Work colleagues are ill and I don't want to be!!!

GlasweJen

I'm an organ recipient and have a suppressed immune system as a result. Even I don't ask to go home if someone comes into work with a cold and catching one can kill me. My consultant says the best way to stop myself catching something is to make sure I wash my hands a lot with hot soapy water and to take fresh air as much as possible. I've not had a cold this year, did get a flu jag through the work (I work in a hospital).

People these days are usually quite good at covering their coughs and sneezes and I'm quite happy to have people hankies if they don't have one. I have hand gel but prefer to wash my hands properly every 2 or 3 times as the gel builds up on my hands.

spadoosh

HardCoreProgrammer wrote: »

I strongly disagree with the comments above.

Passing lurgies on unknowingly before symptoms develop is one thing, coming to work coughing and spreading the germs/viruses around in the whole office is another thing. I certainly do not want to sit next to somebody doing that all day. With my job, fortunately I can make up some excuse, go home and work from there.

Regardless of what your management thinks of these "excuses", I, as I customer do not want to be served by a shop assistant who is sneezing/coughing in my face, thank you very much.

And I would not dismiss anything as "just a cold". In the news today, a 6 year old boy is in a critical condition after contracting flu and the virus got into his brain.

To the OP, does the person's manager sit close to the person? I suspect the answer is no? Try to create opportunities for the two to talk together. Management will suddenly care when their own health is threatened.

I take it you are happy to drive to india to pick your own tea leaves then? Box them up, bring them back to the UK, put them on the shelf and then come back and take them later on.

I worked in retail. That means interacting with customers. Whilst i might not be ill i will be going between people who might or might not be ill, over winter that probability generally becomes a certainty. Are you giving an excuse for anyone who works in retail to not work in retail? Becuase they can (and probably will) transfer illness between customers.

People die from flu every year (more specifically complications arising from getting flu). On average your talking less than 1000 people, in a bad year can be as high as 10,000.

Just to put it in perspective, youre more likely to die driving to work than you are from getting flu. You dont avoid getting in your car because there might be a drunk driver.

FBaby

Regardless of what your management thinks of these "excuses", I, as I customer do not want to be served by a shop assistant who is sneezing/coughing in my face, thank you very much.

Is that what you do sneeze in people's face when you have a cold? Because I've been taught when I was a kid to put my hand in front of my mouth before I do and wash my hands any opportunities. I don't tend to get close to people's faces anyway, even less so when I am feeling poorly anyway.

So if you'd waited 12 months for a knee surgery, was desperate for it as much in pain, but was told that you would have to wait another 3 months because your consultant woke up with a little bit of a sore throat that morning and wouldn't want to take the small risk of passing on his potential virus, would you be clapping that he made the right decision?

frank777

New Year Resolution? - change your diet and get a steamer - eat more vegetables, fruit, seeds and have your porridge every morning with a diced Apple/Pear/Kiwi Fruit and sprinkle Organic Hemp over it. Look within for a remedy to your problem don't blame the workplace.

''I can't afford Fruit/Vegetables ''
shop at Aldi/Lidl :eek:

large bag of Frozen Broccoli 89p @Aldi

daytona0

HardCoreProgrammer wrote: »

Passing lurgies on unknowingly before symptoms develop is one thing, coming to work coughing and spreading the germs/viruses around in the whole office is another thing. I certainly do not want to sit next to somebody doing that all day. With my job, fortunately I can make up some excuse, go home and work from there.

the key word in your post is "fortunately"

Fortunately isn't a factor for a lot of people.

Regardless of what your management thinks of these "excuses", I, as I customer do not want to be served by a shop assistant who is sneezing/coughing in my face, thank you very much.

It doesn't matter what they "think", it matters how your boss acts upon your sicknesses.

Many companies simply want you in work and doing the job they bought you in for. Multiple sick days (the odd one is fine) is not helping them to achieve their targets.

And I would not dismiss anything as "just a cold". In the news today, a 6 year old boy is in a critical condition after contracting flu and the virus got into his brain.

Literally anything can kill you under optimal conditions.

To the OP, does the person's manager sit close to the person? I suspect the answer is no? Try to create opportunities for the two to talk together. Management will suddenly care when their own health is threatened.

But wouldn't that be blackmail?

And against the whole point of your post (keeping contact to a minimum + respecting others)?

[Deleted User]

Being exposed to bugs is meant to build up the immune system however basic hygiene such as regular proper hand washing and the use of anti bac/ anti viral wipes may help protect everyone a little more. You can get them quite cheaply and take them to work and if you work in a hot desking environment your employer may be persuaded to provide them under Health and Safety rather than have lots of people ill or away sick.

Whilst colds are unpleasant you can't really avoid them. Worse than colds is the highly contagious norovirus which gives no real warning you have it until things happen suddenly and rapidly at both ends and usually at the same time.:eek:

Prevention is better than cure.

Vectis

You want to take time off work when anyone in your office has a cold?

Thanks, that's given me the biggest laugh I've had all year!!

HardCoreProgrammer

It doesn't matter what they "think", it matters how your boss acts upon your sicknesses.

I worked in retail. That means interacting with customers. Whilst i might not be ill i will be going between people who might or might not be ill, over winter that probability generally becomes a certainty. Are you giving an excuse for anyone who works in retail to not work in retail? Becuase they can (and probably will) transfer illness between customers.

If I go into a shop and get served by staff sneezing and coughing, I will make a complaint to their management. As a bonus, they will get a considerable piece of mind if I happen to fall ill and end up not being able to work.
If you think it is not a problem going to work with symptoms, please do a search on SARS and the havoc it can wreak upon the population.

Is that what you do sneeze in people's face when you have a cold? Because I've been taught when I was a kid to put my hand in front of my mouth before I do and wash my hands any opportunities. I don't tend to get close to people's faces anyway, even less so when I am feeling poorly anyway.

So if you'd waited 12 months for a knee surgery, was desperate for it as much in pain, but was told that you would have to wait another 3 months because your consultant woke up with a little bit of a sore throat that morning and wouldn't want to take the small risk of passing on his potential virus, would you be clapping that he made the right decision?

Strawman alert. I am not talking about a sore throat, but a full blown cold/flu. Actually after thinking about it, I would wait rather than operated on by somebody carrying bugs and probably not at his/her best, thank you.

But wouldn't that be blackmail?

No it is not. From my life experience, the powers that be do not give a !!!! except when their own skin is at stake. Engaging them in close contact with the ill person is the best way to persuade them to do the sensible.

FBaby

Strawman alert. I am not talking about a sore throat, but a full blown cold/flu. Actually after thinking about it, I would wait rather than operated on by somebody carrying bugs and probably not at his/her best, thank you

You clearly don't know what it is to be in pain for a very long time then. Might explain your dramatic response to what you refer to as a cold. There is no such medical term as 'full blown' cold. A cold is a cold, very unpleasant especially if it turns into sinusitis, but nothing compared to some chronic conditions people live with yet still manage to get to work every day.

Personally, I much rather work with someone sitting right next to me with a cold who just gets on with it than having to listen to the moans of someone further away who acts all dramatic trying to get sympathy because they are so ill and it is of course someone's fault.