H1N1 Coworker

[iamhuman]

Someone at work has been diagnosed with H1N1. My boss has refused to identify that person probably due to privacy issues but there is only one suspect. He has returned to work today after being away for a week, and he is still coughing today. We share a small office (2000 sq feet) and I am terrified. My boss sits in his own office so he probably doesn't need to be concerned, but is there any law that enforces the employer to act more responsibly?

[Emancipated]

I would go home citing concerns for personal well being. If you're terminated, you could go to the labour board.

[sienna owner]

as for a meeting with you boss and start coughing uncontrollably..then excuse yourself to use the washroom...a couple of time for good measure..
see how they like it..LOL

[mart242]

Once the fever is over, they aren't contagious anymore (or something like that). I wouldn't be too worried about it unless they cough towards you.. chances are they'll cough for a while and can't really miss a month of work just for that.

[Whiplash7828]

I would go home citing concerns for personal well being. If you're terminated, you could go to the labour board.

right.....:confused:

lose your job to avoid H1N1 at the office....brilliant idea.

how about avoid contact with that person, wear a face mask, wash your hands more often, ask to work from home for a few days (if you can), take a couple days vacation, etc.

[UberDave]

Unless you're in the high risk category just do your best to avoid this person. They probably came in to work because they feel guilty for being off so long. If you have a good manager you can ask him/her to send this person home.

[hugh_da_man]

There isn't really much you can do. They're not acting irresponsibly by allowing the worker to come back to work so there is nothing you can do legally. You're SOL, wash your hands more often and try not to touch your eyes or mouth.

IMO it's the responsibility of the coworker to make sure they are healthy enough to return to work. I'd be mad at the coworker more than the boss.

[nickinto]

Don't fool around with H1N1, get yourself a suit for work: http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/suit-respondercsm.htm

[robattoronto]

http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/public/home_e

[iamhuman]

Thanks a lot guys. After reading your responses I feel better knowing that I am not over reacting. I tried wearing a mask, but received "unfriendly" gestures from other co-workers who think that I am over reacting. And, it does feel quite uncomfortable after a while.

When I was sick a few months ago, I went right into my boss' office after vomiting in the bathroom. I still smelled like vomit and was coughing, and he still looked a bit upset that I wanted to go home. He's the type of very healthy guy who never gets sick and probably thinks that folks who take sick days are just making up excuses.

Hopefully someone in the office with young children at home will react first before I do... or maybe that's why they are working from home today. No I don't have that option to work from home. There are people here who can do anything they like and there are those who can do nothing. I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

[D-Roc]

Thanks a lot guys. After reading your responses I feel better knowing that I am not over reacting.


You most certainly are overreacting. It is the flu that happens to be more contagious. Not a deadly disease.

[mself084]

Thanks a lot guys. After reading your responses I feel better knowing that I am not over reacting. I tried wearing a mask, but received "unfriendly" gestures from other co-workers who think that I am over reacting. And, it does feel quite uncomfortable after a while.

When I was sick a few months ago, I went right into my boss' office after vomiting in the bathroom. I still smelled like vomit and was coughing, and he still looked a bit upset that I wanted to go home. He's the type of very healthy guy who never gets sick and probably thinks that folks who take sick days are just making up excuses.

Hopefully someone in the office with young children at home will react first before I do... or maybe that's why they are working from home today. No I don't have that option to work from home. There are people here who can do anything they like and there are those who can do nothing. I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

Really? I doubt the person is contagious anymore...and the regular flu has/will likely kill more people this year than the H1N1 strand. :confused:

[ptownplayer]

Your lucky he took a week off...there's been people coming into my work with flu symptons even after corporate emails have gone out stating that if you show any symptoms that you should stay home.

[setell]

Well if that person has recovered and just has the cough then I am going to assume they didn’t get the deadly strain of the virus. My fiancée wasn’t formally diagnosed with H1N1 but I’m fairly certain he had it since he had all the symptoms on the list and he’s the type of person that never gets sick. Last time when he was sick he just had a runny nose and a slight fever that taking 1 dose of ibuprofen cured but this time he was out for a week. Oh, I live with him and I’m not sick considering I have a lot of close contact with him. So yes, I think you are really overreacting here! Just calm down and relax. Btw the mask will NOT protect you. If you really want to be safe get your co-worker to wear the mask so when he/she is coughing he/she isn’t spreading the virus. Just wash your hands more and practice good hygiene.

[Emancipated]

Thanks a lot guys. After reading your responses I feel better knowing that I am not over reacting. I tried wearing a mask, but received "unfriendly" gestures from other co-workers who think that I am over reacting. And, it does feel quite uncomfortable after a while.

When I was sick a few months ago, I went right into my boss' office after vomiting in the bathroom. I still smelled like vomit and was coughing, and he still looked a bit upset that I wanted to go home. He's the type of very healthy guy who never gets sick and probably thinks that folks who take sick days are just making up excuses.

Hopefully someone in the office with young children at home will react first before I do... or maybe that's why they are working from home today. No I don't have that option to work from home. There are people here who can do anything they like and there are those who can do nothing. I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

Haha, what's wrong with society today.

Go home and get ready to sue your boss for wrongful dismissal.

EDIT: I know it seems like I'm making light of your situation and gaining a laugh at your expense but truthfully, I would not feel comfortable working under these circumstances. I'm also hypochondriac so I would probably will myself to an early grave if I had to work and be paranoid about germs flying around my orifices.

[bionicbadger]

I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

It the flu, not ebola. You aren't risking your life.

[hdom]

Pretty sure you are more likely to die on the way to work in a traffic accident than getting H1N1 from this colleague.

At least he took the time off when he was really sick, people at my office didn't and they all have H1N1 symptoms. I was just popping cold FX and using the sanitizers like there was no tomorrow.

[laptop-tech]

I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

You almost sound like a cross between:

VinDiesel
KommanderKornFlakes
ClownBaby

[mkerian]

Haha, what's wrong with society today.

Go home and get ready to sue your boss for wrongful dismissal.



On what grounds? The employer cannot and should not be going around placing employees in preventative quarantine. Moreover, the employee was already off for a week, and the contagious period has long, long passed. And yes, the employee was protected because of privacy issues. It wasn't his fault that he got sick, and making him a pariah because of oversuspectibility to the media panic concerning the flu is childish.

OP, you will not get sick from your coworker. The danger is over. And no you can't sue the company, and you have no right to find out who was sick anyways.

[Nettles]

This is a perfect example of the effect of fear tactics used by the illuminati on people.

[amz155]

Once the fever is over, they aren't contagious anymore (or something like that). I wouldn't be too worried about it unless they cough towards you.. chances are they'll cough for a while and can't really miss a month of work just for that.

Not true. Person can spread disease from 24 hours prior to symptoms up to 7 days after onset of symptoms.

Why would you need to wear a mask? The virus is not airborne. Its droplet spread. Just keep 2m away from this person. Wash your hands frequently. Keep disinfectant wipes near your desk. Don't touch your face with your hands without washing them. Employer is not obligated to prevent the person from coming to work. As long as person's fever is gone for 24 hours and they are feeling well enough, they can return to work.

[Emancipated]

This is a perfect example of the effect of fear tactics used by the illuminati on people.

The Nazis were masters at leveraging fear.

[CodecX81]

Yeah... I've had 3 co-workers diagnosed with H1N1. One was diagnosed a day after a potluck that the entire Toronto office (80ppl) had exposure to her, and the food she brought.

All of the workers who've gotten sick, took a week off and came back perfectly fine.

One unrelated co-worker who is on sick leave due to ongoing radiation therapy
(Read: he has little to no immune system at the moment) came for a visit knowing this, but took the normal precautions:

#1 Stay 10 feet away from anyone who is sick
#2 Don't make unnecessary body contact

Guess what.. he's fine! We're all OK..and its been discovered that we've not contracted the virus from any work-related contact.. The people who have gotten it, have all been from external sources. (Family, friends..)

Hell, I was IN Mexico on vacation while the first outbreaks were occuring and my wife and I STILL never got infected.

So, the rest of us who have immune systems.. get over yourself. It is a freakin' flu.

Children and the elderly are at risk, just like every other flu..
Is it more contagious? Yes.
But it is also much much weaker than a seasonal flu.

[angekfire]

This is a perfect example of the effect of fear tactics used by the illuminati on people.

lol

[Nettles]

ok, maybe not by them but it's fear nonetheless. Like when people started going around with masks when they heard about swine flu.

[angekfire]

ok, maybe not by them but it's fear nonetheless. Like when people started going around with masks when they heard about swine flu.

Or SARS. I don't blame the illuminati or anything. Really, it's just a case of the media being the media.

[DelusionalDiva]

What I don't get is why are people so afraid of dying? When its your time to go, its your time to go!!!

[Emancipated]

What I don't get is why are people so afraid of dying? When its your time to go, its your time to go!!!

You know how some people say they're not religious or even acknowledge the existence of a being greater than man but when they're facing certain death, they all prey to be spared from the grim reaper. You might be extremely depressed and ready to die or think you've tamed your fears of death but you can't really be sure until you're face to face with it.

[DelusionalDiva]

You know how some people say they're not religious or even acknowledge the existence of a being greater than man but when they're facing certain death, they all prey to be spared from the grim reaper. You might be extremely depressed and ready to die or think you've tamed your fears of death but you can't really be sure until you're face to face with it.

Well of course, when you're face to face with the death angel, your reaction might be different. But don't we accept that sooner or later we all have to die.

[Carnage]

Unless you're like 70, or have a severely compromised immune system you have nothing to worry about.

Worse case you get sick and miss a few days due to the flu. It's not like you're going to get hospitalized and die.

Maybe you've seen the movie Outbreak one too many times?

[ullyeus]

Thanks a lot guys. After reading your responses I feel better knowing that I am not over reacting. I tried wearing a mask, but received "unfriendly" gestures from other co-workers who think that I am over reacting. And, it does feel quite uncomfortable after a while.

When I was sick a few months ago, I went right into my boss' office after vomiting in the bathroom. I still smelled like vomit and was coughing, and he still looked a bit upset that I wanted to go home. He's the type of very healthy guy who never gets sick and probably thinks that folks who take sick days are just making up excuses.

Hopefully someone in the office with young children at home will react first before I do... or maybe that's why they are working from home today. No I don't have that option to work from home. There are people here who can do anything they like and there are those who can do nothing. I need my job so I suppose I have to risk my life.

buwahwhahwahwhahwaw

oh man... too funny and talk about an over reaction...

[jerrysiz]

He's been off for a week, he's no longer contagious. Coughs can linger for a long time after an illness goes away. You're not risking your life, stop being such a drama queen.

[iamhuman]

Actually I should be fair to my boss. He just spent an hour talking to this co-worker and touching his stuffs including his keyboard. So he's not mean, he just doesn't think that it's a problem.

Thanks for all the tips... actually I didn' know that the virus is not airborne.

Well, I've used up all my sick days for this year (we only have 2) so if I do get sick I will be losing my pay. But yes I was really over reacting about risking my life. Sorry about that.