AIBU to take time off because I feel like shit?

[WytTiEisiau]

I’ve called in sick this morning as I feel like utter shit! I don’t have any Covid symptoms but I do have a headache, dizzyness, cold symptoms and a sore throat... I got very little sleep last night.

I called in ill on the ground on Covid and I’ve said I’ll get tested... so likely to be off for a week now.

I work in an SEN school that has veen open fulltime throughout the whole Covid...there was no lockdown for us. But we’re also in a high case area of the UK with lockdown procedures in place.

Staff are of left right and centre, the working environment is crippling me as the few staff who are left are picking up the slack... I’ve not had a lunch break since starting back in Sept.

The main reason I think I’m off is due to being run down and worn out... which has leading to burn out hence the shitty cold and headache and constant feeling of being knackered!

I’ll take a test when one is available (have tried twice this morning with no luck) but I know it’s not Covid

If you know it's not Covid and you are well enough to work you should be at work. Can you rest at the weekend?

I'd never take a day off unless I physically couldn't work, or in recent times had covid symptoms.

You are also knowingly taking a valuable test that you don't need.

You know what you've done isn't right, or you wouldn't have posted.

Why didn’t you just say what is making you sick. Add in the tiredness as well. You had a legitimate reason to take sick leave. I don’t understand the lying.

As it is, you have claimed Covid when you don’t have a key symptom. And now you are clogging up the testing system. The school will have to take action because of the risk of contact. That’s going to impact on many people. Causing them extra work and stress.

I’m sorry but you are out of order here. There was no reason to do this. I hope this is troll on the goad.

I'm sorry you are feeling poorly. I do hope you start to recover soon.

You have done the right thing by calling in sick. But you can't order a test if you don't have any of the 3 main covid symptoms. If you do, this could be taking a test away from someone that actually does have these symptoms and needs to be tested.

Why cant you just be honest? Although you actually mught have covid with those symptoms.

YABU to claim you have Covid symptoms if you don't and take tests away from people who genuinely need them and are struggling to get them. Out of order.

People are allowed to be off sick with non-Covid symptoms, other illnesses are available

Tell your workplace that 119 advised you don't qualify for a test based on your description of your symptoms to them and just go back when you feel better.

So you lied and said you have covid symptoms when you don't, and now you'll be taking up a test needlessly

Other germs, bugs and viruses still exist and make us feel unwell and funnily enough we are allowed to be off for things besides Covid The world has gone mad!!

Because I’m totally confused by the whole system.

I don’t have symptoms as stated on the NHS website... although I though headache was one. I have a sore throat and know it will turn in to a cough in the next couple of day.

Plus my workplace require everyone to get tested when ill... even if they don’t have symptoms. I didn’t lie to them, I just said Covid related... which they are treating all illnesses as.

What's going to happen if you do catch Covid In the next 4 weeks?

To add to my previous post you will have caused great concern in your work place also, whilst people wait with baited breath for the results of your test.

Regardless of any SD in place, a positive test in the workplace makes everyone concerned, and they will waiting to hear your results.

It was a selfish approach.

I think you did the right thing and need to get tested to be on the safe side. At ds school anyone with cold symptoms are being advised to stay off as a precaution

If you can't go into work then you call in sick and tell them why (or just when you will be in next) or tell them it is not covid related so you are not being tested

Isn't there troubles getting tested because people who don't need to be are wasting time testing?

So am I best to not take a test... and lie to my workplace to say that I have taken one?... Or just take 10days off untested despite it not being Covid?

This isn’t a goady/troll thread. I’m going by advice from my employer

Cold symptoms are enough to stay off at the moment, IMO. Take a couple of days to rest.

Plus my workplace require everyone to get tested when ill... even if they don’t have symptoms.

It's not up to individual workplaces to determine govt policy re test eligibility. If organisations want testing outside the current guidelines they need to be providing private tests themselves, not burdening an overstretched NHS system.

Agree with other PPs. Calling in because you are genuinely to ill too work is fine and when you return you should discuss the stress you are feeling with your manager. But now you will have the school management planning for possibly closing a class or year group as that's what they have to do. And you are wasting a test

I don’t know... what is going to happen?

No they won’t!.... Literally nothing changes in my workplace if someone in our bubble is off awaiting testing... we just end up short staffed.

@WytTiEisiau

So am I best to not take a test... and lie to my workplace to say that I have taken one?... Or just take 10days off untested despite it not being Covid?

This isn’t a goady/troll thread. I’m going by advice from my employer

No, you just say, you are not eligible to take the test as per the Government/NHS policy. If your employer wants you to stay off for 10 days, that is down to them, but you don't need to isolate based on your current symptoms. Don't order a test based on employer's advice. They are wrong and you would be abusing the system in doing ordering a test.

My friend didn't have any of the listed symptoms, just felt a bit chesty. She took a test and it was positive. A sore throat can be covid, so even if you don't test you might well have the virus and should decide what to do on that basis or you could be spreadng it round

See, I’m getting conflicting advice on here too!

You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

Ring 119 and let them tell you whether you need a test or not based on your actual symptoms. If they say not then advise your employer of this- if your employer decides they want you off for 10 days regardless then that's between you and your employer.

I feel for you, you sound burnt out. Presumably you can self certify for a week and whether you get a covid test or not will be informed by if / when any symptoms develop or change. Stop feeling guilty, you’ve made the decision, health is important and the world will continue turning without you. Have a few days focussed on self care and then (all being well) get back to work refreshed.

So stay off work, don’t get a test, then get a cough (which is inevitable), then get a test?

@WytTiEisiau

So stay off work, don’t get a test, then get a cough (which is inevitable), then get a test?

Yes.