SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I'm asking here because I love getting many perspectives and ideas on how to navigate situations. Background, I work as a nutrition support dietitian at a large hospital with many COVID patients. I do not go into patients rooms with COVID, started back when there was shortages of PPEs and continues right now because we are so understaffed we can't afford anyone getting sick. I/We are a bit COVID weary but still take all the precautions out and about despite being vac'd and boostered. I share an office with another dietitian who from all appearances over the past almost 2 years, was the most COVID cautious of our team. She has a young adult daughter who is living inbetween mom's house and boyfriends house. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving (11/23) she called her mom at work and said she and her boyfriend had tested positive for COVID. Daughter works as a CNA at a Peds urgent care and has to miss work. My officemate called our employee health and because she spent all day shopping with her daughter maskless, she had a high risk exposure and had to go home and test so many days out from exposure. Came back to work the day after Thanksgiving with a negative test. On this Monday, she was talking about this weekend and mentioned that her daughter went to the mall on Sunday. I had also gone to the mall on Sunday with my daughter, thought I saw her, but thought, no way that it could be her as she was COVID positive and at the mall MASKLESS. She also looked awful. So I thought, that I was wrong, it wasn't her. I asked my officemate if she went to Forever 21, she called her daughter, and yes it was her. So now I'm getting pissed, because of all the Fing people that aren't taking COVID seriously and this girl is going to nursing school January. When my officemate gets off the phone, I mentioned that she didn't look good when I saw her and I actually switched lines because I didn't want to be next to her. She replies that her daughter just looked tired when she came over for dinner that night.......WHAT? It has only been 5 days since her positive test and you are having dinner with her again? She said that she counted 10 days from when symptoms started. I said you said over and over she had no symptoms when she tested positive and only got them a day or two later. I had that text as officemate was still at home at that point. She said no, her symptoms started the week before and she counted 10 days. I said you went to a play and shopping all weekend with someone with symptoms? I said you need to call our boss as you need to start your quarantine again as you've had another high risk exposure. I left the office as I was supposed to meet a patient and I was pretty pissed and was afraid of what I was going to say. I ended up talking to my boss (who was my coworker/friend before moving into boss position) who offered to call my officemate. I said, no, I'll talk to her and give her the chance to call you. Went back up to office, open door, and officemate is crying and yelling at me about how dare I call her stupid and unsafe and she knows how to count etc. She left the office yelling at me going down the hall about how she's not stupid. I think the only words I got out were, you need to tell our boss about this which she yelled back NO. So I contacted my boss and said she isn't going to tell you.

The next day, employee health called her and she must have lied, because she was cleared. I am at this point pissed that she is accusing me of yelling at her (did not raise voice), calling her stupid (absolutely not) and calling her a liar (I did but not to her face). I ended up having to meet with HR yesterday and giving a statement. She has deleted her message about the day she said her daughter got symptoms (in hospital secure texting service) so I have no proof. She did tell all the rest of the team over and over how her daughter didn't have symptoms when she tested positive. I have contacted the messaging service to see if they can retrieve recalled messages, haven't heard back the answer.

I've been working out of someone else's office since Monday, we have plenty of space because as I said, we are understaffed. I am pissed because she told my boss that I yelled at her and called her names. No one believes her because she is VERY volatile, I'm the only person that has been able to share a space with her because I'm so laid back. She pisses EVERYONE off. I am facing having to move out of my office, because NO ONE will let her move in with them. We had a very good working relationship and I sad to see that go. I am pretty sure her daughter lied about her symptoms so that she could come over for Thanksgiving dinner (their family celebrated that Sunday) and her mom who never challenges her, went with it. I'm less worried about my health/risk but more worried about the patients she sees. I feel obligated to report this but initially was getting push back because we aren't supposed to question and report our coworkers. The difference is that she TOLD me and texted me this, I have to report.

Anyway, I'm off today because I work the weekend. I'm very sad about my work right now. I don't even know what I'm asking, but feel like I've been in the twilight zone the past 2 days.

Man! I feel ya, million pieces. I work in a SNF and share an office with possibly the most irresponsible Covidiot on the planet. The only good thing right now is that she’s working night shift because we are so short staffed.

I’m exhausted. With all of it. After my dad passed away I lost every bit of passion or energy. I’m a little scared of the head space I’m in right now, tbh.

I know it’s too late but I’ve started screenshotting texts in our secure encrypted text app when I feel I might need proof of something later. Probably against a rule, but they’re sure not gonna fire me.

I’m sorry your coworker is such a tool.

That is a very tough situation she put u in but you did everything right. I hate it when people lie and say you were on the attack when it was really them.

You are right to notify the boss- if you dont, and they find out you knew about her daughter going out with covid and the office mate being around her as well, you could get fired. So you didn’t just do the right thing morally, you also did the right thing for your own self interest.

What a bunch of unnecessary stressful nonsense. You were put in a difficult position and did the right thing. Thank you for caring enough to do the right thing!!

My sister and all but two family members got covid. Ten of them kept it a secret from everyone including people they had come into contact with. So that includes people going to work and school. They are not vaccinated and do not wear masks. They did not do quarantining properly either.

Selfish idiots walk among us.

((((MP))))
That's a bunch of BS. Obviously you are much better off in your own office by yourself, and not being exposed to this psychopath.
Remember to follow the rules, social distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands. Hopefully you will be safe.

May you stay safe and healthy.

Thanks everyone for your responses. It seems as it no one wants to push and she's getting away with her lies. Got word back from texting service, they can't retrieve the messages. I'm going to have to probably move offices myself, which kinda pisses me off. Starting to dislike work.... I'm just in an overall pissy mood which sucks this time of year because my SO is so Fing cheerful.

Unbelievable.

Despite her lying etc.you are better off in another office. She will continue to get exposed by her daughter.

Sad thing here is she had an opportunity to do the right thing and didn’t, her loss.