Working with Covid

[MrsHench]

Is it unreasonable to be asked by your employer to come into work when you're covid positive and still having symptoms?

No. Unless you’re too ill to work.

Are you too ill to work?

I’m surprised you’re even testing!
it’s just a run of the mill illness now. If you feel ill and need bed rest then you need to be off but we are well past the days of isolating because a test shows a line

Can you work?

Depends.

Are you well enough to be in work? If so, perhaps not. If not, then yes, it's unreasonable.

Are you able to work at all / work effectively from home? If so, it seems daft that your employer would want you in spreading illnesses. If not, then perhaps that's more understandable.

But do you have colleagues who are known to be particularly vulnerable to covid? If so, yes, as they would be knowingly putting that employee at risk. If not, and if you can't work (effectively) from home, then perhaps not.

So, if you're well enough to be in, can't work from home, and don't have vulnerable colleagues / customers, it's hard to make a case that it's unreasonable.

Depends on the symptoms. I've just had covid and it was fairly unpleasant. I don't think you should have to work if you have a fever or crushing fatigue, etc., but if it's just the residual cough/sore throat and it can be managed by painkillers, that's fair enough.

These type of comments annoy me. Many of us still test. It's not a run of a mill illness for a lot of people. My previously fit and healthy 45 year old friend is still in a wheelchair with long covid, two years after getting it. Shes lost her job and all quality of life. My mum ended up in hospital with covid last year, delirious and incontinent for weeks. Neither have ever had this reaction to a run of the mill cold.
So yes, I'll continue to test because I want to protect others.

I agree but wish we could go back in time and show this thread to people in 2020 who accused us of murdering old people and bringing the NHS to its knees if there was even a hint of stepping foot outside of your house with Covid.

I completely agree. On every thread related to Covid, these comments infuriate me. It is unbelievable to me that people on some threads are still saying ‘ it is only a cold’ and ‘why are you testing?’. I can only conclude that those people did not lose someone due to Covid, or experience Long Covid, or have a health vulnerability.

Current policy at work is you come in if you feel well enough, with any illness really. Not allowed in with a fever or d&v but otherwise ok. Wear a mask if you're coughing/sneezing.

Personally have never felt well enough to work when I've had it so immaterial really!

@MrsHench are you saying your work are asking you to go in when you're unwell?

If your too unwell to work don't go , if you can go in that's fine , you decide

It is not a run of the mill for everyone, that's why some of us chose to test if we are coming into contact with someone vulnerable. You are supposed to stay at home if u are too unwell but go in if you are well enough. Short sighted as it might go around ur colleagues.

First time I had it I didn't know it was my boss who phoned ( go get tested cause 9 of your group are positive) I work with adults who have learning disabilities and they didn't know and their families most were conspiracy theorists. Second time I tested negative before going to work I was behind a barrier and got more ill as the day went on when I tested at night boom straight to positive I was so unwell. I would be so angry if someone passed any illness to me . Was your hands often and stay away from others if you can

If your boss wants you in and you're able, you go in. If you're too ill to work then it's normal sickness procedure really.

I'm pissed off when a colleague comes into work with 'just' a heavy cold and passes it to everyone, it ultimately ends up with several other staff being off sick so it's counterproductive. In my household we've recently had a really nasty virus that I think was covid and it wiped us out for several weeks even after the initial period of feeling totally crap. Therefore I definitely wouldn't be happy if someone knowingly brought covid into the workplace. Saying that our workplace policy is that everyone carries on as usual if they are able to despite testing positive.

Agree with both these. I test if I have any symptoms, and because when I had Covid it took me a long time to recover, and I don’t want to pass that on.
DH had Covid a few months ago, he wasn’t terribly unwell, no fever, but he wa exhausted for weeks afterwards with really bad brain fog. He kept falling asleep in the daytime. It took 6-8 weeks for him to be almost normal and he is 50, v fit, healthy and thin.

Depends if you are too ill to work, doesn't matter what illness then you shoukdn't be working.
If you feel fine and could work then you should be in work

Yes it's unreasonable. Unreasonable as fuck actually. Yes I'm aware they're allowed to.

Link to why people test:

Thread for people to explain why they test for covid www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/5170622-thread-for-people-to-explain-why-they-test-for-covid

If that's your experience then you're fortunate. Covid is not just a cold. It significantly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and dementia. There are millions with Long Covid, many severely ill. Myself I've now been ill for 10 weeks, was fit, healthy and working full time before.

OP if you don't feel well enough to work, stay at home.

I figure they’ll change their minds when they eventually get long covid.

You mean back in the 2020 when we didn't have vaccines and hadn't identified how best to treat people with Covid? Back in 2020 when the NHS was creaking at the seams because so many people had Covid at the same time?

At least now our vulnerable people are getting regular boosters of the vaccine. And thankfully a good percentage of us (sadly not all) will avoid contact with their elderly or otherwise vulnerable friend and relatives when they are ill.