Covid surge and a new job.

[LizBeth]

Reason this with me. I am sitting in a small office Friday with 3 people, in a small room that holds about 36 people (3 per cubicle, 2 or 3 per office) all having to wear masks but the whole job is talking on the phone, expelling breathe. I am sitting in this office with two others, door closed. The gal that is training me, while wearing a mask, though some times pulling down and speaking out or readjusting and touching everything tells me.... I do not have a vaccination. As a matter of fact, I have been trying to get covid for the last year an half.
Small office, door shut for 8 hours listening to her answering calls and helping customers trying to get info on covid testing sites and vaccination, and ya, other health issues. 8 hours in a small room, no ventilation telling me she is trying to get covid.

I mean, I get I have to go back to work. I get UI can't be forever. We have morgue trucks pulling into hospitals to refrigerate the dead because too many dying and being overwhelmed in funeral homes.

What do I do with that? A year and half, not seeing boys, not going out, doing all the things I need to do to not get covid cause I doubt my lungs could handle it, though the rest of me is healthy and weight on my side, though blood type not on my side.

I cannot talk to the 30 something young boss having only just been hired. Who knows? He might not have been vacc'ed either and think it his right. Just where do I put this and walk into the office tomorrow?

[aeromanKC]

1. Get Out!!

There are other jobs. It is job seekers market.

[LizBeth]

4. I am an old woman. Not so easy to get those jobs, even though I have the knowledge and experience.

[Demsrule86]

19. Get another shot right away. My husband was in the same situation only no one was wearing masks.

That is what he did...two weeks into the job, the boss just announced he strongly advised masks....so that is good. We have few weeks of unemployment left in Ohio...so we have to work. I am working from home at a crap job- a little extra. We have to survive this both physically and monetarily.

[LizBeth]

22. Right you are.

I will check out the booster but they say 8 months and that would take it to end of Nov. But, I think I would be more comfortable with a booster.

[Demsrule86]

23. That is what my husband is going to do...We are between a rock and a hard place. We need to

work and if you get sick there is no help available at all...In Ohio, you would be considered unable to work and receive no unemployment. I suppose some companies have disability coverage but hubs is too new.

[niyad]

2. I wish that I had some helpful, realistic advice for you. What you described is

extremely disturbing.

[LizBeth]

3. Friday, I kinda let it go as it stewed in my brain. Having a weekend and listening to people dying.

Reading a thread here about 7 stages to death with covid, I am starting to be a little anxious.

[niyad]

5. Sending vibes for the correct, SAFE situation for you.

[LizBeth]

6. Thank you niyad.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. You are vaccinated I assume

So, that's one level of protection. You wear a mask? hopefully N95, that's another level of protection. So you probably didn't catch it.

But, I would go to the boss or HR and complain about her mask wearing and saying she is trying to catch COVID-19. If the boss can't or won't help, you may have to consider looking for another job. If she finally gets Covid-19 as she wants, you could get very sick too.

[LizBeth]

8. Right. I certainly hate bringing in drama first handful of days at a new job, before they know me.

I wonder my right to ask if the person in a small room with me, with a door closed, if they got the vacc. I am vacc'ed and was considering getting the booster, but 8 months would be Nov, and I believe listening to science. They are saying wait 8 months after last vacc.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Blood type is a myth.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210405/blood-type-doesnt-affect-your-covid-risk#1

But, dang, get yourself out of there.

Talk to the boss about switching cubicles, explain why, take the article about the 7 stages of COVID in. If the boss reacts badly, tell them you value your life over any job.

I don't know how much this job pays - or what you are capable of - but there are national companies that at least require employees to behave well, even in areas where the population doesn't. (Starbucks is one - my daughter works there - they take COVID very seriously - but it is fast paced and on your feet all day.)

[LizBeth]

12. That is good to hear, though not front and center in brain. Lol

I just thru that in with bad lungs, healthy, weight good, ... Oh but the blood.

I like what you say and gives me a bit more confidence in going in with this conversation. Honestly, I thought the company was pretty aware and on top of it until my trainer said what she did. Took time to process the repercussion of her stupid thinking.

[LisaL]

10. Why has she been trying to get covid for a year and a half?

That's pretty bizarre.

[LizBeth]

11. I have heard young people say this and ya, bizarre. It is like she is saying it to a 60 yr old

with absolutely no consideration the effect on others. It is.

[liberal_mama]

13. I'm wondering the same thing. Who would try to get Covid? I'm assuming she isn't a hermit, so she

would spread the Covid to others, if infected. She sounds like a lunatic.

[LizBeth]

15. They are just stupid. This young woman, low 30's is well aware of issues. She has to be rw

but I do not know and no way going to have that discussion, where they just like taunt covid to prove not a big deal and "owning dems" or something. But to say that in a closed unventilated room to a 60 yr old woman, is just stupid, and certainly not thinking that one thru.

[LuckyCharms]

14. The environment is not safe.

I wouldn't presume to tell you to find another job because I don't know your circumstances.

However, I can tell you that I would not go in, and I would look for work somewhere safer.

I'm not rich, and I need money like everyone does, but if I get Covid, I could have a real problem (even though I'm double dosed) because I have a lot of the classic risk factors, including kidney disease.

Try to imagine a scale, like a justice scale, and weigh out the risks of staying vs. the risks of leaving.

You will come the the right answer for you personally.

[LizBeth]

16. That was my thought when it first hit me the situation I walked into.

I have savings and will pay bills and feed myself but what about later. Then on the other hand, if I get covid and have huge bill or die, what does later matter, lol. Something to ponder.

Thank you LuckyCharms for actually considering and sharing your perspective. I wanted to listen to how others feel. I can always walk in Monday and see what is up. I was in that room with that woman because my trainer took Friday off. I wonder if I can ask the original trainer if she is vacc'ed. I would be more comfortable being in a small space with someone that actually took it seriously. But hard for the young people to take too seriously or consider older people.

Thanks.

[LuckyCharms]

17. LizBeth...

You probably know in your heart what you want to do. If you are leaning toward leaving, but not committed yet, you may want to talk to whomever who have to at that workplace to see if you can possibly separated or otherwise protected. What I'm really realizing during this pandemic is that there may not be a soul in this world who is worried about your protection (I mean besides family and close friends).

Because of this, you have to be vigilant and assertive, perhaps even aggressive in advocating for yourself.

I'm sorry you are in this situation, but I'm confident that you will come up with the right solution. Regardless, it's a very difficult situation and I wish you all the best.

[LizBeth]

20. My own advocate. That is for sure. I tend to put that to the side, too often. Ty

[brer cat]

18. I've been so hoping you had a new job,

but wow! what a mess. You know your health is more important than the job, but jobs are scarce for older workers. I think I would talk to the 30 something boss and see what happens.

Best of luck, LizBeth!!

[LizBeth]

21. Ya, a mess and yea, I have a job that hits about all I need per se with schedule, pay and I get to

wear jeans. I was truly surprised and she may be a outlier. This is medical people for crimey, ... Urgent care and primary doctors. I do clerical.