AIBU to test for covid?

[FrenchFancie]

I’m off work with covid at the moment, hoping to be back tomorrow. I tested positive on Sunday. I’ve had what, to me, is the most bizarre email exchange with my boss about this. In short he’s told me off for testing, says I’m not supposed to have tested and should be back at work the moment I feel well enough to be back at work, regardless of wether I’ve got a negative test.

i tested for two reasons - this is my fourth covid infection, so I suspected it was covid from the symptoms and wanted to know. I was about to visit a very elderly and vulnerable relative in hospital, and didn’t want to walk covid onto the cardiac ward. I also work with someone who is vulnerable- they are taking drugs that suppress their immune system, so didn’t want to take covid into work and make her really unwell.

aibu to think my boss is nuts? Surely I didn’t do anything wrong by testing? He’s made me feel like I’m some sort of hypochondriac by testing!

I would have done exactly the same as you. I think the panic around Covid has largely deflated but it is still there and certain people do still need to be protected from it, as they do other illnesses which may make existing health conditions worse.

Well.oh can test if you want but many employers expect staff to work.if they are well.enough Covid or no covid.

Test for your own purposes if you wish. If you can work, work, Most of us keep going now. Hospital visits and work are different.

I tested recently for exactly the same reason - I'd have been sitting next to someone who was in the shielding category if i'd gone in the office. I was ill enough to take a couple of days off sick and then I worked from home the rest of the week (but appreciate not everyone has that option).

This is what living with covid looks like though

People insist it's just a cold, we don't need to take any precautions or be off work etc
Then people keep catching it and some people are unwell and can't work with it
So 4 covid infections will be normal

You can't tell people to come to work with covid then get pissed off if someone is off 4 times unwell with it

The only point of testing is if it changes behaviour in my opinion. Ie if you get a negative would you have gone to visit your elderly relative. If yes that you’re being very unreasonable… taking any virus into those situations is poor form. If no then there was absolutely no point in testing.

Yes I’ve had covid four times in two and a half years - I don’t think that’s a bad sickness record!

and yes, I feel pretty grotty. I don’t think people should have to work when they are ill and spread germs around. If you’re sick with anything, say the hell at home!

I’m willing to admit I may have a skewed view of covid - I lost two relatives to it, and my husband’s good friend who died a horrific death after ages on ECMO leaving behind 4 children. While I know I’m more than likely going to be absolutely fine, there’s the risk of spreading it to people who are still vulnerable.

i just can’t get my head around being told off for testing.

How does the vulnerable person at work feel about your boss’ attitude OP?

Her original post said expected to be back once she is well so I took it as she wasn't

And for what it’s worth I’m not sure testing is very accurate - anecdotally. We test as we’re part of the ONS survey. My unvaccinated 5 year old tested positive for over 10 days after a very minor cough, no fevers or other symptoms. I’ve had at least 6 vaccinations and I had full fevers, sore throat, cough, migraine but tested negative consistently.

Why tell im.you tested ?
If you are ill.stay at home,unfortunately many people have no option but to work if hey have covid,that's the reality these days

Yes, your boss is nuts.

Having one in a team off for 5 days (the advised period if you test positive, only longer if you're actually unwell) is way better and less disruptive than spreading it round everyone and your clients.

Yes you are doing the right thing in avoiding passing it on to those who might be severely ill. You're doing the right thing in avoiding passing it on to anyone else, because the consequences of having covid repeatedly aren't known and the rates of those affected by long covid continues to rise.

Resting in the acute phase means better recovery

It's not compulsory to test (which says everything about the Tory attitude to protecting the vulnerable) but neither is it banned.

I think what you are doing is the responsible thing. Not least with the growing understanding of how much covid harms the body (especially the immune system)

You do realise that even hospitals and schools expect their staff in if they feel well enough regardless of if they have covid?
I realise that there are still people who are vulnerable I have two.in my immediate family but thats the way it is now.

It's really hard because there is still such a strong instinct not to go out/to work when you're testing positive.

Say OP was unwell for 2 days and stayed home (in bed). If she tested positive, then advice is to stay home for days 3/4/5. If she didn't test, or tested negative, her work would have expected her in on days 3/4/5 once she was well again.

I also don't think people should work and spread germs around if they're sick but I've been sick since the end of October and there's no way I could justify being off/at home for that length of time. The coughing just lingers and lingers...

The thing is that if you can work from home then testing is fine as you can stay away from the office but still be working. It’s only an issue for people who can’t WFH.

I have stopped testing because I'm not in contact with anyone vulnerable (apart from myself!), but I would if I was eg if my parents became frail.
So I would tell your boss that's why you tested and you wanted to give him the full facts and let him make a decision. You know you've got Covid, but if he wants you to work anyway you have to go in if you're well enough to work.

That doesn't make it right, or in line with government policy come to that.

It is wrong to spread diseases that can be fatal to some and have a life changing long form, and increase the incidence/severity of many other infectious diseases (because of impact on immune system, which can last months and possibly years - the longer it's studied, the longer they find), and increase rates of diabetes, stroke and other cardiovascular events and have neuro effects ("brain fog" = mild brain damage, not clear how reversible, also earlier onset and more rapid progression of dementia)

We need safer hospitals in particular (cancer death rates will rise if hospitals are unsafe - it's not just chemo wards, it's things like scanning and other relevant departments, and common areas

And I'd like to know what places have bans on staff testing and insistence on symptomatic staff working, so I can whenever possible vote with my feet.

The most vulnerable and their households are told they must use their judgement and consider various precautions when risks are higher. We can only do this if we have at least some of the relevant information

I run the sickness reporting for our place. 2500 employees and only 2 sick reasons as Covid in 18 months. We have no policy on testing, as with most work places.

The last role i was in, retail HQ during Covid, also have no testing policy now, you come to work positive if you're not too ill.

I think you'll find it's not a thing now. i've not had Covid that i know of, but wouldn't dream of testing. if i'm too ill to work i'd stay home a day or two, if i've just got the sniffles, sore throat and that, i'm still in the office, same as everyone else.

What difference would testing positive for Covid have made to your visit to a cardiac ward? If felt ill, you shouldn’t go. Or would you have gone marching in there regardless had the test been negative? If the answer is no - then why test?