How was anyone being a bleep? All that happened was his manager asked him if he always coughs
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Agree with others, you need to stop being paranoid and trust that what he’s told management is the truth. The guy has explained himself as having asthma (even although it’s none of your business in the first place). Not all coughs are Covid. That’s the trouble with this virus, people are so quick to judge!
The guy never once explained himself ? He didn’t speak to anyone as nobody knows each other anymore as so many new people since working from home ? The only person who asked him was his manager - it would of helped if maybe he had told his colleagues around him that he had asthma
He doesn’t have to tell his colleagues. Maybe he isn’t comfortable telling people about his health conditions, especially if he doesn’t know them very well. He told the manager, that should be enough.
Someone I know went to work with a cough, blamed it on asthma, carried on working and turns out it was covid 
I don't understand why people dont take a simple test.
I don't understand why people dont take a simple test.
He is under no obligation to tell anyone about his health. He has a chronic lifelong illness and is (& should be because else ways it's discrimination) protected by employment equality law which legislates against prejudice based actions in the work place.
You complained to your Manager about him. He told this Manager in good faith about his asthma.
You are insinuating that he is lying.
You wanted to know why he is coughing. It is none of your business but you got your answer.
You complained to your Manager about him. He told this Manager in good faith about his asthma.
You are insinuating that he is lying.
You wanted to know why he is coughing. It is none of your business but you got your answer.
Would you want to tell a bunch of people your medical conditions?! Is it ok because you don’t think asthma is that bad or something? What if he has chronic COPD? Should he tell people then so they can speculate and question what’s caused it and probably give unsolicited advice on how their uncle’s, sister’s, mother in law copes. He’s agency, these people aren’t his mates what business is it of theirs??
Exactly this. I really don't think its someone's place to speak to them about their coughing. Fair enough raise it with HR if you have concerns, but it is not an employees role to question with health of a fellow employee.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.
If you feel unsafe, you need to raise it with your HR, do what you can to keep yourself safe or alternatively work from home.
He doesn't need to explain himself. His medical conditions are not public business. He's agency, he probably isnt going to be there long so why on earth would he tell anyone.
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?
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 did also say to my manager that I know a cough doesn’t automatically mean covid but I was wondering if anyone had asked him
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
I did also say to my manager that I know a cough doesn’t automatically mean covid but I was wondering if anyone had asked him
Well, you said he spoke to the manager and told them about his asthma, so what more do you want?
If you look at my original post - I said I was worried as my husband is high risk - the reason being he has COPD!
Then you need to express to your manager you need to work from a home. Why should he be penalised for your concerns.
I have told my work about this and they basically said everyone has to take it in turns to do this role . Theres some very vulnerable people in the office also having to do this role
Your work have done what they can, your over 5 meters away from him. They have offered you an alternative office, I am not really sure what else you expect them to do?
If he took a test he could easily be positive tomorrow. Someone else in the office could also be positive but asymptomatic.
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I actually hope this guy has taken off work because of the speculation - he'll have an excellent case for disability discrimination!
It is difficult and I think its fair enough to check when someone is constantly coughing during a pandemic. However, I don't think there is much you can do now that you know why he's coughing. I think I'd move as far away from him as I can and if you cant then keep a mask on etc.
huh? If he told his manager he has asthma cos his manager asked then yeah, he explained himself? Why does he have to declare to his colleagues that he has asthma? It’s none of anyone’s business!
surely this is more reason for you to be understanding? What if you or your husband were coughing at work and you said ‘oh I’ve got asthma’ and then continued to be accused of lying or speculated over? :/ why is it not possible that he just has asthma, like you?
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