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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect people ill with Covid stay home?

322 replies

LakelandHiker · Today 18:09

This week, my manager and a friend who goes to my exercise class are ill with Covid. I don't know if they've tested, but they've both said they have it. However one is still coming into the office and the other still attending the exercise class. AIBU or overreacting here... but why don't they stay home until clear? Even if 'feeling 95% better' wouldn't you wait until potentially exposing others? I can't help but feel mad at them both for being so selfish. I often look after an elderly relative and can't risk passing Covid on to her as she is frail. I get life can't be on pause forever but my manager can get paid sick leave and my friend can miss a class, it isn't like there's anything at stake...

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · Today 18:11

You cant stay home anymore you have to get on with your life unless your really really unwell

ToKittyornottoKitty · Today 18:13

People need to get on with their lives. They are more unreasonable for announcing to everyone it’s Covid

aliasfrog · Today 18:13

Im immune compromised and last time I had covid it left me housebound and unable to walk, drive (or be a passenger), or work for 4 months.
I don't fancy getting it again and potentially losing my job, so I am staying in my house and not going out.
So all of that to say yes I agree with you, people should stay in when they're sick.

HappyLizard23 · Today 18:14

YABU, stay at home is no longer required and most workplaces will expect people in if they have a cold (which Covid is a variant of).
edit; also who is testing these days?! I just assume I have a cold and go about my life

B1anche · Today 18:14

If they feel well enough, I see no problem with coming in to work or doing classes. How would they know it is Covid they have anyway?

SheilaFentiman · Today 18:15

ToKittyornottoKitty · Today 18:13

People need to get on with their lives. They are more unreasonable for announcing to everyone it’s Covid

In what way are they “announcing to everyone it’s Covid”?

Presumably if they were sneezing on a call or at their desk, they would be saying “sorry, got a cold” ?

Rooroobear · Today 18:15

No, they can’t stay home. It’s something we have to get on with. Can’t hide away forever

CaNGCNk · Today 18:16

I appear to have time travelled back to 2020 😂

x2boys · Today 18:16

Because most work places expect people in if they are not ill even with covid and this has been the case for some years now.

ToKittyornottoKitty · Today 18:16

SheilaFentiman · Today 18:15

In what way are they “announcing to everyone it’s Covid”?

Presumably if they were sneezing on a call or at their desk, they would be saying “sorry, got a cold” ?

A friend who goes to her exercise class had told her she had Covid…. So she’s clearly telling people. So in what way are they announcing they have a cold?

hellobaby24 · Today 18:17

I think if they feel well enough then they should work. Exercise class is something that they should miss as it’s not essential.

Equally why are people testing if they are then not staying home seems silly

TheFinalNotch · Today 18:17

Where I work, They've tied office attendance to pay.

Fall foul of 3 days per week compliance and you dont get your quarterly bonus. You also dont qualify for any promotion opportunities or annual pay review.

Now seeing ppl (understandably) coming into office when they are contagious. [where they would have otherwise worked but from home]

Madness.

DisappearingGirl · Today 18:19

Hmm, I think you should stay away from people if possible if you know you've got COVID. I can see it might be hard to miss work if you feel okay and you can't work from home. But if you can work from home I would, and I wouldn't go to an exercise class with it. Same as I wouldn't go with a stomach bug or full of cold. It's not an essential outing and no-one wants to catch it.

FunPartyIdeas · Today 18:21

I simply can't afford to take time off ill, so absolutely would still go to work if a bit off. And definitely wouldn't test for Covid these days.

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · Today 18:21

There's some horrendous "survival of the fittest" shit posted about this topic on here.

How can you read aliasfrog's post upthread and still say it's fine to further disable people because you have to "get on with your lives"?

I find it fucking sociopathic.

FunPartyIdeas · Today 18:22

@MrsDoylesLastTeabag I'll stay off work if I'm unwell, but only if you pay my rent for me 😀

Apaoqh · Today 18:23

Yabu for many people it’s like a cold now and work for many people doesn’t take to kindly to people taking time off work when they’re not really that ill.
I’ve been in work recently with it, unless we’re pretty much on deaths door we’re expected in.

HappyLizard23 · Today 18:23

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · Today 18:21

There's some horrendous "survival of the fittest" shit posted about this topic on here.

How can you read aliasfrog's post upthread and still say it's fine to further disable people because you have to "get on with your lives"?

I find it fucking sociopathic.

You happy to pay my wages then? I don’t get paid to be off sick so I’m sure as hell not missing work for Covid anymore.

Floatlikeafeather2 · Today 18:24

aliasfrog · Today 18:13

Im immune compromised and last time I had covid it left me housebound and unable to walk, drive (or be a passenger), or work for 4 months.
I don't fancy getting it again and potentially losing my job, so I am staying in my house and not going out.
So all of that to say yes I agree with you, people should stay in when they're sick.

Is there some reason you can't have your jab?

ToKittyornottoKitty · Today 18:24

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · Today 18:21

There's some horrendous "survival of the fittest" shit posted about this topic on here.

How can you read aliasfrog's post upthread and still say it's fine to further disable people because you have to "get on with your lives"?

I find it fucking sociopathic.

I need to be able to pay my rent and feed my children so it’s pretty simple really

NigellaAwesome · Today 18:24

I think people should wfh and avoid socialising if at all possible, whether that is the cold, covid or the flu. Even before Covid was a thing I thought it completely unreasonable for colleagues to come into work when they were unwell. One colleague came in with dosed with the flu and infected at least 15 others, of which I was one. I appreciate that not all roles can accommodate this. But going to an exercise class when infectious is selfish and also foolish given the risk of post viral syndromes that are caused by exertion when ill.

KilkennyCats · Today 18:24

If they’re well enough to do an exercise class I’d very much doubt it’s covid. It’s probably like the way people used to claim they had flu when it was just a bad cold.

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · Today 18:25

HappyLizard23 · Today 18:23

You happy to pay my wages then? I don’t get paid to be off sick so I’m sure as hell not missing work for Covid anymore.

So if other people who aren't as robust as you catch your covid and can't work at all any more, that's fine and dandy? You going to pay THEIR wages, arw you???

robinsnest1967 · Today 18:26

I am not immune compromised but last time I had covid I ended up with pneumonia and was seriously unwell. I just think people who are ill should be mindful of others and at the very least cover their mouths when they are coughing and spluttering.

Tri483 · Today 18:26

No can do I’m afraid. Both my husband and I have had to battle on in our lines of work. It’s just a nasty cold and we’re expected to carry on. So we do. My dd is at uni and they’ve all got it but carrying on as usual. 2 days off max if necessary. I’m more worried about flu but will treat that the same.

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