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Covid

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Original poster

Ill colleague came into work

60 replies

Zig27 · 28/04/2021 11:52

I am doing some temp office work at my old employer. My colleague booked for me to go in the office. I left after half an hour as someone had gone in with a cold and was coughing, puffing and sniffing in the office without a mask on. I left as I didn’t want to put my health at risk with covid so I emailed my colleague and advised her. I didn’t want to not be honest and lie because she would check up to see if I had been in the office. It’s not fair of the ill person to put others at risk too as I have to care for be elderly relative.

Later I rang her to clarify a work query I was unsure of. She was quite stand offish and talked down to me. I think she feels inconvenienced for booking me in the office as I had internet issues at home yesterday but they are fine now. though she wouldn’t go in. Why was it wrong of me to be honest and say why I am working from home instead. I don’t feel safe at work with someone bringing in a cold. It’s a temp job so I’m not risking my health.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 28/04/2021 11:54

Had the coughing person been covid tested?

Northernsoullover · 28/04/2021 11:55

She shouldn't have been in with a cold but its culturally ingrained that people don't take time off with colds. I wouldn't attend work with a cold these days without a pcr test but management pressure to attend will always be difficult

Overthebow · 28/04/2021 11:57

Did you know if the colleague had covid symptoms or had been tested?

Original poster

Zig27 · 28/04/2021 11:58

I can see where this thread is going. I’m not going into to catch colds, flu’s and viruses because this colleague in question could have worked from home.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 28/04/2021 11:58

If she had a negative test and it was just a cold then I dont see the problem. We can't allow Covid to take over our lives and its not the only illness to exist sometimes a cough is just a cough.

vodkaredbullgirl · 28/04/2021 12:00

Maybe she had a test already.

Branleuse · 28/04/2021 12:01

Do people still have to isolate for a cough if they have a negative LFT?

I dont blame you for going home as id be annoyed to think that if i caught it, or my family caught it, we would have to isolate even if it wasnt covid, but im not actually even sure if the rules have changed with all the testing available now

Original poster

Zig27 · 28/04/2021 12:03

This person never logs themselves on the office spreadsheet to keep track of who is in so if a covid case was to occur on record it looks like this person has never been in the office so we could not effectively carry out track and trace.

OP posts:

ginnybag · 28/04/2021 12:03

If she's been tested negative, then she's done nothing wrong by coming in, but I can still why you'd be annoyed.

If you catch it from her, and develop symptoms, then you would have to isolate until you were also tested negative. That's a hassle, and potentially a financial loss if you couldn't work, that we can all live without.

The flip, though, is that we are going to have to start getting used to working with people again, and that's going to mean a resumption of catching ordinary colds and bugs. It's just not practical or possible to have people absent every time they have a sniffle.

dementedpixie · 28/04/2021 12:04

@Branleuse

Do people still have to isolate for a cough if they have a negative LFT?

They need a PCR not an LFT as LFT aren't that accurate

dementedpixie · 28/04/2021 12:06

LFT is used to catch asymptomatic cases
PCR is used to test those with symptoms
LFT isn't as sensitive and there is a higher rate of false negatives

Yummymummy2020 · 28/04/2021 12:09

It might be against the grain a bit here but I think it’s ridiculous they attended work in the current times if they could work from home anyway. Of course you were concerned, any sensible person would be. And I wouldn’t be taking a chance for a temp job either. Are there no policy’s in the place around this? If I went in coughing around the place no mask tested or not even as a negative result I would be lynched!!! I know many are vaccinated now but given you say they could have worked from home this was very selfish of them.

Shitfuckcommaetc · 28/04/2021 12:10

Christ, you'd love me as my hayfever makes me cough, sniff and huff ALOT

C152 · 28/04/2021 12:16

It sounds like your colleague felt you overreacted and that's why they were a bit standoffish. And if they have rules about how many people can be in the office and you were booked in, then left within 30minutes, I'd feel you inconvenienced me and the rest of the team too.

Comefromaway · 28/04/2021 12:20

@Branleuse

Do people still have to isolate for a cough if they have a negative LFT?

Yes, if they have a new continous cough they have to isolate unless they have a negative PCR test (lateral flow is not suitable for anyone with symptoms)

However you can't expect someone to isolate every time they get a cold (or more likely hayfever as I've been suffering this week, the pollen must be high)

TunMahla · 28/04/2021 12:27

I am worried about responses here so far. If that is what the majority of society think, we can expect a big next wave in the autumn :(. Of course you did the right thing OP and the colleague with a cold coming in is a selfish git.

TreeDice · 28/04/2021 12:30

Surely, if one good thing can come out of this it's people not feeling the need to satisfy some weird expectation to be in the office when ill and passing on germs. I don't want anyone's cold! People have different health concerns and if there is an option to work from home which there seems to be here, why would you go into the office coughing?!

Seeline · 28/04/2021 12:32

I thought everyone should still be working from home if they can....

WhiteChocTwix · 28/04/2021 12:37

You did the right thing OP. As a fellow temp I wouldn't have stayed either.

goldwallpaperisgross · 28/04/2021 12:43

What would concern me about people spreading a simple common cold (rather than Covid-19) in the current circumstances is that even if other people's health is not at risk, their freedoms are. If a child starts coughing etc at school, they will be sent home (if they are lucky, a negative test may allow them back), their parents may be sent home from work, they may not be able to go to any activities booked (haircuts, swimming lessons etc).

not that I object to these policies, but it does mean that utmost consideration for others is required in staying at home with any infectious cold, flu etc.

SpnBaby1967 · 28/04/2021 12:44

Crikey, I cough, sniff and splitter my way through May to september as I have severe hayfever for which I am on steroids for as it's so serious.

I often look like death warmed up and if it was a cold I'd probably call in sick, but clearly csnt do for 4+ months (as much as I'd like to)

I think yabu and a bit over dramatic.

Worriedly2 · 28/04/2021 12:45

I would have done the same. There was a dad and two kids on the next checkout to me in morrisons a couple of weeks ago. All 3 coughing, dad wiping his head, eyes red. I couldn't believe he was out the house. If I had been in an aisle or somewhere else I would've legged it away from them.

NavigatingAdolescence · 28/04/2021 12:52

@Branleuse

Do people still have to isolate for a cough if they have a negative LFT?

LFTs don’t work with symptomatic people.

Cough = PCR test and isolate.

NavigatingAdolescence · 28/04/2021 12:53

@Seeline

I thought everyone should still be working from home if they can....

Lots of reasons they may not be able to - it’s not just about whether the job allows it.

TunMahla · 28/04/2021 12:57

Any reasons not to WFH are void in the event of developing symptoms. Is that so bloody hard to understand?

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