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Original poster

What did your employer say if you got covid.

35 replies

whatisforteamum · 07/03/2022 09:12

I felt horrendous last night and put it down to overwork.
Did a test and I have coronavirus. Today is my day off and I'm sure I can't work a 12 hr day Tue and weds I'm off thur Fri.
I know we are extremely short staffed and the last time I was off was 2019.
I've just got a feeling my boss will not take it well.
Anyone else had the 5 days off.?

OP posts:
DespairingHomeowner · 07/03/2022 09:30

I think 5 days off for Covid is normal: my employer has told me to take what I need and it will be something like that. I feel weak & feverish so not able to work

Original poster
whatisforteamum · 07/03/2022 09:40

Despairinghomeowner I feel the same.
Hopefully we will feel better soon.
Take care.

OP posts:
BlueGreyApple · 07/03/2022 10:00

Mine said take care and to rest. I think that's what a decent employer would say.

I can work from home but not going to until I feel better. Am not feverish just super tired.

PrivateHall · 07/03/2022 11:09

Don't do it, rest up. Just contact them and say you are ringing in sick with covid symptoms, give them no choice. Take care Flowers

Scottishgirl85 · 07/03/2022 12:01

I didn't need time off, but I work (long hours - think 14 hour days!) from home.
If you're ill, you're ill. No need to pre-empt it. See it as any other illness and go back to work when you're feeling better (and negative if you're face-to-face)

etulosba · 07/03/2022 12:10

Five days? I had five weeks off then phased return.

My employer was supportive.

Zolla · 07/03/2022 12:47

Second time round, I had a week off as I felt awful & couldn’t work. My head felt like it might explode. My employer was totally fine, said to put my health first & rest up.

My first time having covid was like a mediocre cold & no excuse not to work, so I worked. From home obviously.

You are poorly. Any decent employer wouldn’t be cross with you. It’s not like you’ve taken loads of time off in the past!

TabithaTittlemouse · 07/03/2022 12:51

‘ What did your employer say if you got covid’

They said hope you feel better soon.

If you are unwell just tell them.

DespairingHomeowner · 07/03/2022 13:11

I think the expectation that it’s over for all of us in a couple of days is unrealistic…. I’m still positive and running a temperature 6 days after 1st symptoms

Mindymomo · 07/03/2022 13:21

I think most employers I know still don’t want positives cases in and for people to take 5 days off, to stop it spreading.

ifonly4 · 07/03/2022 14:37

If you're really not up to it don't even try.

DH tried wfh the first day and gave up in the afternoon. He was on call that week so that had to be sorted as well. He felt a bit more lively on day 6, so wfh days 6-9 but couldn't manage a full day. I was still positive on day 13, so couldn't go back.

I didn't have a negative lft until day 13, so neither of my work places would take me back before day 11, just as well as on day 10 I decided to spend the day sneezing and coughing.

Hope you're ok.

FujiIX · 07/03/2022 14:55

My manager was off all last week with Covid, I tested positive on Saturday
When I told her she wished me well and said not to come back till I felt well enough

notacooldad · 07/03/2022 14:57

Mine said "oh no, I hope you dont feel too bad" i was told to take sure I had plenty of rest.
No pressure, just kindness.

WallaceinAnderland · 07/03/2022 15:01

If you're too ill to work, you're too ill to work. Covid or otherwise. It doesn't really matter what your employer says, you can self certify up to a week.

Musicaltheatremum · 07/03/2022 16:25

I think this is the danger of saying no isolation now. They forget that some people feel lousy with covid. I'm day 4 and felt ok up until lunch time but then got a headache and my temperature went back up. I WFH this morning (I'm a GP) but crashed out this afternoon fortunately it was just a meeting and administration I was doing. I'm working again tomorrow and Wednesday morning (in Scotland so still isolating) and am glad I have some time back owing at the end of the week so I can recover.

Just because you CAN go back to work or WFH doesn't mean we SHOULD

DetailMouse · 07/03/2022 16:31

Ive got 4 staff off ith it ATM. One doesn't have his vaccinations and yes, there's some internal judgement, but what I'm saying is get well soon, follow guidance, wfh if you're well enough, but look after yourself and get well if you're not.

Original poster
whatisforteamum · 07/03/2022 17:04

Thank you all and sorry you are suffering.
I work a physical and stressful job where I normally do 20,000 steps or more.
Today I slept and ache all over even though I had all my jabs.
We're never off sick but on this occasion I will have to use a couple of days holiday.
I agree some people I know have felt fine others dreadful so removing the isolation makes it harder.

OP posts:
Wellbythebloodyhell · 07/03/2022 17:07

You've stated you don't feel well enough to work surely that is sufficient enough for your employer to accept you wont be coming in regardless of the actual illness

sillysmiles · 07/03/2022 17:07

Was off two weeks ago with covid. Line manager's response was I hope you feel better soon. HR's response was - fill in these form and mind yourself.

Frosty1000 · 07/03/2022 17:09

Holiday? That's madness. If you are ill, you're ill and any decent employer has a sickness policy.

Original poster
whatisforteamum · 08/03/2022 12:37

I got a response.Sorry you are ill hope you feel better soon I'm sure you know you don't need to adhere to the 5 day rule! Let us know when u can come back.
Nice.
I've slept most of 2 days now and feel terrible let alone using my holiday as dh is redundant.
Seems they are happy for me to do a 60 hr week short staffed but not supportive of me as a human.

OP posts:
StrawberryLollipops · 08/03/2022 12:58

Take what you need. If you are ill, there's nothing much they can do about it.
And you shouldn't be taking annual leave. Just put in sick days and work on that assumption.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 08/03/2022 17:23

@whatisforteamum

I got a response.Sorry you are ill hope you feel better soon I'm sure you know you don't need to adhere to the 5 day rule! Let us know when u can come back. Nice. I've slept most of 2 days now and feel terrible let alone using my holiday as dh is redundant. Seems they are happy for me to do a 60 hr week short staffed but not supportive of me as a human.
I'd say that was an OK response, they haven't insisted you come back at all just made you aware you don't have to stay off if you don't want to and keep in touch about your return. They've wished you well in your recovery. What other kind of response was you expecting?
Cocolapew · 08/03/2022 17:28

Where I work we have to take 10 days off still, its covid pay and doesn't come out of our sick days allowance. After 10 days its a drs note if you are still unwell.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 08/03/2022 17:29

They cant make you take AL instead of sick leave, obviously you can make that choice to do so if you don't get paid sick leave but they cant insist on it. I'm failing to see how your employer has been unsupportive here.