People coming in to work with new coughs

[Whathefisgoingon]

Someone at my workplace had to go home yesterday as they felt unwell and had a bad cough.

Today they are in like nothing has happened, no PCR test has been done, just lateral flows.

This has happened a few times.

Where do I stand? I don’t feel comfortable with it.

[quote Whathefisgoingon]@MRex

A senior member of staff has said they haven’t had a PCR because they’re asthmatic so that’s the reason they were unwell yesterday.

The person that sits directly opposite this person is currently off work as they’ve been asked to self isolate due to close contact with a confirmed case.[/quote]
Don't ignore it if you think it's got through on a loophole. Ask HR for a private chat, explain your concerns that someone was ill including a cough but it was written off as asthma even though on the afternoon that seemingly hadn't been what they thought. You know the policy about calling in sick and wonder if this case fell through the net because of being an afternoon off, so you're alerting them. They should follow up. If not then report to local authority public health team. Or you can report it to them anyway, but personally I'd rather let HR have a chance to sort this out given that their main policy is fine.

OP makes a clear point about why she has concerns. Whether or not people agree with her point is one thing, people piling on and saying it's just because she wants to wfh and is using covid as an excuse despite her being back in the office for a while is bizarre! Some employers don't give a shit - ones that have made everyone go back against guidance don't sound like they're the sort of company that do give much of a shit! My baby was v young in the first lockdown and I was pretty scared - most babies have spent most of their time with parents, if you're lucky enough to find a baby group with space, you are sat on a mat with a mask in a ventilated room 2m away from others - it is shit. However, it also means that the true impact of covid on babies could be masked by them having been so isolated. I would not be happy chancing covid with a baby either. OP is vaccinated, she can still catch and pass it on to her baby...who isn't vaccinated.

Plenty of babies have been in households where parents, grandparents, siblings have had coronavirus. The data shows that they are not high risk.

But yes, most parents are anxious about babies getting ill and i’m sure it’s even more difficult for parents with babies during lockdown who aren’t used to being out and about with others. It doesn’t mean the anxiety is warranted though.

@osbertthesyrianhamster
@Longestfewdaysupcoming

You have both nailed it.

OP is getting the same shit on here that school staff got last year.

"OP is getting the same shit on here that school staff got last year."

Absolutely bizarre and overly emotive responses to average rational and straightforward question. The guidance around something like this is very clear and obvious.

Hilarious as well that so many are on about how OP must have some sort of irrational anxiety -- the only reason I can think of for over the top reaction such as those seen here is that these people's mental health has been so affected by the trauma of the pandemic that their coping mechanism is to deny the problem all together.

*a very rational and straightforward question

I don't think there is an issue at raising with management/hr in case it slipped through the cracks as you suggested. but be aware that they maybe know more about why he's back at work than you do, and they won't be able to share the details.

Yes exactly that. The OP is being gaslighted with the intention of making her believe she has some irrational health anxiety. Its precisely what was done to teachers last year, even down to being told to quit if she can't cope with it.

The internet has become a vile place to be since Covid, and Mumsnet is no exception.

@LivinLaVidaLoki

So they are asthmatic? Probably the reason they have a cough.

This could definitely be the case. I also have asthma and have to clear my throat an awful lot of times and I know that there are cough versions of asthma. My asthma has made me prone to ling infections, I've had about a million!

The thing is, if I cough from asthma these days, I explain every single time 'please don't worry, this is my asthma and I always cough exactly like this from asthma' to put people's minds at rest.

being scared of someone with a new cough is logical and quite frankly wise right now!

lung infections, obviously, not ling infections

@Whathefisgoingon

Thanks all. I don’t think I’m going to take it further with HR this time, it feels like me against the company since they don’t care and it’s a losing battle.

It’s just a matter of time until half of the office is having to isolate and perhaps then they’ll learn their lesson.

Why do you think your company is irresponsible, it's only guidance not law they are perfectly entitled to decide all workforce back in. In 17 days all restrictions will be removed, your arguements are purely because you aren't getting your way. How did you survive pre covid with other colds and viruses that do the rounds? You do know covid is here for good,yet restrictions are soon to be gone for good You need to stop living in fear and start living your life

and???? For goodness sake get a grip.

When will people learn that coughing can be a sign of an asthma attack. That is probably why he went home. Trust me, they are exhausting and draining and if they go on and the meds don't ease it then you are meant to rest and seek medical advice.

Whoever told you they went home due to asthma needs sacking for breach of gdpr and you need to calm the hell down and realise that there is a world of difference between asthma and bloody covid

@l2b2

Not sure why you're being attacked OP. The person with the new cough should be booking a symptomatic PCR test and isolating in the interim whilst waiting for the results.

This.

A new cough has very clear guidelines attached to it.

I hate all this PA responding to any posts re covid with things such as "if your scared of germs then stay indoors".

"Germs" haven't killed 150k people in less than 18 months. 🙄

People need to act sensibly.

A woman I know tried to take issue with a colleague who had 'just hayfever' and that person 'jokingly' coughed near her. I really am not lying here, people are sick in the head. Well, this woman actually was positive and this person I know is now isolating. They work in a school so, you can guess the rest. If that woman took her symptoms a bit seriously, only a few would have had to isolate, instead of the year groups and staff.

@Terminallysleepdeprived

When will people learn that coughing can be a sign of an asthma attack. That is probably why he went home. Trust me, they are exhausting and draining and if they go on and the meds don't ease it then you are meant to rest and seek medical advice.

Whoever told you they went home due to asthma needs sacking for breach of gdpr and you need to calm the hell down and realise that there is a world of difference between asthma and bloody covid

Yes. But that doesn’t negate the need for a PCR test before returning though.

It’s the same thing that’s happened to me, it’s the pollen at the moment. There’s no need to keep doing it, but you should get at least 1 at the start even if you ‘know’ what it is.

@Terminallysleepdeprived

When will people learn that it doesn't matter why you think you have a cough, if you have a cough the guidance is self-isolate until you have a negative PCR.

It seems like you need to calm down! These are just the rules at the moment, it's nothing to get upset or offended over, surely.

@l2b2

Not sure why you're being attacked OP. The person with the new cough should be booking a symptomatic PCR test and isolating in the interim whilst waiting for the results.

Not every cough needs testing. And how do you know this person hasn't had a PCR test, but she doesn't feel like she has to wear a badge stating it.

@21Bee

Having asthma, I know full well when I have a cough from asthma and one from something else. Mines particularly bad at the moment as a result of hay fever. Presumably the colleague went home, took appropriate treatment and has come in today now he feels well. There is no way I’ll be isolating every time I cough from asthma to make other people feel better.

This! I'm sure some people forget that coughs existed before covid! I've had a cough on and off my whole life I'd never be out the door If I was testing and isolating every time I had one. And the thing people are forgetting here is the symptom states a NEW cough, for many athsmatics it's a continuation of the cough they always have. People know their own bodies, they know what's the norm for them, it's incredibly rude of others to assume they know better. You wouldn't dream of telling a diabetic you know their blood sugar levels than they do , don't do the same with athsmatics. Do you think people with Athsma like coughing all the time? Cos let me tell you we don't it's awful, it's draining,it's sometimes embarrassing and that was pre covid, now we are treated like lepers if a coughing fit comes over us, WE CANT HELP IT! I've been coughing for the past 35 years and will probably cough for the next 35 years, I'm not staying home just to placate someone else's fears or assumptions about my medical condition

[quote Whatshouldicallme]@Terminallysleepdeprived

When will people learn that it doesn't matter why you think you have a cough, if you have a cough the guidance is self-isolate until you have a negative PCR.

It seems like you need to calm down! These are just the rules at the moment, it's nothing to get upset or offended over, surely.[/quote]
The guidance is a new cough though.

Oh ffs, the guidance is new and continuous not a new brief cough or a persistent asthma cough. People who have asthma know their disease and what is normal for them and not.

People need to get a bloody grip

Hmmm.

It’s tricky.

On the one hand, I agree with you re: new coughs needing to be tested.

On the other I have an asthmatic child who seemingly is triggered by high pollen counts- he coughs and clears his throat/snorts a lot at the moment. (he’s only 4)
I’ve isolated and PCR tested the kid more times since Christmas (first for winter bugs then pollen) than I can count. Actually I’ve just checked my app- 12. That’s twice a month.

Sometimes he has periods of rather less cough for a couple of days. Then it comes back, when the pollen is high. Should I be isolating and testing him EVERY time?! Should I be pulling him out of nursery, missing work, reducing my income (I’m a lone parent) and potentially losing my job? Because that’s ultimately where I would end up. I’m already on thin ice as it is.

Similarly your asthmatic colleague - they will know their asthma cough, and what it feels like. The fact that there is a pandemic, doesn’t change their underlying condition. I think this ultimately comes down to trust. Sometimes you have to trust that people will do the right thing and use sensible judgement- that’s the only way out of the pandemic socially. It can’t be legislation led. It will have to be society setting some broad expectations and “rules” for itself. This “dilemma” and others like it, is part of that wider process, I think.

Is it the same person that has had a cough and then been back in?