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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asking to work from home while ill

17 replies

cherrybakewell17 · 14/05/2023 07:41

I’ve got a bad virus and I’m constantly coughing. I feel terrible and drained. I know I won’t be better by tomorrow. We are supposed to work hybrid so mostly in office but can work from home sometimes too.

i don’t feel like I can go off sick as I’ve just returned from maternity leave and already had a year off, even though I know I should.

Will I look bad asking to work from home this week? I can’t believe this has happened as soon as I return back to work :(

OP posts:
Blip · 14/05/2023 07:42

Sounds very sensible to me

LivingDeadGirlUK · 14/05/2023 07:42

It would be totally reasonable at my company.

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 07:43

We are supposed to work hybrid so mostly in office but can work from home sometimes too.

I don’t really get it, if you work hybrid don’t you usually work from home? Hybrid means a few days at home and a few days in the office.

You’re making it sound like it’s something you need to ask permission for that may or may not be granted.

Timeforabiscuit · 14/05/2023 07:43

If you are ill, you are too ill to work, and don't worry how it looks, you need to recover properly and prioritise yourself.

Timeforabiscuit · 14/05/2023 07:44

Or you could say you don't want to spread your cough in the office if you are well to work.

WolfFoxHare · 14/05/2023 07:50

In my workplace, official policy was always that if we’re too sick to go into the office, we’re too sick to work full stop. Covid changed that a bit tbh when they acknowledged that you can be feeling a bit rough and still manage a full 8 hours by having an afternoon nap and avoiding a tiring commute, or even postponing any meetings and working from your bed on your laptop. It is still discouraged because ‘you should be concentrating on getting well’ but sometimes needs must. I’m now fully remote with chronic health conditions and I’ve often worked a full day, on days when I feel genuinely too ropey to have gone into the office, so I absolutely don’t think you’d be unreasonable to want to work from home when you’re off-colour.

But what will your line manager say? Are they very strict? Do you have set days to be in the office or is it more flexible? Are you senior and experienced and have been there long enough that they’ll trust you to work if you say ‘Apologies, I’m going to WFH today?’ Only you know that…

WolfFoxHare · 14/05/2023 07:54

Also, will they really think you’re taking the piss because you’re only recently back from maternity leave? I was terrified I’d get sacked when I came back from maternity leave because my DC was constantly poorly when he started nursery and I kept having to takes days off. It’s only with the benefit of years more experience that I realised every new mum in my company is in and out for the first few months after they return to work - it’s a female-dominated industry and seems accepted as par for the course, no-one even raises an eyebrow.

GoodVibesHere · 14/05/2023 08:03

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 07:43

We are supposed to work hybrid so mostly in office but can work from home sometimes too.

I don’t really get it, if you work hybrid don’t you usually work from home? Hybrid means a few days at home and a few days in the office.

You’re making it sound like it’s something you need to ask permission for that may or may not be granted.

I work hybrid but would have to seek permission to work from home on a day when I'm meant to be in the office. I work 2 days at home and 2 set days in the office, I'm not meant to switch days around or stay home but I probably could (with permission) if I was unwell.

Whataretheodds · 14/05/2023 08:06

You don't sound well enough to work from home. You need to call in sick.

Zanatdy · 14/05/2023 08:08

It’s fine at my company. I’d rather someone worked at home for the week than spread it round and we have people off sick. Our sickness has gone down a lot since home working as often people are ok to work but not up for commuting or don’t want to pass to others

MamaDollyorJesus · 14/05/2023 08:58

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 07:43

We are supposed to work hybrid so mostly in office but can work from home sometimes too.

I don’t really get it, if you work hybrid don’t you usually work from home? Hybrid means a few days at home and a few days in the office.

You’re making it sound like it’s something you need to ask permission for that may or may not be granted.

I have set days for WFH & have only asked to WFH due to being sick once & it was fine.

But my work are really flexible & I can change my days/hours to take my mum to hospital appointments etc & as long it's noted in the planner where I am no one cares.

I'm more likely to get in trouble for being in the office on days I'm supposed to WFH as sometimes that's a last minute decision & I've not told anyone until I phone reception on the day to say I'm in for the fire safety log.

But not all workplaces are as flexible with their hybrid working or sickness policies.

TheOrigRights · 14/05/2023 09:03

If you're ill then you shouldn't be working. You are entitled to sick leave regardless of you just taking Mat leave.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 14/05/2023 09:03

It's one of those questions that depends on your specific workplace

It might be fine but I wouldn't assume that based on other peoples jobs

If you feel you're up to working I'd do as a pp suggested and ask to wth to avoid spreading any bugs

Topseyt123 · 14/05/2023 09:15

I think it sounds fine and the obvious solution, but is obviously dependent on the views and policy in your particular workplace.

It is perfectly possible to be too ill to travel to work yet able to do some work from home if your type of work allows that. DH did it when we both had Covid a year ago. He also works hybrid normally.

DH has also been working from home for the last week and will again for the coming week. This time it is because his elderly car finally gave up the ghost so he had no easy transport. He is currently buying another car, which we will collect from the dealer in a few days.

dizzydizzydizzy · 14/05/2023 09:21

I think you are being very reasonable. If I were working with you, I would rather not catch your lurgy.

custardbear · 14/05/2023 09:22

Call in sick, you need to recover

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 14/05/2023 09:48

Are you well enough to work from home?

If you are- do suggest this to your boss.
Your work colleagues won't want to catch it. (We have a cough here that turned out to be the return of covid!)

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