Did I do the wrong thing?

[QueenTrident]

Yesterday, my secretary told me that her grandson, who lives with her, was diagnosed with menengitis, but they didn't know yet if it was viral or bacterial. Since I'm pregnant and one of my colleagues is going through chemo, I kind of freaked. Called my dr and he said I could be at risk, if my secretary had it. I called Human Resources and we agreed that the best course of action, until the type of menengitis was determined, was to send her home. I sent her home, but agreed to pay her hours while she was gone (she's a temp).

The test results came back and her grandson has the viral version, which is not contagious. So, she came back today and is very, very upset with me. She is now looking for another temp position. She feels I jumped the gun and made a big deal out of nothing.

I told no one else, except my Dr., the building nurse and HR. I also paid her for 5 hours that she didn't work.

Did I do the wrong thing?

 

[zurgswife]

No...she should have called in if she was unsure...meningitis is very very dangerous...not to mention deadly.....

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

No, you didn't.

She's out of line.

 

[Hillbeans]

Hmm....tough call. I would hope that if I had a grandchild living with me that was diagnosed with some form of menengitis i'd make it a point to not be around those with a weakened immune system nor someone who was pg until I knew what was really wrong. If my employee called me and said they didn't know, i'd have advised them to stay home until they did.

You may have jumped the gun slightly, but I hope she understands why you did. You did pay her for the hours as well, so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Mimi Q]

No. When your pregnant, I don't think you can be too careful. I don't understand why she's so upset if she was paid for the time.

 

[LMC]

I think you made a wise decision. I had two newborns put in the hospital for meningitis and until the hospital new if it was viral or bacterial, they quarantined the room. It is very contagious so until you know what you are dealing w/ you have to be careful. I would never consider going around a group of people if I thought I may have been exposed to a contagious something!

 

[disneysteve]

If my boss wants to send me home and pay me for the time anyway, I certainly wouldn't complain

I think you handled the situation perfectly.

 

[Lisa F]

Absolutely not. If you sent her home WITHOUT pay then I can see why she would be upset... but essentially she got a free vacation, so what is she upset about? She needs to get over it.

 

[QueenTrident]

I think she's upset because I was more concerned about myself and my baby than her grandson, which I was. I did apologize for that today and made a point to bring her grandson in a teddy bear for the hospital. She jsut said that she can't work for someone who cares only for herself and isn't compassionate to others in their time of need.

 

[tiggersmom2]

You DID NOT jump the gun! Meningitis is VERY contagious if it is bacterial. She was PAID to go home and she is complaining?! SHEESH - IMO you don't need an employee with that attitude - I would be glad she was looking elsewhere!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

As hospital nurses, these issues come up a lot for us, especially when someone is pregnant. Our Infection Control Dept has clear guidelines - there aren't many people we can't take care of when we're pregnant though we must use universal precautions which wouldn't be available in an office. But basically, you can't catch something via an uninfected person, so unless the grandmother was known to be infected you weren't at risk. With that said I think it was ok you asked her to go home to be safe (would think she'd be glad to go) and were generous to pay her for her time since she's not a regular employee.

Last week I took care of a 92 year old man with pneumonia who was really hard of hearing so I had to put my face near his so he could hear me speak. He never stopped coughing in my face (though he was cute as a button) and sure enough, 4 days later, I had a nice upper respiratory infection, lol!! Thank heavens I was healthy but I've been pregnant on the job and gone through chemo while still working in the hospital. You really don't want to take chances when you don't have to.

 

[lulugirl]

I think your actions were reasonable. Sounds like she's a bit of a drama queen. OF COURSE you were more concerned about your baby!!!!!

 

[QueenTrident]

Well, there have been other issues - this is the third or fourth family catastrophe she's had she started temping in early August. I really don't mind if she leaves, I was just wondering if I had been a bad manager (this is my first experience as a manager.)

 

[snarfer1]

Queeny....

You were absolutely correct!

Your temp has some nerve calling you on the carpet for not caring. She placed EVERYONE she came into contact with (at her home, her commute, her shopping and her workplace ) at risk.

She is the selfesh, uncaring freakazoid! Not you!

Tell her that you gladly accept her resignation.

In the words of my 3 y.o. DD, this temp is a Poopy Head!

(Can you say Poopy Head on the DIS?)

-Tony

 

[ckret01]

First of all this is just my own personal opinion. On that note.....Whether she got paid to go home or not she should have went home anyway just to be cautious to those around her. My father was hospitalized last summer for 2 months b/c he got meningitis. For over 24 hrs they werent sure whether it was bacterial or viral. They put him in a quaruntined(sp) room. I almost lost my father last year b/c of that and it was one of the most scariest moments of my life to see him in the hospital like that. He wound up having bacterial. There was a man next to him half his age that came in with the same thing and passed away. You did absolutely NOTHING wrong nor should you even feel bad about anything. If she didn't go home I would have!!!!! especially if I was pregnant or not pregnant. She is inconsiderate for not being concerned about the people around her so let her find another job. I know this might sound mean and I hope I dont offend anyone but I am totally on your side.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

Originally posted by QueenTrident
I think she's upset because I was more concerned about myself and my baby than her grandson, which I was. I did apologize for that today and made a point to bring her grandson in a teddy bear for the hospital. She jsut said that she can't work for someone who cares only for herself and isn't compassionate to others in their time of need.

Well wasn't she more concerned with herself than about you and your baby? I also think that if I had a grandson in the hospital I would want to be with him, not at work. So was she more concerned with work than with her grandson? If she wants to leave let her, and hire someone else.

 

[Beth76]

No, you did absolutely nothing wrong. 1) You gave that woman paid time off. 2) You have every right to be more concerned for your baby over anyone else, including her grandson.

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by QueenTrident
I think she's upset because I was more concerned about myself and my baby than her grandson, which I was. I did apologize for that today and made a point to bring her grandson in a teddy bear for the hospital. She jsut said that she can't work for someone who cares only for herself and isn't compassionate to others in their time of need.

She's out of line. You are not only caring for yourself but also that precious burden inside, as well as your other employees.
If I had to choose between myself and my unborn child and someone else's grandchild, I know what my decision would be.

 

[jbthi]

You handled it perfectly.

How is it going to help her grandson, for a pregant woman to be exposed to this? Even if the chances were almost nil that you could catch anything, you would have been a basket case worrying about it if you found out that it was bacterial.

June

 

[Lachesis00]

Paid time off? Shesh.

I say you did the right thing... esp w/them not knowing what kind it was.

Do you even know her grandson? Of course I'd be more concerned for my pg self.