Coughing in the office ?! Need advice plz!

[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.

 

[LittleMy]

You asked what other people would do. What else can you do except either stay at home or sit away from the person? You’re right, he’s not in the office now so that’s that. I don’t really know what you were expecting by starting the thread but seems like your problem has been resolved for you.

 

[Platypusfattypus]

If we hear what the test result is, take it with a pinch of salt

Hmm, I think i'm taking a different approach based on my own experience. I have a history of terrible health anxiety, and in the first lockdown developed severe ocd which saw me housebound. It's taken me a lot to get back to work and back outside, and back near people. I have sympathy for anyone who feels this virus is a very real threat. I was lucky in that I had a lot of support, I'd have hated to have been viewed in the same way so my original point still stands, I hope that this op gets an answer quickly and feels reassured. I also hope the other person is OK too.

 

[LittleMy]

Every single person I’ve spoken with in real life told me to report it to my manager so that’s what I did


I didn’t speak to him at all! I don’t know him and he isn’t on my team - all I did was tell my manager my concerns

Well, you said he spoke to the manager and told them about his asthma, so what more do you want?

 

[MaxieMoo]

I have asthma myself calm down - I’d expect people to be concerned if I was coughing all over the place during a pandemic too

The manager asked him why he was coughing and he said asthma. How do you know this?

I would try to focus on following the best practice with regards to hand washing etc and try to minimise use of any communal areas as much as possible. My husband is high risk so I try to keep safe. My colleague tested positive for Covid recently with not a single symptom.

Where did I say they’d offered me an alternative office - they offered me a different seat but that’s no possible as I need to be by the printer


Laughable - because his manager took him aside and asked him about a cough ?? Is anyone actually reading what happened

I'm reading that his manager asked him about a cough and he disclosed he had a medical condition. This information has now been passed to you? That isn't right and I'm sure if it was the other way round you would feel aggrieved.

I get that you are worried but you must try not focus too much on this. There could be people sitting near you with Covid who don't even show symptoms.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Platypusfattypus]

The OP said everyone they'd asked irl agreed with their concerns, so what was the point asking/sharing this on tattle? I feel bad for this guy, no doubt he was picking up on an atmosphere in the office environment

Why does anyone share anything on Tattle? It's been quite an interesting debate.

 

[Keikochan]

I feel like I have missed something, I don't get why?

If we hear what the test result is, take it with a pinch of salt

 

[Babyyoda88]

I think you have every right to be concerned if you live with someone vulnerable.
If it was a new cough I’m sure the guy would have stayed off and had a test. (You would hope, just to make sure, as I did last week) however do feel bad for the guy if it is asthma, people are looking at people like they’re the plague itself if they have a cough. It’s hard right now for all.
In my work my boss would tell us to have a test if we felt newly unwell just to protect ourselves and also others in the work place. I think that’s fair enough. We just have to look out for people right now.

 

[GetOffMyLawn]

So... did the guy test negative (as I strongly suspect he will). Oh and for the record, your manager has breached confidentiality for disclosing someone’s medical condition.

eta: correct spelling

 

[Platypusfattypus]

Unfortunetly we are in the middle of a pandemic and one of the symptoms is a cough. I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to have concerns about a person coughing, and not is it unreasonable for management to ask. I would expact my manager to ask if my cough was due to my asthma(I always have it worse in the morning and when I come in from a cold environment) or if it was covid. I would be sent home if I was coughing continuously. I would also agree that if this person had shown this was not a new cough and that it was asthma related then the manager can reassure other staff members.

 

[LittleMy]

The manager hasn’t asked the person to be tested (unless that’s why they were off sick) and seems content enough to accept their explanation of a chronic cough brought on by asthma. The only person who had the issue with it was the OP, and the colleague is well within their right not to disclose anything about their health to them.

It’s not unreasonable for the OP to be worried, but what else can they do aside from refuse to work in the office with the other person or keep their distance?

 

[MaxieMoo]

Jeez. This thread is intense!

1. how awful for this man having suspicion and his medical conditions shared at work.

2. OP has clearly only wanted everyone to agree and take the hump with her.

3. When challenged the OP has been a bit, dramatic, in her response.

4. OPs manager offered a workable solution to keep her and thus her at risk husband safe.OP declined because it was too far to walk to the printer.

5. As others are saying. It’s new and continuous coughs. Asthma is but one condition to cause coughs. Sounds as though OPs treatment of colleague (if her demeanour on this thread is anything to go by) could be veering into bullying.

6. Someone earlier said the “be kind/bit of kindness” Yep. Goes bothways and maybe OP (and others) should apply the “be kind” mantra before tearing a person, who has a medical condition, to shreds for coughing. Ffs.

Completely agree with all of that.

Also, I am sure that the OP mentioned the guy is agency and doesn't get paid if he doesn't come to work.

Not sure about all workplaces but if I felt I had "symptoms" of Covid I would be required to remain off work until tested and results back. Given that this guys doesn't feel concerned that he has Covid I don't feel it is reasonable to expect this person to be off work with no pay just because his colleague is concerned about his cough.

 

[Platypusfattypus]

Damnit... I really must work on my pelvic floor more

Im waiting for the advert for tena now

 

[BettyCrocker]

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 !

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?

 

[JoeBloggs]

I have asthma myself calm down - I’d expect people to be concerned if I was coughing all over the place during a pandemic too

Did you tell him you had asthma openly?

 

[Felix08]

I do feel that if you have new symptoms then you should get tested. That was also adviced here for people in summer with hayfever. Are they the same symptoms as you always have and your tablets work? Sit it out and see if it goes away. Dont your tablets work and you still have symptoms, get tested. Its fine that the managment asked if his cough is normal or not and to advise him to get tested.

But, if someone around me has a cough and doesnt get tested for whatever reason, its on me to stay away and not have any contact. Its a losing battle to try to get people to do things that you should do, they never will. Also the manager gave options, which were declined, move on then.

 

[Scorpihoe]

He must have had his results back by now, and if he’s negative, he’s owed a big apology.

 

[Ohflogoff]

I’m invested in this now. Hope he gets the results soon