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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:
Thewiseoneincognito · 18/08/2021 09:13

OP this type of idiocy is why we’ll be back in lockdown sooner rather than later.

A lot of the responses on here are typical MN, makes me wonder how many are just bots pushing the rhetoric that we’ll all be ‘fine’ with this level of incompetence in managing Covid.

Piggywaspushed · 18/08/2021 09:14

If she is genuinely taking a LFT every day then she must be concerned...

butterkistpop · 18/08/2021 09:17

Honestly, I think the most sensible thing to do would be not to go in and contact someone higher up/your union. This woman isn't even wearing a mask!
This will hopefully impact future policy that anybody coughing needs a PCR & LFTs shouldn't be used with symptoms.

crumpet · 18/08/2021 09:23

My son and I were away for a few days. Saw some friends at the end, one of which subsequently tested positive (via PCR), so we had to isolate at home. Both my son and I had awful coughs/colds - PCR test was negative.

Now that people are out and about more, the cold virus will be spreading.

Egghead68 · 18/08/2021 09:49

Your employer has a responsibility to keep you safe at work.

Maybe ask them how they are doing this.

movingadviceneeded · 18/08/2021 10:15

If she is testing negatively every single day, then she surely is negative for covid. Colds make people cough. Covid hasn't got rid of colds, throat infections, lung infections, the flu, and the multitude of other things that make people cough.

VaguelyInteresting · 18/08/2021 10:15

@theycallmeuser

Honestly? If it’s covid you’ve been exposed now. It’s really about whether you want to make a broader point about H&S at work, rather than exposure to this staff member.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/08/2021 10:21

@movingadviceneeded

If she is testing negatively every single day, then she surely is negative for covid. Colds make people cough. Covid hasn't got rid of colds, throat infections, lung infections, the flu, and the multitude of other things that make people cough.
No "surely" about it, LFTs are very unreliable, I did several negative ones but my PCR was positive, I'm still testing negative now on LFTs and I definitely have Covid!
NotPersephone · 18/08/2021 10:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

User135644 · 18/08/2021 10:47

@Thewiseoneincognito

OP this type of idiocy is why we’ll be back in lockdown sooner rather than later.

A lot of the responses on here are typical MN, makes me wonder how many are just bots pushing the rhetoric that we’ll all be ‘fine’ with this level of incompetence in managing Covid.

Going to be a nightmare when the schools go back.
FflosFfantastig · 18/08/2021 10:51

Coughing! In grass pollen season! Absolute disgrace Confused

WetBench · 18/08/2021 10:57

I’m so sorry OP, that at the moment really is covid until proven otherwise on a PCR. Could you phone test and trace yourself or public health and ask for advice?

GPs are struggling across the country with people not getting tests before phoning up as they know their cough and cold isn’t covid…. Even doctors can’t tell you that.

Surely everyone understands at the moment and cold symptom gets a test and then crack on if negative.

Wear a mask sitting at your desk if it makes you feel better

WetBench · 18/08/2021 10:59

@movingadviceneeded

If she is testing negatively every single day, then she surely is negative for covid. Colds make people cough. Covid hasn't got rid of colds, throat infections, lung infections, the flu, and the multitude of other things that make people cough.
Negative only on a Lateral flow which are less sensitive and only designed to pick up the asymptomatic superspreaders with high viral load, not the more sensitive PCR. If she’s happy to do a LFT then a PCR is the same process!

Surely we’re all happier doing more frequent PCR tests if it means kids with colds can still go to school and we can still go to work? That’s what learning to live with it means

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 18/08/2021 11:01

I’ve left the office. I’ve had to use a days holiday and tell them there has been a family emergency.

I know I should’ve just brought it up but I don’t want to be “that” person.

There’s 15 of us in my office and not one other person has raised a concern.

I feel like me raising it would’ve just looked like I was being irrational, especially since management have said she didn’t need to get a test.

OP posts:
Nikki305 · 18/08/2021 11:05

I think you need to contact HR/your Union/public health/someone high up in your company. If she has a cough she must get a PCR test. Everyone knows this by now

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/08/2021 11:07

Can you get a test yourself just for reassurance?

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 18/08/2021 11:38

@Waxonwaxoff0

Can you get a test yourself just for reassurance?
@Waxonwaxoff0

Will it pick up so soon?

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/08/2021 11:43

I don't know. My PCR was positive before my symptoms started, I tested positive last Saturday and could have contracted the virus anywhere between Monday and Friday.

Welshiefluff · 18/08/2021 12:30

You cannot shit yourself everytime somebody has a common cold. They have tested negative so thats that.

CloudPop · 18/08/2021 12:35

Companies really need to come up with a robust and well publicised approach to tackling this kind of thing. The fact is that delta starts out with cold symptoms. Surely it makes sense to ask people to take a PCR if they have these symptoms. I don't know a single person who has had an actual cold for months, and those that thought they did all proved to have covid. Not severely, nobody felt any worse than a bad cold, but covid nonetheless

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 18/08/2021 12:35

@Welshiefluff

You cannot shit yourself everytime somebody has a common cold. They have tested negative so thats that.
@Welshiefluff

They have tested negative on a lateral flow!
They need to have a PCR and they haven’t been for one!

OP posts:
KungFuPrincess · 18/08/2021 13:13

So whats your plan for the rest of the week? If its covid you're concerned about then its a 10 day isolation period.

I think you're overreacting to be honest, no one else in your office is making a fuss. Time to get on with life, and for the record ive known lots of people to have colds recently and all test negative.

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 18/08/2021 13:19

@KungFuPrincess

So whats your plan for the rest of the week? If its covid you're concerned about then its a 10 day isolation period.

I think you're overreacting to be honest, no one else in your office is making a fuss. Time to get on with life, and for the record ive known lots of people to have colds recently and all test negative.

I only work part time so I’m not in for the rest of the week.
OP posts:
movingadviceneeded · 18/08/2021 13:55

So how many negative lateral flows does it take to prove that you're covid negative?

Original poster
theycallmeuser · 18/08/2021 14:08

@movingadviceneeded

So how many negative lateral flows does it take to prove that you're covid negative?
Several people on here have said they’ve done more than one lateral flow which is negative but still get a positive pcr.

One pcr is sufficient. My colleague has only done lateral flows!!

OP posts: