if you go out to work can you take time off for a cold?

[Skipsurvey]

or do you always have to assume covid?

and do you have to have the three main symptoms required by the test
or does your work let you stay away with a sore throat?

i am amazed at so many people taking time off on mumsnet.
dont your work mind you taking all this time off on a just in case it is covid??
because i have run out of sick leave

You can't get a test with a headache

It’s all well and good people saying “I tested positive with just a blocked nose and headache” but plenty of employers don’t care about that.
I’m lucky, I’ve been wfh since March so it’s not an issue for me, but it’s naive to think everyone can call up and say “I’ve got a horrible cold, so I’m not coming in because I’m getting a test” and not have the response “a cold isn’t on the list of symptoms to isolate, so unless you’ve got a cough or a temp, you’re coming in.”

You can if you lie. I knew this headache wasn't normal. Good job I did lie aswell because I'd be walking around with COVID.

I am lucky enough that my employers don't count isolation as sickness.

I don't fully understand what you mean op. Run out of sick leave? How does that work?

I have worked in my current post for 4 years and had never been off sick. In July I had a bad cold with a terrible cough, I tested negative for covid. My manager made me stay off for a couple of days anyway as I sounded so unwell and we are trying to not go in to work to spread any illness at the minute. I was pissed off since I had never been off sick!

Then 3 weeks ago I tested positive for covid and have been off work since as was very unwell and am just now starting to recover.

I am an HCP.

I am told that covid sickness doesn't actually affect your 'sickness record' but I don't know what that means really.

If you are sick then you are sick, I am not sure how you can run out of 'sick leave'.

if it was covid my work is ok, that doesnt count towards your sickness
i dont know what happens when you reach your sickness limit

What is the limit op? Do you mean triggers for disciplinary, or reduced pay?

you have a new cough - that means test. You're not getting a test just for a cold or headache you literally have a main symptom

I work in retail , I had a cold and more importantly a cough last month . I took time off and got a test ( I knew it was a cold but wanted to keep my colleagues safe ) .. I think it's responsible to do so .

Baffled that you have had so many colds this year tbh

they werent all colds

@Skipsurvey

my colleagues would think i was a lunatic having a test so regularly, bit pointless to have another test.

my query was how are all these mumsnetters at home from work not losing their jobs with their sickness record
i feel like a hypochondriac

Did you miss the fact it's a pandemic?

Lots of people in the private sector have serious issues with isolating. They are dint get paid, disciplined and/or sacked.
It may not be what is supposed to happen but it is happening and I'm surprised so many are so naive to think it isn't.

*either don't.

If we go sick and hit enough trigger points you get the sack, we are easily replaced

This is one area my trust is doing well in my opinion. I've been off for self isolation 4 times since March. Luckily only the first time I had to do the full week because I've been able to have tests since.
Twice due to having a high temp when I turned up at work and twice for cold. I havent tested positive yet.

It obviously gets recorded on our sickness but does not lead to any triggers for monitoring.

In fact someone is currently under investigation because they worked several days with "just a cold" and its been linked to our first outbreak in the patients.

This all seems significantly more difficult than it needs to be.

If you have a:

• new cough
• Temperature
• loss of taste/smell.

You cannot go into work (could work from home if your work allow and you feel well enough) and you need to get a test and self isolate for 14 days from the onset of those symptoms.

It doesn't matter if this is the first or 31st time you've had to do it. Those are the rules.

If you have other symptoms of a cold, runny nose, fatigue etc then the decision about whether you go to work is down to you and whether you feel well enough. You do not need to test.

I know that there are financial considerations around sick pay and that lack of pay makes self isolating difficult and potentially devastating dependant on your current financial position.

In terms of the actual rules though, this is what they are, and breaking them risks spreading the virus to anyone that comes into contact with you.

Your work can't say you shouldn't test if you have one of the 3 testable symptoms. They may be unhappy about it, but they should if they are a COVID secure employer encourage you to test and isolate.

If we have any of the three main symptoms then we stay off.

Otherwise we are required to go in
No way would I be allowed to stay home for just a cold - but that’s always been the case
You take tablets and get on with it

I’ve always read that to need a test with regards to a cough, it isn’t for just any new cough, but it had to be a new continuous cough ( coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours)

Have I got this wrong? This is what the NHS website says but lot’s of people seem to be testing for any kind of new cough.