To get annoyed that my work colleague has given me Covid but denies it?

[ArtfulOrca]

My work colleague has frequent colds. She coughs and sneezes everywhere, including all over our work (We hand make high end mtm soft furnishings, curtains, blinds, and cushions mainly). We work quite closely and sometimes on the same article. She states that "you can't catch colds", says "I'm not getting nothing" when she's clearly ill, won't have flu jabs, and only had the 1st 2 covid jabs. She's 79.
I'm vulnerable, with heart problems, which I've made no secret of. Last Tuesday she came in, sniffing with her mouth open as usual, and I knew. She proceeded to sneeze and cough all week. On Wednesday I asked if she'd taken a covid test. Usual answer - "I'm not ..." so, long story short, Thursday evening I knew I'd caught her cold. This morning, feeling rotten, I did a Covid test. Guess what?

I let her know (and our employer, of course, who's great) but she's denying I've caught it off her. I've been nowhere else, not even to Tesco, since the Friday before the Tuesday she came in sniffing. AIBU to get her to try to keep her germs to herself? Funny thing is, she gets annoyed if people don't wash their hands after using the loo!

You’re not being unreasonable but you won’t be able to get her to change her ways. She sounds disgusting. Can your employer have a word?

Your colleague is failing in her health and safety responsibilities in law if not taking reasonable precautions such as covering her nose when sneezing.

It should be a disciplinary matter, her behaviour.

What is your works’ policy around sickness. Do they require you to test and provide them or pay you if you’re well enough to work but have a positive test?

I think you need to wear masks around peoplewho display symptoms.

We can’t expect people with common colds or common viruses, which Covid now is, to go into isolation. If I am fit enough to work I go in, otherwise some years I’d be off work for weeks every year and my job would be at risk.

Of course she should take precautions as much as practicable, such as using a hankie or washing hands etc.

Your colleague should be taking reasonable precautions to prevent her spreading her germs, such as handwashing, covering her nose and mouth when sneezing etc and perhaps your employer could have a word. It is however unreasonable to expect someone to take a Covid test. We need to move away from this mindset and accept it’s no different to everyday cold or flu.

At 79, is she not contemplating retirement?

I'd be leaving SAGA cruise magazines all over the staffroom.

You are being ridiculous. Even if this woman did admit that she may have passed on a cold, what sort of penance are you expecting her to pay for it?

Good on her for getting on with her life and not letting a little sniffle stop her when she’s in her 70’s.

If you want to be bonkers enough to still be taking Covid tests as if it now makes any difference what your cold is called, then you carry on. But you can’t expect others to be do the same.

I'm vulnerable, with heart problems, which I've made no secret of.

But if people are well enough to attend work then that's what they should do, if it's part of the work policy.

Employers aren't particularly enamoured with employees to take an altruistic approach and stay home when they're well enough to go in, because other employees are vulnerable.

They'll be subject to the same absence procedures as everyone else.

Yes, she should be more careful about coughing etc but it's your responsibility to protect yourself too.

What's your work policy around sickness? colleague clearly isn't ill and only has a cold. Are you suggesting she should call in sick with every sniffle? I don't think that's reasonable. and you have no way of knowing you got COVID of her. It's everywhere again.

Has management told her to use a hankie not sneeze and cough over people, wash her hands, snotering all over people is disgusting and completely unnecessary, covid or not, I certainly wouldn't buy anything made by someone who shows such a lack of concern.