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Original poster

Going to work with covid..

155 replies

rainbowsunicorns · 17/03/2023 06:28

Woke up with a tickly throat, I've never had covid but my dad is positive so I tested. positive. I'm due at work soon and it's important. But I work with someone who is currently 20 weeks pregnant.
It would be wrong to still go wouldn't it? Or will it be ok if I wear a mask?

OP posts:
PhoenixAuntie · 17/03/2023 07:57

@Bananabreadandcupofcoffeethanks DH had to commute in to London in rush hour on a Monday a few weeks ago, felt really tired on the Friday, spent three days in bed and decided to test and was positive on the Monday so didn’t go in for a few days. I started to feel achey on the following Thursday and tested positive on the Sunday.

He worked at home and I missed my voluntary job that week. If you know you have it and can avoid spreading it because you can stay away from people then why wouldn’t you.

x2boys · 17/03/2023 08:01

For those saying you MUST ,stay home you do realise that some employers expect employees in regardless of whether they test postive
Not everyone has nice cosy work from home jobs
My son is disabled and goes to a special school,there are some very CEV,that go there in oxygen ,tube fed,etc, staff and pupils are expected in school even if they rest positive ,if they feel well enough.

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 17/03/2023 08:02

My work asks you to stay off for 5 days (but doesn't pay you) my dh is if your well enough to work you go in.

Ugh, cheeky twats.

When you think of all the money pissed away on stupid shit during this pandemic, and we still didn't have proper sick pay. It's disgusting.

Rebel2 · 17/03/2023 08:04

Jamieleecurtain · 17/03/2023 07:51

Why are people still testing? Covid is supposed to be treated like any other illness - if you feel ok go to work if you don’t then stay home.

Because I need antivirals. And because our work doesn't want us in with covid

MelchiorsMistress · 17/03/2023 08:05

Clearly I’m in the minority but I wouldn’t have tested in the first place.

My workplace has told us that we are no longer required to isolate if we get Covid and we are expected to go to work if well enough so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.

Some people genuinely can’t afford to take time off work and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for doing what they need to do for their own family.

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 17/03/2023 08:07

MelchiorsMistress · 17/03/2023 08:05

Clearly I’m in the minority but I wouldn’t have tested in the first place.

My workplace has told us that we are no longer required to isolate if we get Covid and we are expected to go to work if well enough so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.

Some people genuinely can’t afford to take time off work and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for doing what they need to do for their own family.

I really don't think you're in the minority not covid testing.

UdoU · 17/03/2023 08:07

rainbowsunicorns · 17/03/2023 07:15

I was due to work all weekend so I'm going to lose quite a big chunk of money, I've got 2 young children myself.. I was pregnant during covid (youngest born September 2021) so I know how the anxiety feels.
I'm coughing quite a lot now to the point people might notice so I'm definitely staying at home.
I'm quite worried about my 18 month old catching it too Sad

So you’d go in if you weren’t coughing? I think you should be concerned for the pregnant woman and your toddler both.

SkyandSurf · 17/03/2023 08:08

BanditsGravyStain · 17/03/2023 07:56

I'm quite worried about my 18 month old catching it
Work aside, don’t worry too much if your child is a fit and healthy child usually. We had covid for the first time recently and my 16 month old had some symptoms but was way more chirpy and active than me and DP. She’s been fine since too but my brain fog and sinuses haven’t been the same since.

There's growing evidence about the long term problems that come from Covid, even if the initial infection was mild. The more times a person has Covid the higher the chance of serious complications down the road.

I think we should be very concerned about our children getting Covid over and over again. Their bodies need to last another 80 years or so, and they have so much more of their lives to catch Covid in.

x2boys · 17/03/2023 08:10

MelchiorsMistress · 17/03/2023 08:05

Clearly I’m in the minority but I wouldn’t have tested in the first place.

My workplace has told us that we are no longer required to isolate if we get Covid and we are expected to go to work if well enough so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.

Some people genuinely can’t afford to take time off work and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for doing what they need to do for their own family.

I agree some people on here really don't understand that people don't get paid or risk losing their jobs if they they keep.taking time off for covid.

AreMyDucksinarow · 17/03/2023 08:13

To be honest I wouldn’t have tested either. I am pretty sure you don’t even need to test anymore.

Rules where I work are if you feel well enough to go in you go in, if your off you don’t get paid 🤷‍♀️

Not one person I work with can afford unpaid sick leave at the moment. I couldn’t afford to lose £200. It may be selfish but I need to keep a roof over my kids heads.

FineThings · 17/03/2023 08:13

Bananabreadandcupofcoffeethanks · 17/03/2023 06:52

How long are people taking to get sick after exposure to covid now, does anyone know? My colleague has gone down with it and we were last together on Tuesday when he was visibly unwell...

OP I definitely don't think you should go!

Obviously this is just one example but I spent all day with a relative including hugging on a Sunday this month, she tested positive on the Tuesday, neither I nor anyone else who was there has got it. I think she must not have had it on Sunday which means she must have got it from her positive colleague on Monday, so she came down with it very quickly. Your colleague might not have been positive when you were with them. This is clearly just one example based on speculation!

AreMyDucksinarow · 17/03/2023 08:14

Should add Ive had 4 vaccines and still got covid really badly ended up with pneumonia…and seem to be suffering with long covid

FineThings · 17/03/2023 08:14

FineThings · 17/03/2023 08:13

Obviously this is just one example but I spent all day with a relative including hugging on a Sunday this month, she tested positive on the Tuesday, neither I nor anyone else who was there has got it. I think she must not have had it on Sunday which means she must have got it from her positive colleague on Monday, so she came down with it very quickly. Your colleague might not have been positive when you were with them. This is clearly just one example based on speculation!

Show quote history

Oh sorry just realised you said he was visibly unwell, ignore me

Moopsi · 17/03/2023 08:16

x2boys · 17/03/2023 08:01

For those saying you MUST ,stay home you do realise that some employers expect employees in regardless of whether they test postive
Not everyone has nice cosy work from home jobs
My son is disabled and goes to a special school,there are some very CEV,that go there in oxygen ,tube fed,etc, staff and pupils are expected in school even if they rest positive ,if they feel well enough.

Well that's just stupid though. I had hoped we had got over presenteeism after covid. It's just so selfish to go to work/school with a contagious illness that has serious and longterm consequences for a minority of people. Especially when you know there are vulnerable people there.

Verylongtime · 17/03/2023 08:16

I’ve had four vaccines and this is the second time I’ve had Covid. I’m extremely ill, much worse than the first time, and I can barely get out of bed. I’m now 11 days in.

ClairDeLaLune · 17/03/2023 08:18

Of course you should stay at home

GoodChat · 17/03/2023 08:19

MelchiorsMistress · 17/03/2023 08:05

Clearly I’m in the minority but I wouldn’t have tested in the first place.

My workplace has told us that we are no longer required to isolate if we get Covid and we are expected to go to work if well enough so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.

Some people genuinely can’t afford to take time off work and shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for doing what they need to do for their own family.

I probably wouldn't test unless I felt really shit, but if I did test and tested positive I'd then take the appropriate steps to protect others.

Saying that, I'm fortunate in that my work's very flexible with WFH and they're firm on the fact you shouldn't attend the office at all if you're unwell.

Runningonempty01 · 17/03/2023 08:19

I have full sick pay, a wfh option and a dh with a good job. I am not going to pass judgement on people who go to work with covid, especially when it is their company policy that they should. Stay at home and get behind on your rent or go to work I know what I would do. And again I say this as someone whose life has been very severely affected by covid. I have a relatively privileged life but my work brings me into contact with people who even loosing one days pay could be a disaster. Blame the government or shit employers.

GoodChat · 17/03/2023 08:20

ThinWomansBrain · 17/03/2023 07:44

I've never had covid but my dad is positive so I tested. positive

You have covid - your test wasn't positive because your dad has it
Stay home

You literally quoted her saying she's tested positive

ClairDeLaLune · 17/03/2023 08:21

Sorry I didn’t RTFT. Well done for making the right decision OP, but sorry you’re poorly and about the money loss 😔

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 17/03/2023 08:22

Jamieleecurtain · 17/03/2023 07:51

Why are people still testing? Covid is supposed to be treated like any other illness - if you feel ok go to work if you don’t then stay home.

Because some people are understanding that whilst the government is trying to pretend covid is no longer an issue it actually is.

You can be well with chicken pox or measles (as two examples) yet no one would, I hope, consider going to work and passing them on Willy nilly.

TortolaParadise · 17/03/2023 08:24

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 17/03/2023 07:27

My dh’s colleague had it Saturday, but didn’t take time off, the person she was looking after tested positive Monday, DH tested positive Thursday. I’m just crossing my fingers.

Show quote history

It is like a chain reaction. I am wondering why policy makers are burying their heads (and potentially the bodies of others) in the ground! The continued re-infecting is beyond madness.

Anactor · 17/03/2023 08:25

rainbowsunicorns · 17/03/2023 07:15

I was due to work all weekend so I'm going to lose quite a big chunk of money, I've got 2 young children myself.. I was pregnant during covid (youngest born September 2021) so I know how the anxiety feels.
I'm coughing quite a lot now to the point people might notice so I'm definitely staying at home.
I'm quite worried about my 18 month old catching it too Sad

My sympathies - I'm self employed, so when Covid finally hit it cost me a big chunk of money. I hope it's not too bad and that the children don't get it - it's very weird in the way some people in the same family get different levels of illness, so they might not.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 17/03/2023 08:25

x2boys · 17/03/2023 08:01

For those saying you MUST ,stay home you do realise that some employers expect employees in regardless of whether they test postive
Not everyone has nice cosy work from home jobs
My son is disabled and goes to a special school,there are some very CEV,that go there in oxygen ,tube fed,etc, staff and pupils are expected in school even if they rest positive ,if they feel well enough.

What an utterly bizarre policy.

My DDs school is the exact opposite because of the vulnerability of so many pupils. Staff and pupils aren’t allowed in if testing positive and if you have a positive case in the household it’s strongly encouraged that the child isn’t sent it (even if they’re not testing positive).

They have lost more than one pupil from covid though so it’s something they’re very concerned about.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/03/2023 08:25

Can2022getanyworse · 17/03/2023 07:16

You're going to loose £200 for a day? Where do you work that you're earning a grand a week but you don't get paid sick?

Do you not have sick pay? For that sort of salary I'd expect a fantastic HR package including full sick pay

She’ll be self employed I guess. I am, and I don’t get paid if I don’t work.