Coughing in the office ?! Need advice plz!

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Gellymaccy

So I have been working from
Home since March but have to go into the office every so often for a week straight to do a certain job role.

ive been in today and yesterday and there is this guy in who is coughing constantly !! Im
Talking every few seconds ! He’s about 5 metres away from me and we are socially
Distanced!

we have to wear masks but not when sitting at our desks

anyway I spoke to my manager as worried as my husband is high risk and said has anyone asked him if he has had a test - apparently they spoke to him and it’s asthma that gets worse in the cold!

fair enough I guess but surely they should not be allowing him in until he can show a negative test!

he’s agency so won’t get paid if he is off sick
!!

I really don’t want to go in and today felt like I wasgoing to cry - silly I know but I got really worked up!!

my boss said she could move me but the office has no windows so no fresh air circulation and need to be by the printer for this role !!

im due in the rest of the week and a day next week!

wha would you guys do?’
 
Reactions: 2

BettyCrocker

talk to him? Just explain you are worried? Could you rearrange your office space to have a printer beside you in another room? Could he work in another space?
 
Reactions: 4
G

Gellymaccy

BettyCrocker said:
talk to him? Just explain you are worried? Could you rearrange your office space to have a printer beside you in another room? Could he work in another space?
Click to expand...
sorry it is a very big Office and we only have one printer - they’ve spoke to him today and he said it’s asthma but I personally feel he should Test !

theres about 150 people in our
Office !
 

BettyCrocker

Gellymaccy said:
sorry it is a very big Office and we only have one printer - they’ve spoke to him today and he said it’s asthma but I personally feel he should Test !

theres about 150 people in our
Office !
Click to expand...
if it’s a big office I don’t see the issue then. Move as far away from him as you can. You’ll just have to make trips to the printer.

i dont think there’s much else you can do?
 
Reactions: 5

allforthegram

Hmm a difficult one, i understand your Concerns, but equally someone coughing doesn’t immediately mean they have covid, there are still many many other reasons.
Keep your mask on, make sure it’s an appropriate one, keep up your sanitisation and maybe escalate your concerns in writing to your manager and just have a friendly word with your colleague?
good luck!
 
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Happy35

Do you know how long he has been coughing for? If more than 10 days even if it is a COVID cough he won’t be infectious.
 
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Tublet83

As an asthmatic I completely understand where he will probably be coming from with a cough, it’s usually worse in an office because the air is so dry and makes you cough more
 
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Fizzwhizz2020

He probably does have asthma. There’s no reason for him to lie is there? A lot of people with breathing issues cough a lot and the NHS probably won’t test him anyway. If he does have asthma he will also be high risk and not wanting to catch it. Don’t think you should worry so much hun
 
Reactions: 14
M

mermaidexoxo

I suffer badly with seasonal asthma. If I’m in a cold and dry environment I am coughing non stop. You have every right to be concerned however If you notice any other symptoms from him, I.e temperature, fatigue, going to the loo a lot with the runs flag it up to management or speak to him directly if he’s showing signs he needs a test. Try not to worry too much but also take into consideration a lot of covid cases can be asymptomatic too. So people who aren’t coughing could also have the virus. Including yourself.
 
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Kim Mild

Perhaps he has had a test at some point, and has no further symptoms? It's a NEW continuous cough that warrants a test.
 
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JoeBloggs

If he gets has this cough because of asthma then it isn’t a new continuous cough and therefore is not a symptom of covid. A negative tests only proves he was negative on that day, he’d need to be testing daily.

As the office is big, move as far away as you can. Ensure you are doing your best in terms of hand washing and mask wearing.

It is the season for colds and coughs and the vast majority of them won’t be covid. Clearly your work are happy with his medical record as they have to ensure work is ‘covid secure’ if they thought it was covid they wouldn’t let him in.
 
Reactions: 8

Keikochan

Gellymaccy said:
Thanks for your replies!! Update - he’s off sick today!
Click to expand...
Maybe he is "off sick" because people are being c*nts and accusing him of being irresponsible & spreading a horrible illness even though he has advised that he has asthma which is a chronic long term condition which is not contagious and he is not being believed? So in fact he is not "off sick" for the reasons you are hinting at but because he is feeling very hurt that someone is complaining to management about him and legally he does not have to tell anyone about his asthma but he has in good faith and now he is being called a liar.
Perhaps if you are so worried you should stay home and they can give your job to someone else?
 
Reactions: 64

Laur91

it sounds a bit like you’re the one struggling with how to handle this rather than the issue being this chap’s asthma cough...the fact you said you were going to cry over it kind of sums that up.

A cough isn’t the only symptom of Covid and it must be pretty humiliating for him to have to explain himself every 5 minutes cos people are panicking.
 
Reactions: 34
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Blueskittle

You couldn't have said it better. Nowadays people are basically scared of coughing for people like this...
 
Reactions: 32
C

Countrybumpkingirl

Blueskittle said:
You couldn't have said it better. Nowadays people are basically scared of coughing for people like this...
Click to expand...
I am at high risk, so rather than panic, I just keep away from people and make sensible choices. I think people are being almost too precious but have no issues breaking/flaunting lockdown when it suits them (not saying OP is doing this I am talking about Joe Public)
 
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Heather343

I have asthma and always have a cough especially with the cold/damp air and when you try and stop the cough it makes it worse. I personally wouldn't be happy to get a test just to prove it to someone. The poor guy is probably off sick due to everyone being so judgemental and you mentioned he won't get paid so will now suffering financially
 
Reactions: 26
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Hope77

The thing I've learnt is you cannot manage other people's behaviour, only your own. It can be frustrating or worrying but I just ensure I am doing what I feel is the right thing to do for me (whilst respecting others). Some people don't seem to social distance so I just move rather than get cross.
So I think the best course of action is to move away from this person or work from home. He cannot (and should not) be penalised for his asthma, its unfortunate that he has a cough and I get why its made you worry, but he's explained and you have to accept that I think.
 
Reactions: 7
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