed start will be history.

Hidingawaytoday · 21/08/2022 07:17

As a manager I'd prefer you do 3 initially, then potentially log off of you're still really bad. I don't want someone forcing themselves into the office all snotty and contagious just because it's their first day. But then I work in London and rush hour commuting while you feel ill is not fun.

How long is the commute? Would you be driving?

Original poster
SicklyWorker · 21/08/2022 07:17

My line manager is friendly and I have his number so I could potentially message him today.

Started feeling ill on Friday. I keep hoping I will wake up feeling better but this morning I feel truly shit.

I have already met the team F2F during the interview process.

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 21/08/2022 07:18

I wouldn’t be happy with someone turning up on first day with a streaming cold, it certainly won’t go down well with fellow colleagues. It is unfortunate and I would wait until tomorrow to see how you are. Someone at my sons work, came in with stinking cold, saying it’s ok it’s not covid, that night she contacted everyone to say she’d tested positive for covid, they now have lots of staff off ill and they cannot wfh.

Hidingawaytoday · 21/08/2022 07:18

Do you have your new managers mobile? If so, wait until later the text them and see what they say - don't call unless you know they're working today - a text is much less intrusive of their weekend.

frustratedacademic · 21/08/2022 07:18
  1. Has Covid taught us nothing? Your new colleagues won't thank you for coming in with a filthy cold. If you're up to working remotely, do so, especially if you can talk to someone do they can get a sense of how germy you are.
Snowpaw · 21/08/2022 07:19

Colds can change a lot in 24 hours - have a hot bath, rest and eat soup today. You may well feel over the worst of it by the morning.

Original poster
SicklyWorker · 21/08/2022 07:19

Commute is fine, no buses or trains needed.

OP posts:
SunshineAndFizz · 21/08/2022 07:21

Sorry it would have to be option 1 for me. Not a great first impression to call in sick before you've started. Just for a cold too.

Take all the drugs you can. Make sure you mention it when you start and wash your hands etc regularly. And power through.

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