Am I justified to be this angry?

[AELLE7]

For nearly two weeks my boss has come into work every day she works with a terrible cold and chest infection and now it has been passed onto multiple people in office. It started as a cold but now the cough has got really bad and the phlegm too (sorry tmi)

I wouldn't normally be this upset but I am 20 weeks pregnant and I suffer badly with asthma (often flaring up due to chest infections) My coughs get pretty bad when I have chest infections so I am always prescribed steroids when I have an asthma flare up.

I am just so furious that someone has come into work like that for such a long time, bringing up yucky green phlegm in the open office and putting people at risk, especially a pregnant asthmatic and another member of staff who has a very weak immune system due to a disability. I know that these things can pass to people before symptoms show up, which is no ones fault, but I feel like once it become obvious it was more than a common cold, the most responsible thing to do was take yourself out of the work environment. Her whole attitude towards people who are sick is also upsetting. I am almost certain she will look down on me for leaving work today. (she once got shirty with me when I said I have had to go to A&E for asthma attacks a few times, and actually told me I shouldn't because asthma attacks aren't an 'emergency')

Am I right to be this annoyed at what's happened or am I being an entitled pregnant lady? Ever since I started to feel ill I have been obsessing about what could happen if I have a full on asthma attack or if I have a bad infection while I am pregnant and it's getting me worried sick I will put baby at harm. I know it could just be a coincidence but with the amount of people dropping in the office with the same thing I doubt it. I'm also concerned about my sickness record as I already had time of for asthma flare up in January and then another day off for a migraine. I just feel like if the bosses make it obviously they are annoyed I left work early, I should say how I feel, but don't know if I am being unreasonable.

Hmmm I’m in 2 minds about this one. I absolutely see where you are coming from. And in her situation it really does sound like she could take the time off or at least work from home.
However, I am self employed and if I don’t work I don’t get paid and my mortgage etc doesn’t get paid. I’m lucky, I’m generally very healthy but for some it isn’t easy to call in sick.

Yes I was quite alarmed at her opinion on asthma. It made me worry that she must think I am being dramatic as most of my sickness has been related to asthma. I have always been able to show either a sickness note or steroid prescription and often I have been sent home for having a horrendous asthma cough as it's quite off putting for others in the office even though it's not contagious. So when that comment was made it felt like a dig at me. I just said to her "people die from asthma" and then went back to my work. To be honest she can think what she wants, She has witnessed first hand how bad an asthma flare up is.

YANBU that sounds disgusting. In your position of insist on working from home. You're severely asthmatic and pregnant. Please put yourself and your baby ahead of this woman.

Well, good thing you don't work in a school or hospital ... I am a teacher and every day have interactions with poorly children! 🙄

That said, I agree with the above poster - if you have the option to work from home (which is an awesome option to have! I wish!!) then you have a case for it. I just don't think you can force people to be off work. If I could do that, dozens of the children I teach wouldn't be allowed through the school gates! But if you have the option of removing yourself from the situation then surely that's ideal for everyone?

I think it’s unreasonable for them to have come in like that with vulnerable people tbh. Although most people will tell you differently... my son has a condition where this kind of thing could land him in hospital for a long time and put him on a health decline. There’s some things we can’t avoid in life, but somebody being openly this ill and still coming into work is not okay

YANBU. People who do this are out of order. No wonder things spread so much, and some can be very serious. Please keep your germs away

Just an update. My doctor has signed me of work for the week as it is a respiratory infection that has caused a massive asthma flare up. Haven't slept properly in days as my cough is so severe, but I'm taking steroids and amoxicillin so hopefully should be on the road to recovery soon. Doctor was not happy that someone came in for two weeks repeatedly with a chest infection, because he said my immune system is lower due to pregnancy and that will make me more susceptible to infections, and based on my peak flow and the fact my pumps were no longer causing relief, an asthma attack was going to be on the cards pretty soon which he reminded me was very dangerous (I know!). Also had word another person has called in sick with a chest infection. Go figure.. Will be returning and telling them that if anyone else comes in contagious then I am not comfortable cleaning out their bins full of dirty tissues or washing their coffee mugs for them (I'm usually the only one who does the cleaning on a Friday) as I can't stop people coming in but I am not going to clean up after them either. I think that's fair, all I know is that I have had my share of bad asthma before, but none have quite taken it out of me like they have now I am pregnant. Just need sleep 😴

Good on you OP.

Dirty tissues should be flushed not out in bins! What is wrong with your colleagues!

I'm a firm believer as a manager that if my team are really Ill I'd rather have them Off at home for a day or two then in spreading it around for a week so we all get it. They were all amazing when two of them got flu. Knowing I was pregnant and also knowing they didn't want to spread it around the whole of work they were signed off, recovered and came in. I knew where I stood staffing wise and they didn't give me flu!

OP I'm sorry your colleague have been so selfish. We have a real issue in this country with sickness and how we deal with it in the workplace. People with fear being off and drag themselves in or they are off too much!!! It's insane.