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Original poster

How many days did you take off work due to Covid?

34 replies

Eurydice84 · 27/03/2022 20:54

Feeling a bit guilty, DH and DD (aged 2) tested positive for Covid last week. Tried to work from home, very badly with a toddler - I also had a breast biopsy last Wednesday so not much got done. I have also just tested positive for Covid now. From what I saw with DH, I am expecting to be quite ill at least for a few days with Covid. Spoke with my manager and she is very understanding, but I feel so guilty. Blush Curious to know if workplaces are still quite understanding with Covid or not, now the rules have been relaxed. Confused

OP posts:
BlubFestival · 27/03/2022 20:58

People seem to have different experiences with how ill they are and of course depends on your job. As an idea both DH and I have office jobs, currently able to work from home. I tested positive Friday after work. Tried to work on Monday, couldn't think straight and off for rest of week. DH similar but managed a full day on Monday then couldn't get out of bed by Tuesday. Both of us back at work the following week. Both employers perfectly understanding.

Zonder · 27/03/2022 21:00

I had a week off. I was exhausted and couldn't have done anything all week. I was genuinely ill and would not have been impressed if my workplace had expected me to work. Go with how you feel.

Lindy2 · 27/03/2022 21:00

It's a nasty virus and it sounds like you've had a very rough week already.

Don't feel guilty for resting and not working. That's the best way to recover.

I work from home but where 2 family members work their employers are still requesting a negative lateral flow test before returning to work.

HorribleHerstory · 27/03/2022 21:02

None, I was quite unwell but I can’t take days off. It was probably the worst illness I’ve had in 3-4 years, so not terrible but definitely noteworthy.

I hope it is mild for you OP and you recover from your biopsy too, don’t underestimate that.

Fridafever · 27/03/2022 21:04

Varies massively. Most people I work with had one - three days off. I was off for four days with it last week and hopefully wfh tomorrow. I felt much worse than was expecting, 100% could not have worked. High fever, in bed. My elderly mum just had a runny nose!

ChaToilLeam · 27/03/2022 21:05

My doc signed me off for 2 weeks. The first week I was flat out sleeping, the second week a bit better but still fuzzy headed and unwell. 3rd week I was back but tbh I was completely unproductive, just could not concentrate and was still coughing all the time. Don’t feel guilty about taking the time you need to get well.

JustBkind · 27/03/2022 21:06

The standard in school environment is 10 days isolation and test from day 5, if you get two negative tests on two consecutive days after day 5, you can return to work. If not, the full 10 days must be taken. This is the advice on the government website still, only now it’s not mandatory but a lot of employers are still following it to ensure the whole work force aren’t off at once. Employees aren’t expected to work from home but can do if they feel well enough.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 27/03/2022 21:06

I would have taken one day, but it coincided with my non-working day so I didn't need to.

AreWeThereYetMummy · 27/03/2022 21:07

Zero BUT I felt awful. If I had a different job I'd have taken a week off. I wfh but if I'd had to leave the house I just wouldn't have been able to.

MonkeyPuddle · 27/03/2022 21:09

I took 11 days off, I go back tomorrow. I am still very breathless, but I can manage at work if I take it a bit easy and we are very short staffed. Hey ho.

Quornflakegirl · 27/03/2022 21:11

Me and dc (both 9) had it last week. I work from home, self employed and carried on working despite feeling rough. It was worse entertaining 2 active children who were stuck at home while trying to work.

niceupthedanceagain · 27/03/2022 21:12

I think 8 or 9 days. I was really ill but I also didn't want to rush back and end up having a relapse.

WhoWants2Know · 27/03/2022 21:12

I was lucky in that I caught it during a part of my working pattern where I only had to take one day off, even though I was in bed for 4 days. I managed to work from home for the following 5 days, but I don't think I would have coped with a drive to work and being in the office.

Golded · 27/03/2022 21:13

3 weeks for me. First two weeks I was pretty much bed ridden. Third week to recover. Hope you feel better soon.

hupfpferd · 27/03/2022 21:13

None. I can't take time off. If I could have I would have taken 4 or 5.

I worked from home throughout but my voice pretty much went so it was a struggle

Jules912 · 27/03/2022 21:14

I took a week. I have a desk job I can do from home or I would've needed longer as I'm now on day 15 and still ache all over which is definitely made worse by any physical activity.

PeachesToday · 27/03/2022 21:15

I took Weds-Fri off and will see how I am this week. I have a team that I always have to tell to take sick days when they really are too sick to work and thought I should set the example.

I realise I’m in a privileged position to choose health over work.

TheKeatingFive · 27/03/2022 21:16

None. I was able to wfh though.

It would have been difficult to take time off as we're very deadline driven. But I didn't need any time off, my case was very mild.

LynetteScavo · 27/03/2022 21:21

I was off Monday- Friday. I needed 8 days in bed.

MsAwesomeDragon · 27/03/2022 21:26

I had 2 weeks off work. That was back in September though, so it was probably the Delta variant and it was before my booster but I'd had 2 jabs. I felt truly awful for most of that time, not eating, mostly sleeping all the time. I didn't even feel well enough to watch TV.

Runnerduck34 · 27/03/2022 22:41

I've got covid atm, had last week off, still positive and today tried to get back to normal and now feel worse than ever so concerned about going back this week, I can wfh but it's full on and i won't be able to take it easy and it's an 8 hour day so thinking of asking GP to sign me off but that feels like skiving even though right now I feel awful.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/03/2022 23:08

I have covid just now. I was off all last week and still feel really rough. Coincidentally I have a GP call tomorrow for a routine prescription review - booked weeks ago - so if I am as bad then I will ask him to sign me off.

It’s difficult when it seems to vary so much with some people being totally fine with it, and I worry it will look like I am taking the piss. I was last off sick in 2019 so it’s not like I am a frequent flier.

feeona123 · 27/03/2022 23:16

I worked Monday but didn’t actually do much work as I was feeling worse and worse throughout the day, then had Tues-Fri off. Back to work (at home) tomorrow but still not feeling 100% better.

Karmakamelion · 27/03/2022 23:19

None but I wfh throughout but was exhausted and wish I had

2Rebecca · 27/03/2022 23:22

Scotland we still have to stay off until day 7 if neg LF days 6and 7 or until day 10 if LF stays pos even if minimal symptoms

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