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Original poster

Colleague has come into work sick…

195 replies

theycallmeuser · 17/08/2021 12:57

My colleague came in to work yesterday absolutely full of cold, coughing and sneezing.

She’s again come in today. She says she’s done lateral flows and they are negative!!

Would I be unreasonable to go home?!

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 17/08/2021 12:58

No. Absolutely not. But your employer might think differently. There will be plenty of posters telling you that you are overreacting but this person needs a PCR test.

Northernsoullover · 17/08/2021 12:59

Have you raised this with your manager?

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 17/08/2021 13:00

@Northernsoullover

Have you raised this with your manager?
@Northernsoullover

Yes I have. They said she is following the government guidelines as she doesn’t have any Covid symptoms, she’s just got a cold.

But she’s coughing!! 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
BerylBreville · 17/08/2021 13:02

That doesn't sound good. My Ds had a sore throat for 4 days before finally testing positive on LFT. Have they done a PCR?

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 17/08/2021 13:03

@BerylBreville

That doesn't sound good. My Ds had a sore throat for 4 days before finally testing positive on LFT. Have they done a PCR?
@BerylBreville

No. They haven’t done a PcR. Just lateral flows.

OP posts:
nancy75 · 17/08/2021 13:05

I had really hoped that all this would have put an end to people turning up to work ill & germ spreading.
Op can you work from home?

dontyouworrydontyouworrynow · 17/08/2021 13:07

@nancy75

I had really hoped that all this would have put an end to people turning up to work ill & germ spreading. Op can you work from home?
You would think people would be more considerate these days wouldn't you.
NotPersephone · 17/08/2021 13:07

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

TheSkatesOfCoachBombay · 17/08/2021 13:09

Nothing you can do OP, she/he doesn't have the "main covid symptoms" that require a PCR they have taken lateral flows which are negative, therefore he/she can come to work.

As we move in to the winter months this will happen. Businesses and employees can't take the financial hit impact any longer.

Blame low SSP payments and poor government advice, this isn't the employees fault. They have to earn their wages. He/She was probably secretly hoping for a positive as we all know working unwell is just horrific, but our country doesn't support them.

Theunamedcat · 17/08/2021 13:10

@NotPersephone

I’m currently in work with a cold - I think you’re being a tad UR.

Colds and coughs go together - neither have gone away. If she (like me) is repeatedly testing negative using LFT, and doesn’t have any of the symptoms required for a PCR test (temp, continuous cough, lost sense of taste/smell) then it’s quite likely she just has a common or garden upper respiratory tract infection!

Unless there’s a massive backstory and you are immunocompromised, CEV, pregnant etc then - in the kindest possible way - I think you need to woman up a bit. There is no need to take time off sick with a cold!

She has a new continuous cough that IS a symptom and they need to PCR test for that
CorrBlimeyGG · 17/08/2021 13:10

I had really hoped that all this would have put an end to people turning up to work ill & germ spreading.

People still have bills to pay. Covid has made work more essential for many, not less.

OP, the government need to update (and publicise) the symptoms of the delta variant. There's been so much emphasis on getting people back to work, they're exacerbating the issue. In the meantime, do whatever you can to protect yourself.

CorrBlimeyGG · 17/08/2021 13:12

If she (like me) is repeatedly testing negative using LFT

LFTs are not recommended for symptomatic testing.

newnortherner111 · 17/08/2021 13:13

How far away can you be from your colleague? Wear a face covering when going to the kitchen, toilet etc?

Tyjaro75 · 17/08/2021 13:13

OP, I'm with you on this and you aren't overreacting. I had exactly the same symptoms and came back with negative lateral flow test. I knew I didn't feel right though and took a pcr test which came back positive. I then spent over a week wiped out in bed from covid. I'm still not right now. Mid 40s, healthy and double jabbed.
The problem is that they haven't updated the main symptoms on the government website so technically that person isn't showing the original symptoms ( apart from a cough). But we all know the delta variant in double jabbed people does present more like a cold to start with.
I would speak to your manager ASAP. They have a duty of care to you.

Saidtoomuch · 17/08/2021 13:15

If any of our staff turn up with a cold or cough then we send them for a PCR and tell them to come in once they have recieved their negative test. I'm surprised all companies don't do this now as standard practice, its much better /cheaper than the whole workforce potentially coming down with Covid.

PlanetTeaTime · 17/08/2021 13:15

Not to be unkind but I think so to be honest. Although I don't know your circumstances, have you had the vaccine?

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 17/08/2021 13:16

Unless there’s a massive backstory and you are immunocompromised, CEV, pregnant etc

I wouldn't call being CEV, pregnant or immunocompromised a "massive backstory". It's quite common. Willing to bet a high proportion of workplaces have at least some workers fitting those categories.

fuzzymoomin · 17/08/2021 13:17

I genuinely don't believe people home-testing can be relied on to do the test properly, and I include myself in that, I really struggled to scrape long enough without gagging so I don't trust negative results to be accurate.
If she's coughing, even if only with a cold, she is coughing germs around your workplace. The last thing you want after a year of lockdown is a nasty cold spreading around the workforce. If your work can be done remotely she should work at home while recovering, unless she is too sick then she should take sick leave.
It's unreasonable to bring germs to the workplace!

glitterelf · 17/08/2021 13:19

YANBU It's amazing how many people think that LFT replace a PCR when people have one of the main symptoms.

illuyankas · 17/08/2021 13:19

This was going to happen anyway. So many posters were saying they don't get tested because they don't have classic covid symptoms MN alone if they have cold symptoms.
Now only thing you can do is take precautions yourself not to get infected.

FeatheredHope · 17/08/2021 13:24

Nothing you can do OP, she/he doesn't have the "main covid symptoms" that require a PCR

But she does. She has a cough.

OP I would feel exactly the same as you.

NotPersephone · 17/08/2021 13:25

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

greenlynx · 17/08/2021 13:29

I’m a bit torn on this one. I was sneezing a lot the day before yesterday and yesterday woke up with a bit of feeling of sore throat. We were out a few days ago celebrating DD’s GSCE results so I decided to do LFT, it’s negative. I didn’t feel bad or tired or anything like this but we’ve got a few events this week so I just wanted to be on a cautious side. So I would expect someone with cold symptoms to do at least LFT and maybe PCR if the symptoms are quite severe but colds still exist.

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 17/08/2021 13:29

Her cough is one an hour or so. Isn’t that continuous?!

OP posts:
ufucoffee · 17/08/2021 13:30

@theycallmeuser

Her cough is one an hour or so. Isn’t that continuous?!
No