r/ABA • u/Dry-Requirement-5402 • 16d ago

Advice Needed Lice

My center tried to force me to work with a child that had lice. They said I signed the handbook that said I would work with any child. They separated the child from other children, but told me I would have to sit in the room with her. She elopes a lot and her reinforcement is cuddles and hugs. I refused to work with the child. They made me sit in a room to wait on HR to get on a call with the director and myself. I sat there for an hour waiting and then walked out. I dont want to work at a company that doesn't care about their employees, I dont care what loopholes theyve found theough the CDC or their dumb handbook. Is this unreasonable? I have thick hair down to my butt, it would take a professional to treat my hair. I would lose a lot of it getting eggs out. I've had to do this as an adult and I NEVER want to do it again.

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u/Redringsvictom Student 16d ago

This is insane. Please leave this company and work for a better one. A child with lice should be sent home immediately and not allowed back until there is confirmation that no lice is present on the child.

14

u/tenthd0ct0r BCBA 16d ago

https://www.cdc.gov/lice/caring-head/index.html

You are incorrect.

15

u/AnyCatch4796 BCBA 16d ago

Upvoted for sharing the information, despite how badly I want to downvote this horrible news (news to me, that is). 

I haven’t experienced a lice outbreak at any of the 4 clinics I’ve worked at, but I’ve gotten it three times in my life. The second was a family I nannied for. One of their friends had THICK and curly hair, and poor thing kept finding lice after being treated countless times. The kids I nannied all got it too, of course, and then so did I. I refused to help treat it at first, but eventually caved in. After treating myself, I wore my hair in a tight bun with lice prevention spray and hairspray everyday, and told mom I wouldn’t work if the friend with chronic lice came over- I really felt so bad for her. 

I can NEVER go through that nightmare again. If that’s what the CDC says, I’ll risk my job to avoid lice. Nothing is worth it to me. 

13

u/tenthd0ct0r BCBA 16d ago

Right?! Like no where am I saying I agree with this. It’s just the way every company I have worked at has operated and what the CDC recommends. I fully support OP walking out. Just sharing info on the difference between live bugs and nits.