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Original poster

To go to work with a positive test

165 replies

Pleaseletmesleepin · 13/03/2022 11:09

I am a teacher in a secondary school and the Head is very strict about attendance and the work piles up very quickly if you miss any time at all . Today I woke up with a sore throat and a cough . Did a test and it is positive. Technically I feel well enough to work and I am scared to phone in sick but it feels wrong to be so close to all of the pupils . Please help me with the right thing to do .

OP posts:
Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 12:02

No, you can't go.

I know that everyone will probably get Omicron soon and it will go through the whole population. I don't think spreading it can be prevented as it is just extremely contagious and even people I know who were super careful and wore masks at work and in public everywhere have caught it.

But you know for sure that you have it so going out with it is just irresponsible. It will spread anyway but by going out knowing you have it you are responsible which you wouldn't be if you didn't know or your test was false-negative.

So if you want to be a decent person you simply can't go out. Not to your work, not to the supermarket - not anywhere until the test is negative.

If your boss has a problem with this tell him/her that you are not sure if it's okay and you will call a government hotline to get official information about it. She will say "okay, okay stay home" straight away. What she is doing is not legal.

Butchyrestingface · 13/03/2022 12:02

I'm struggling to understand how this can even be a genuine question - from a teacher of children to mothers on a parenting forum.

Blogblogblogblog · 13/03/2022 12:03

In my child’s class there is one with an immune condition and one who’s teenage sibling has cancer and is on chemo. One of the parents has cancer and is on chemo. That’s before we get to grandparents.
All these children are having to go in despite anxieties of what will happen to them or their loved ones if they catch covid. I think their anxieties trump yours.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 13/03/2022 12:04

@Snowbell99

It’s not illegal!

unethical yes but not illegal.

swallowedAfly · 13/03/2022 12:04

This would be very clear at my school - I'd be texting the absence mobile now (manned by HR and cover manager) saying, "Just to give you plenty of warning I've tested positive on an lft I'm afraid".

I would of course not be going to school and they wouldn't want me to. Even if they didn't give a shit about safeguarding staff, children and their families they would care about the lashback from parents if they found out their kids were being taught by infected teachers.

We have very clear guidance.

IggysPop · 13/03/2022 12:06

It is really weird that your school hasn’t issued clear guidance about this. This is expected in terms for staff and pupils.

I would not go in, no. I would WFH if well enough though - always plenty to do!

LividLaVidaLoca · 13/03/2022 12:07

Fucksake.

Don’t “ask her opinion”. Why be so unassertive?

“I have covid confirmed. Here is my test. I feel very unwell and don’t expect to be in for at least a week. I’ll let you know if I feel well enough to return next week”.

And yes, I’m a teacher. And I’ve had covid. You’ll feel worse before you get better.

Groovee · 13/03/2022 12:08

You should be off tomorrow.

Our school has been hit hard by Covid since January. But any staff were to be off and stay off.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 13/03/2022 12:09

I tested positive the day before bloody half term so didn’t even got a day off!!!!!! Same happened at Xmas!

Hellorhighwater · 13/03/2022 12:09

@Pleaseletmesleepin

She hasn’t issued any guidance. I am genuinely scared of the backlash of not going in .
Message or phone your head (who sounds terrible) and ask her what she wants you to do. It’s her problem.
MrsLargeEmbodied · 13/03/2022 12:11

you must have had guidance,
unless you forgot it?

WhatAHexIGotInto · 13/03/2022 12:13

How is this even a question? Of course you shouldn't go in. I'm a cover manager and had 4 off with covid last week, 3 of them will not be in tomorrow and I've had 2 other texts this morning from other positive teachers. It's an absolute bloody nightmare as I've somehow got to organise covering the lessons and getting supply is not easy at the moment but no one expects them in.

Your Head must have had some kind of guidance so you need to ask what that is. You mustn't go in, I can't believe you would even contemplate it.

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 12:15

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Snowbell99

It’s not illegal!

unethical yes but not illegal.[/quote]
Encouraging people to come into work with a positive Covid test despite them wanting to stay at home is legal? I am pretty sure you could report that and the school would be fined. Not that I would, I would just say "I am sick I'll stay home" and stand by it.

Sswhinesthebest · 13/03/2022 12:15

She’s irresponsible if she expects you in.

Branleuse · 13/03/2022 12:16

If there is any backlash because you dont go in due to having covid, I imagine that wouldnt go down well with your union or a court of law

Unmarried2022 · 13/03/2022 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn - posted on wrong thread.

rc22 · 13/03/2022 12:18

Ask her. Say I've tested positive for covid but feel well enough to work. What would you like me to do?

Unmarried2022 · 13/03/2022 12:19

Sorry my above post was intended for another thread, not sure what happened. I've asked for it to be deleted.

Butchyrestingface · 13/03/2022 12:19

@Unmarried2022

I'm just sick of people lording it over me, that they're somehow better than me because they get marriage proposals and I never have, implying or outright saying I'm stuck with someone who doesn't love me enough etc, it's really unkind.

I never do this to people. I paid off my mortgage years ago but never tell anyone in RL because it's not nice to brag, and other people haven't been as lucky as me. I don't show off about having a good job or put people down who earn less. I have a friend who's been unemployed and on benefits for years. Whilst I might think that there's possibly more she could do to get a job, I certainly wouldn't tell her that, or try and make her feel inferior by talking at length about my job/ career. I play down every one of my achievements and always have. I don't even talk about my children much because I'm aware not everyone has children and I don't want to be rubbing my parent statue in people's faces.

Wrong thread?

The one you want to be on is ----> way.

AAT65 · 13/03/2022 12:19

@OnceuponaRainbow18

I tested positive the day before bloody half term so didn’t even got a day off!!!!!! Same happened at Xmas!
I don't know where you teach but here in Scotland you would accrue some extra holiday time if sick during school holidays. It is not 1 for 1 think maybe 2 days in 5. Also school holidays are not all designated teacher holidays. We have 40 days of holiday. The rest are deemed school closure. But back to the UP no way are we expected in with a positive lateral flow.
CaptainMyCaptain · 13/03/2022 12:21

@Unmarried2022

I'm just sick of people lording it over me, that they're somehow better than me because they get marriage proposals and I never have, implying or outright saying I'm stuck with someone who doesn't love me enough etc, it's really unkind.

I never do this to people. I paid off my mortgage years ago but never tell anyone in RL because it's not nice to brag, and other people haven't been as lucky as me. I don't show off about having a good job or put people down who earn less. I have a friend who's been unemployed and on benefits for years. Whilst I might think that there's possibly more she could do to get a job, I certainly wouldn't tell her that, or try and make her feel inferior by talking at length about my job/ career. I play down every one of my achievements and always have. I don't even talk about my children much because I'm aware not everyone has children and I don't want to be rubbing my parent statue in people's faces.

Wrong thread?
MrsR87 · 13/03/2022 12:21

Secondary teacher here. Once the government changed the rules, our school issued guidelines (in line with the LA) that the staying off and testing on days 5 and 6 still stands and that without a negative test we cannot return to work until day 10.

Mistressiggi · 13/03/2022 12:22

AAT65 that is true, but as it happens the last holidays (Feb) are one of the ones viewed as school closure so you wouldn't have got any time back for that in Scotland. (Actually, these dates might be council by council so worth checking for anyone reading this!)

mrsbitaly · 13/03/2022 12:24

I wouldn't even ask their opinion you really shouldn't go in and it would be wrong if they tell you too. If parents got wind of it they are likely to be furious

spanieleyes · 13/03/2022 12:27

We have more covid cases now, amongst pupils and staff, than ever. Our local authority guidance is you isolate until at least days 5 and 6 are negative, and 10 days if still positive. There is NO WAY we would be expected to go against guidance!