Just got shouted at in a coffee shop for coughing in public 🥴

[wildgreyocean]

I know I’m not being unreasonable here but I just need some reassurance! I was in a coffee shop after popping to the shops and got a tickle in my throat. I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed and next thing I know an old man is shouting at me that I’m being selfish and should be self isolating at home, and “don’t I know the NHS is on its knees?!”

AIBU to think this is a total overreaction to a cough?!

No, the reason the government told us to do it in 2020 was Covid - which at the time was deadly and there were no vaccines. I have a permanent cough due to radiotherapy lung damage. Should I stay out coffee shops even though I’m not ill, and how do you tell the difference ?

Ask the PP who reckons she she can diagnose the reason behind a cough. In a cafe too. She could save the NHS a fortune 😆

Doubtful, seeing as my own family haven’t caught it.

A cold doesn’t qualify as a disability under the EA2010 so reasonable adjustment wouldn’t apply.

That’s not scientific

Some people have a cough for three months after they've had a cold. They can't stay at home for three months! And nobody stays at home with a cold once they feel well, the posters saying that are being ridiculous.

I agree with the posters who said that if people are that worried about getting a cold, they should stay at home or at least stay out of crowded indoor spaces. Admittedly it is in the run-up to Christmas and you don't want to get ill, but I'd say the same advice applies- stay out of overcrowded indoor spaces as far as possible, wear a mask if you can't and remember a coffee is a want not a need so go home for your coffee.

I haven’t mentioned anything about disabilities
I’ve said wear a mask and don’t infect the sick
or
stay off work

Either way Op can self declare 7 days off work with the nhs. That’s their policy
after that it’s a sick note from a doctor.

Yes, the fact that you cited it as a option for someone without the use of their legs is rather the point here. It was howlingly idiotic- one can only hope you typed this into AI and didn't check it.

And ffs google, hotel services is the name of the NHS department.

I think it’s a pretty good measure seeing as I’ve been around the same five people for the week and none of them have so much as sniffed.

Can I ask what drew you to the caring profession?

If all NHS staff went off sick because they had a sniffle, then the NHS would grind to a halt. And they would end up triggering absence procedures, which can be hard to get off of once you are on them.

From your post; The nhs in many hospitals are asking staff to wear them (masks) at the moment. Given the information from OP and for want of time off work whilst currently unwell she could have done so reasonable adjustments given her sinus condition on returning are possible at this time.

Sinus problems as the OP has described hers wouldn’t be recognised as a disability as they don’t affect her ability to do normal day-to-day activities. Therefore reasonable adjustment would not be available.

Good point not everyone would get reasonable adjustments for sinus issues

but whether they are or not depends on how it affects OP

So sinus issues can be classed as disabilities and people can in fact be protected under the Equalities act and be entitled to reasonable adjustments.

To add because I forgot I have no idea how bad OP is just that she’s seen anENT doctor
So I couldn’t comment on that regard

OP has said she’d be sacked if they took time off work so went in whilst ill. she isn’t incapable of working then due to her illness. Just chose to work whilst ill in a hospital with patient contact and without a mask

My comment related to the chances of her being sacked just because she’s off sick. There are protections for people and you can’t simply be sacked just because of illness.

That’s nonsense.

Now. As OP mentioned a hotel perhaps hotels have a different policy and less protections….i don’t know….

To be fair op, while I don’t think anyone should ever go pandemic again, being in a place like a cafe with a cold and cough isn’t great. If you’d had a tickle without being sick fine, but add a cold it means you’re sick. We don’t have to fully isolate ti be mindful of not spreading stuff to other people-people don’t want to be sick for Christmas

So accommodation can be made as shown here in this picture. No porter needs worry about loosing the use of his or her legs. Someone can push them.

😂😂

And the person who pushes people in wheelchairs in hospitals is..... a porter 😂

But we have now gone to sinus issues being a disability that you can get reasonable adjustments for now.

Nah, I'll go out and carry on as normal if I feel ok to do so.

Lovely 😁

Or maybe a tractor could push them
Disinfected of course

although the corridors are getting a little cramped at the moment

I’ve not mentioned a hotel. Are you well?

and of course we are technologically a little more advanced than just using wheelchairs
Double amputees do have prosthetic legs these days

So that’s all good then 🙂

wow. What a diversion from a cold 😆

and of course we are technologically a little more advanced than just using wheelchairs
Double amputees do have prosthetic legs these days

So that’s all good then 🙂

wow. What a diversion from a cold 😆

Yep I know how the Equality Act works thanks. Worked within its guidelines for over ten years. It states that to be considered a disability, an impairment must have a substantial adverse effect, be long term (12 months or more) and the adverse effects must substantially impact the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, such as getting dressed, preparing meals, working, among other things. Therefore, as with hay fever and other mild or occasional issues, sinusitis is generally excluded as a stand alone condition unless it aggravates another more serious condition, such as asthma. Chronic sinusitis that requires regular medical intervention and significantly impacts the sufferers’ ability to function - for example persistent pain, breathing difficulties, frequent incapacitating episodes - could in certain circumstances meet the criteria. But as I said, OP doesn’t appear to do so, according to her own description.

Your assertion that you can’t be sacked for accumulated sick leave is simply wrong. Unless you have a disability which qualifies for reasonable adjustment under the Act, you have no protection against disciplinary action linked to the amount of sick leave you take. If you persistently exceed the stated maximum you can legally be dismissed after the required warnings and actions have been applied. Even with reasonable adjustment, you have to work with the employer to minimise sick leave and only sickness attributable to the declared disability can be disregarded for disciplinary action. It’s you who’s talking nonsense.

And your repeated allusions to hotels are becoming embarrassing. It’s been repeated several times now that that poster was referring to ‘Hotel’ as the name of the NHS department responsible for services such as portering, catering and linens, among other things, and not talking about actual hotels.

They are confusing you with another poster who was simply stating that ‘Hotel’ is the name of the NHS department responsible for portering, catering, cleaning and linens, among other things. No amount of posters explaining that there was no reference to actual hotels has made any difference thus far.

This thread is crazy.
Some of you would hate my work. Every day at least one person has a cold or a cough and in the winter months far more.
Should all these people be isolating for a week ? According to some on this thread they should be and wearing masks.

My job ? I work in a pre school with over 50 children and I bet you wouldn't keep your children off for a week with a bit of a cough or snotty nose. The country would grind to a hault if people did.

Anyway the OP is not ill, she has said this several times. She has a nasal problem.