For everyone's sake-Stay home if you are coughing heavily

[Boxerfan]

I am cooped up because I'm older with lung issues. I had to do a return from Amazon and the Kohl's is close by. I don't have a cell phone but if you write all the return #'s down they can enter them for the return. On my way to walk a bored doggie-no big deal right?

I was the only in the return line yeah- but as soon as I placed the package on the counter she coughed without covering. I pretended to look at a item at the far edge of the return area. She coughed again at least into her elbow. She also had the red mucus eye look. I was starting to get terrified frankly.

She told me she couldn't do the return. I said I had done it this way before but at this point she could keep the package. I was no way in hell going to touch it after she handled it.


I just called Amazon and the return did go through.

Should I call Kohls & complain. I know employees are stretched & I don't want to get her in trouble. But management should pull anyone with an active cough off the floor if they don't want terrified "customers"

Did I over react?. Probably. I don't care I just hope I kept far enough away.

[Wounded Bear]

1. You mean I shouldn't (hack! hack!) go to a Trump rally? (hack! hack!)

I kid! I kid!

(sorta)

[Bayard]

2. I go through fits of coughing

Between the asthma, chronic bronchitis, and acid reflux. Even with my various inhalers. I do work from home though, and don't go out much.

Some people are just keeping on keeping on. They have no insurance, or don't get paid for sick days. I think I'd leave her be.

[Rorey]

4. I'm allergic to some perfumes

I can go through a few minutes of appearing to be at death's door just because someone nearby is wearing an allergen. I've even had to walk out of stores to recover. As soon as the I'm away from the offender, I am fine, but I'm sure some people wonder what's going on with me, thinking I'm ill. It sucks.

[Chainfire]

3. By the time you are coughing heavily

You have already spread your joy to others.

[IronLionZion]

5. I cough heavily from hyperactive airway disease which is like asthma

not contagious and have had it my whole life.

Sure, if I had a red mucus eye look I would stay home. Because for the first time in my life I have a good job with a fantastic company that allows work from home. Retail workers are not so lucky. They can't work from home. Many of them don't have paid sick days either like I do. There was a time when I didn't have paid sick days and would have to lose pay if I missed work. It's not a good situation to be in when rent is due and bills have to be paid.

Then there are people who say wear a mask. I had bought some good quality masks for when I was traveling in high pollution zones, ironically I was in China 10 years ago and it's very difficult to breathe there if you have lung issues. But I have since given away my masks to elderly immunosuppressed relatives, one of whom recently died anyway from cancer.

Coughing Kohls workers are nothing compared to the many scrubs wearing health care workers shopping for fresh produce at your local grocery stores and riding public transit after a shift at the hospital. It's great that they're working in healthcare, but it would be better if they changed into street clothes when they leave work.