To not tell work I have COVID (WFH)

[donniedarko89]

Tested positive for COVID yesterday. We all work remotely and I could in theory try and downplay this as a bad cold, trying to do as much work as I can. In reality I am barely sleeping, no fever yet but a terrible sinusitis, cough and lots of green snot.

A bit worried as I have an important presentation on Tuesday.... This is my fourth month in the job and I already had two days off sick in December for a chest infection.

I don't want to build up a reputation as "the one who's always ill"

Why wouldn't you tell them? People get ill. It's not a moral failing.

It would be worse if you do a bad presentation and they don't realise you're ill and that's why.

As you're working from home, I'd just get on with it, especially as you've already been off sick and only been in the job four months.

I don't see any reason to say it's covid or just a bad cold - many people aren't testing any more, so does it matter? But if you're still ill on Monday and feeling awful you should probably say you're ill and take the day off, and Tuesday too if you need it.

It depends how ill you feel really. Obviously covid can range from no symptoms to awful 'flu can't get out of bed' type symptoms. If it's just a cold then just get on with it-theres no need for them to know, but I'm currently recovering and could barely lift my head from the pillow for a week so with the best will in the world couldn't have done any work.

Given that you are WFH, surely there is a middle ground. Tell your LM that you feel a bit crap but will continue to do what you can on Monday but that you might have to go AFK for a nap or whatever, and that you still intend to do the presentation on Tuesday but might otherwise take it easy on that day if you feel rough.

Coming from someone who was never permitted to WFH even during the height of COVID, is this flexibility not part of the point of it? Aside, of course, from workplaces not needing so much real estate and additional resources.

I would take time off if you aren’t well, you need time to rest and recover. If you keep working while not 100% you’re more likely to make mistakes etc and will take longer to get better. Illnesses can’t be helped and a good employer will recognise that.

The rule in my team is if you are so unwell you wouldn’t go into the office, then you shouldn’t work from home.

If you feel like you can do the work, just get in with it and there is no need to inform anyone.

If you feel it will affect your performance at work and in the presentation, definitely tell them it’s covid.

Work Monday and make sure that you talk or video call people to see how your voice holds up and whether you can manage the presentation. Dose up with decongestant, paracetamol, nurofen and honey and lemon before the presentation to be at your best and have a glass of water or honey lemon water to hand to sip while muting if you have a coughing fit. But stay off if you realistically need to.

I would say "I have covid but not going off sick at the moment as feel well enough to keep working. I'll let you know if that changes" you'd get props for the effort and trying then.

Some strange responses here. Of course you should tell them you have covid - if you feel well enough to do some work that is your prerogative, but if the presentation is at risk of being under prepared then you need to make a plan tomorrow morning for it

Literally no need to battle through needlessly - have the courage to be honest and vulnerable, if you keep to a secret and do a crap job it will just reflect poorly on you

If you need time to recover you should take a day or two off, the timing of the presentation is largely irrelevant there will always be more presentations and you need to look after yourself, covid or otherwise

I think you should tell them. And as said, will do the presentation on Tuesday.