My husband is 77 and has a lot of health issues including respiratory issues. I persuaded him he needs to stay at home because he would be at very high risk if he got coronavirus.
I work at a small accounting firm. Busy time of year as you can imagine. I’ve been working 12 hour days and haven’t had a day off in weeks. My boss’s husband found out yesterday that his friend he played cards with a couple of days ago is sick and being tested for coronavirus. A friend of the friend is in hospital on a ventilator.
Last night, after finding out about this, her husband shows up at the office to bring her food. Eats in her office. Uses the bathroom. Comes into the coffee area right next to my office to do something. I was surprised but they had just heard about it so I thought maybe they hadn’t thought it through.
This morning i asked when the friend would hear the results. She told me a couple of days and husband was self quarantining. About how she had been researching what they needed to do etc. etc
She even joked about how she needs to go grocery shopping cause he can’t go.
We actually locked our doors to clients today. They can bring their records and pick stuff up through a drop off window. We’re still working but there are plans in place to work remotely if need be. There are several cases in our small town.
Then this evening her husband shows up at the office to bring her dinner and is sitting in her office eating with her. Uses the bathroom the staff all use. When I heard them talking I walked to her office and said “I thought you were in quarantine?” Her response " he’s in quarantine in my office, don’t come in".
I’m just livid. I couldn’t even speak I was so angry and whatever came out if my mouth would have been bad. I left and frankly don’t feel like ever going back. I had to pull my car over and calm down before I could drive home. The office manager was there and she messaged boss (boss is also owner) and asked if husband had been cleared - no response. She also left.
Am I over reacting? I’m pretty tired and stressed. But I don’t feel like I am overreacting in the current circumstances. She KNOWS my husband’s health issues and that he is basically house bound to avoid exposure. I mean, her husband can’t go shopping but he can come to the office and risk exposing all the employees who are working their butts off. Risk me taking it home to my husband who is in a very high risk group.
Pretty sure she thinks she owns the place and can do why she wants. But I’m really apalled.
You’re not overreacting. I’m sorry your boss and her husband have so little concern for the employee team that they would knowingly expose them. It would not be unreasonable to not go back. There are other places that will not treat you like this - especially if you have tax prep skills.
I agree that you are not overreacting. I would be livid. You did the right thing by leaving. If you return, you need to take gloves and cleaning supplies. Sanitize every surface. Then get what you need to work at home, if at all possible. If you feel you must continue to come to the office, tell her he needs to stay away, and do not back down.
Actually, ideally the coworker should be the one not in the office. She’s living with the dude. If he’s exposed, she will be as well.
But since it is harder to control other people rather than oneself, I would do the work at home option in your shoes. If needed, take the work computer home with you.
I can’t really take the computer home because the database for the tax and other software is on the server. But there is a way to log onto our computers remotely with the home computer. I did it for a while after I had surgery for a lisfranc injury and was too tired to work long hours. I think I’m going to seriously consider it. It is the contingency plan.
I think the “he’s in quarantine in my office, don’t come in” remark really fueled the flames of my anger. Because they knew exactly why I was making the comment.
We have a great group right now. 2 that are very inexperienced in taxes but have really stepped up to help when a seasonal hire turned out to be a disaster. I’m tax Manager and spend a lot of time helping them. It will be hard doing it remotely.
@swimcatsmom I’d call in “sick” - seriously. You ARE sick! Sick of their inconsideration! Call in sick. Don’t say “fever” say “run down” or “tired” or “stomach issue” (no one wants that in the office) - stay out of that office. You’ve all been exposed, don’t make it worse. Really.
I’m not super techie, but I’m using chrome virtual desktop and it’s as if I’m in the office. I also have company server and desktop software needs, and it been seamless.
My state is on a “shelter in place” order, and I’ve been able to transition to remote working quickly.
That was bad form. They are being disrespectful to you and everyone else who works in your office. I would have wanted to say, “You very well know that’s NOT how quarantine works.”
Hopefully the latest proposal will pass to change the April 15 filing date (not just the payment date) to July 15 and give tax professionals some breathing room.
Even if the boss bans the suspected covid patient from the premises, the partner could be a carrier and/or asymptomatic but contagious. At a minimum, all surfaces either touched would have to be sanitized.
I’d call in sick and then work from home until the boss shows he will protect his workers properly. You need to keep safe and healthy for you and your spouse.
I’d be as livid as you are and there’s no way in Hades that I would go back to that office until after a real quarantine time period elapsed. If he has it, she likely does too. This thing can be super contagious and if someone I loved and lived with were in a high risk group - well - there’s no amount of money that would be worth it to me.
I’ll admit to liking the idea about calling the local or state health dept and asking for advice.
Some people really have limited intelligence - perhaps terrific in their field, but totally unable to use reason in other situations. “Quarantine in my office…” Uh, come again?
I too work in a very small office. I was out last week on vacation. When I returned to work, I learned one of my coworkers was ill and was told not to come to work for 2 weeks. Another coworker in the office next to mine stopped by to chat and quickly told me her entire family had been sick but it was “just” the flu, meanwhile coughing away. In my office. We then got a firm directive that we must physically report to work to keep things going. I asked why sick people weren’t being sent home. The response? It was up to them. We were told if we saw disinfecting wipes or hand sanitizer to purchase them FOR THE OFFICE and we’d be reimbursed.
Yesterday I told my supervisor I wasn’t comfortable continuing to come to the office and was essentially forced to disclose a lot of personal medical details to justify why I couldn’t. People don’t understand and don’t want to learn. I’ll probably end up unemployed but at least I’ll be alive. @swimcatsmom , don’t go back. You are not overreacting.
Agree with everything said. I’d go ahead and call her and let her know that you are working at home. I’d mention again, if you haven’t, that you just can’t take the chance of exposing yourself to it and giving it to your husband.
What jerks, really. They know what they are doing and just don’t care. I also would consider another job when you can.
Finding a new job is going to be easier said than done.
Take a page from my sister’s playbook. She has done this for years during flu season. When someone comes in to her office (or anywhere near her) coughing and sneezing, she’ll grab a giant can of Lysol and start spraying it behind them, everywhere they go. It doesn’t take long for people to get the hint that sick people don’t belong in the office.
It’s been the law for years that anyone who wants one can get a 6 month extension just by asking. I’m not sure what the filing date law would help, maybe a tax accountant could fill me in. Would it do anything except relieve the need to ask?
I agree you’ve learned something important about your boss and should consider working from home near term, and other options later. We’ve learned a lot, good and bad, about a lot of people lately.