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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go into the office with a cough?

82 replies

Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:25

I'm conscious that people are trying not to catch any germs at this time of year but unfortunately I have some, and I'm in the office.

Had a cold over the weekend, took the Monday off, came back in yesterday and have developed this annoying tickly cough. Yesterday, my cough was pretty bad - I sat in my office with the door closed all day. Today I've got my door propped open but also window open behind me and my cough isn't nearly as bad as it was. Any major coughing fits I do need to have, I go to the bathroom.

The guy two offices down from me is clearly getting pissed off. He makes a comment every time he passes my door on the way to the kitchen and latest trip he asked if I've done a Covid test (I have). He doesn't work here - he's a paid consultant.

AIBU to think well tough, this is my job and I'm feeling well enough to do it so I'm here. If he's not happy, he can shut his own door or move upstairs to another office. Or am I being really irresponsible?

OP posts:
Oganesson118 · 20/12/2023 09:26

I went in yesterday with one. We can't stay off every time we have a minor ailment.

HappyHamsters · 20/12/2023 09:27

What was your covid test result

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:29

HappyHamsters · 20/12/2023 09:27

What was your covid test result

Negative. Took one yesterday morning and again this morning.

OP posts:
MoggyP · 20/12/2023 09:29

You have a symptom, you don't know what lies behind it, and it looks as if we are in the rising phase of a JN.1 wave which has a pretty short incubation period.

So this is exactly the time when covid - or indeed other viruses - could wreck someone's Christmas.

You should sit near an open window and wear a mask to minimise the potential contamination you are putting into the air at your workplace.

Others should also wear masks to protect themselves.

You wouldn't want to drink water that someone had gobbed in. Respect that no-one want to breath the air that someone's coughed all their germs in to.

sleepymama3 · 20/12/2023 09:30

NHS advice is "try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities". If the cough is your only symptom and you can't wfh, I would think you should be in the office. If wfh is an option, the kindest thing to others may be to do so for the next couple of days.

TeenLifeMum · 20/12/2023 09:30

We have been pretty strict in my team that any big colds etc we wfh. But…

  1. we can easily do our jobs from home
  2. it’s only been stricter round Christmas

everyone has different thresholds so it’s really tricky. Two of my team had COVID last week and two other now think they probably did the previous week but didn’t test.

you just have to make a call, are you well enough to be in? If yes, then fine, it there’s doubt then don’t.

TLDRfuckers · 20/12/2023 09:34

You’re not being irresponsible and he’s being a twat. How dare he ask if you’ve taken a covid test, they aren’t exactly reliable and it’s none of his business. I’d tell him to mind his own business, close his door or stay at home if he’s that worried. Silly fucker.

toomuchfaff · 20/12/2023 09:37

If covid did one thing it brought to attention how bugs can be passed... you may not have covid but you do have "bugs" , and if you've got bugs then anyone you're coming into serious contact with is being exposed to them, like the colleague... If you're sick, stay home, especially if you can work from home, do an online meeting instead... you may be able to deal with your bugs, but the people who can't work from home or are self employed or vulnerable have no choice and could do with not getting sick.

HappyHamsters · 20/12/2023 09:40

I personally would stay home and would feel very anxious using a bathroom where someone had a coughing fit after a cold.

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:41

I had a mild cold over the weekend. I don't normally get a cough alongside a cold but a few weeks ago I had that weird cold/flu hybrid bug which stayed with me for a fortnight so I figured my immune system was still compromised.

I appreciate it's annoying listening to someone coughing, but I feel absolutely fine apart from that and I've got a few things I need to square off before Christmas break.

I could WFH but I can only do around 60% of my job from home so would need to come back in tomorrow and spread my germs around then.

I wouldn't say he's at high risk of catching it. He's 2 doors down with all the doors propped open in the corridor and my office window open. I'm making sure I don't go into the kitchen at the same time as him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:42

HappyHamsters · 20/12/2023 09:40

I personally would stay home and would feel very anxious using a bathroom where someone had a coughing fit after a cold.

We've got male and female bathrooms. I'd like to hope he's not going in the ladies. I'm the only woman in the office today.

OP posts:
Thinkero · 20/12/2023 09:44

YABU at this time of the year I’m afraid

HeckyPeck · 20/12/2023 09:46

As you have it as an option, I would have worked from home yesterday and today and then gone in to the office on Friday and maybe tomorrow depending on how much you need to get done.

It might be better if you shut your door today too. Even if it's just to be less annoying!

The longer you wait, the less likely you're infectious.

toastofthetown · 20/12/2023 09:46

I don’t want people’s diseases around Christmas (or any other time of year), Covid or otherwise. I’ve had someone pass on their stinking cold to me before Christmas, and that it wasn’t Covid didn’t make me feel better when I was feverish and fatigued.

silentpool · 20/12/2023 09:47

It could ruin someone else's Christmas - I tested positive to Covid on Dec 24th last year - did not feel good about the person who passed that along to me.

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:48

HeckyPeck · 20/12/2023 09:46

As you have it as an option, I would have worked from home yesterday and today and then gone in to the office on Friday and maybe tomorrow depending on how much you need to get done.

It might be better if you shut your door today too. Even if it's just to be less annoying!

The longer you wait, the less likely you're infectious.

WFH wasn't an option yesterday. As I said, the cough isn't nearly as bad today so didn't see the harm in coming in.

Have shut my door now though Smile

OP posts:
Goldcrestonabranch · 20/12/2023 09:51

what is your policy? We are told to come in regardless unless we are really ill (we have the option to WFH then - sick leave is a thing of the past it seems). I would stick to office guidelines. every workplace is different. but agree with PP, we cannot just stay at home for every little bit

Candycurrantbun · 20/12/2023 09:52

Some coughs last for weeks. Do people really expect people to take time off sick for a cough?

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:53

Goldcrestonabranch · 20/12/2023 09:51

what is your policy? We are told to come in regardless unless we are really ill (we have the option to WFH then - sick leave is a thing of the past it seems). I would stick to office guidelines. every workplace is different. but agree with PP, we cannot just stay at home for every little bit

Office policy is come in if feeling well enough to do so. Regardless of whether we have Covid or not.

OP posts:
Goldcrestonabranch · 20/12/2023 09:55

Office policy is come in if feeling well enough to do so. Regardless of whether we have Covid or not.

I'd stick to that one then. It's a stupid policy if WFH is an option though. my workplace is the same. sigh

olympicsrock · 20/12/2023 10:00

I think you are being selfish personally - keep your bug to yourself

Musiclover234 · 20/12/2023 10:00

sleepymama3 · 20/12/2023 09:30

NHS advice is "try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities". If the cough is your only symptom and you can't wfh, I would think you should be in the office. If wfh is an option, the kindest thing to others may be to do so for the next couple of days.

Edited

Shame this advice doesn’t apply to us NHS actual staff who are very strongly encouraged to go to work regardless of any illness including not testing for covid. Also sickness policies are quite strict and we do get reviewed so people can’t stay off work for every cold or cough if well enough to work. My wards staff are always coughing/sneezing etc.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable it sounds like you are in a separate office and you have a window open? Not sat there coughing and spluttering all over someone sat next to you.

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 10:02

Musiclover234 · 20/12/2023 10:00

Shame this advice doesn’t apply to us NHS actual staff who are very strongly encouraged to go to work regardless of any illness including not testing for covid. Also sickness policies are quite strict and we do get reviewed so people can’t stay off work for every cold or cough if well enough to work. My wards staff are always coughing/sneezing etc.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable it sounds like you are in a separate office and you have a window open? Not sat there coughing and spluttering all over someone sat next to you.

Show quote history

Yes I'm sat in my own private office (with the door closed now) and my window is open.

OP posts:
UnRavellingFast · 20/12/2023 10:03

Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 09:42

We've got male and female bathrooms. I'd like to hope he's not going in the ladies. I'm the only woman in the office today.

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Why are you asking if you’re perfectly happy about your decision and counter any other opinions?

Original poster
Aquarelles · 20/12/2023 10:05

UnRavellingFast · 20/12/2023 10:03

Why are you asking if you’re perfectly happy about your decision and counter any other opinions?

Show quote history

I'm not trying to justify my decision... I'm just clarifying that I'm not coughing in a shared area.

OP posts: