My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

MNHQ have commented on this thread

General health

Coronavirus quarantine and work

152 replies

VocalDuck · 26/02/2020 10:06

Posting in here for traffic really.

I got back from Italy at the weekend (in the north, but not a town that is quarantined or any current cases of coronavirus).

Following the advice on the news to self isolate, I asked my GP surgery as the town I was in (near Verona) wasn’t mentioned and was told to stay home for 14 days. However, whilst work support me staying home they are looking into whether it will be unpaid leave or not. There is little I can do to wfh and their current view is that I’m not ill, so it’s not sick leave. I don’t have enough annual leave left to take (and have handed in my notice so can’t even borrow leave or work overtime to build up hours once back).

I just wondered if anyone was experiencing the same and what their employers stance had been? I’m trying to get hold of ACAS so I’ve got as much info as possible for when my HR calls me back.

I suppose my AIBU is I feel it should be paid although I do appreciate I am well yet not working. However, it’s not like I can go out and do anything sociable or fun.

I’m hoping they were just caught off guard (this is probably fairly unprecedented in some respects) and after having a think and chat, will agree to pay. Although I wonder if they are worrying about large numbers of employees ending up in quarantine and the financial implications of paying them all.

YABU = unpaid
YANBU = paid

OP posts:
Report

Am I being unreasonable?

514 votes. Final results.

POLL
You are being unreasonable
30%
You are NOT being unreasonable
70%
Knowhowufeel2 · 26/02/2020 10:09

Can't see voting options, tbh, I think YABU but I'm not 100% sure on this one.

Report
geekone · 26/02/2020 10:15

I think this is difficult, I understand people need money and need to get paid but also how are companies meant to cope with paying people who are not able to come in to work?

Report
TheAugusta · 26/02/2020 10:16

I think it should be paid as otherwise people who can’t afford to take that much time off unpaid (most of us!) will be forced to go into work and that could lead to the virus spreading in a worse case scenario. However I think the state should pay this rather than employees because this is the public safety advice that they are giving.

Report
BabyWenger · 26/02/2020 10:17

Surely it should be paid.

Report
Crunchymum · 26/02/2020 10:18

It's a difficult one.

We have the option to WFH so it is an optione for us to self quarantine (and someone already has - they were in South Korea and Japan - returned 10 days ago - so were asked to WFH for 14 days!)

I think if the virus does continue to cause issue / reaches pandemic status then it really does need to be paid leave, to ensure people actually take it!!! Most people can't afford to take unpaid leave for that length of time!!

How paid leave can be made mandatory is another question though!!!

Report
WhentheDealGoesDown · 26/02/2020 10:18

I also think the state should pay as they are the ones imposing the quarantine/self isolation, a bit like how they pay if you have to do jury service, so similar to that really

Report
RunningAwaywiththeCircus · 26/02/2020 10:19

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Tulipan · 26/02/2020 10:20

If it's not an area in quarantine, and not under national uk guidelines to self isolate if returning from that town, I would go to work - unless they want to pay to keep you at home.
If the uk guidelines (not your gp) are to self isolate if returning from that town, then I guess you have to follow that regardless of lack of pay. Sorry tho cos it is crap!

Report
bugbhaer · 26/02/2020 10:21

This is what would don’t seem to understand when they bang on about “lockdown”. OP doesn’t get paid and reduces spending. Her work can’t afford to pay her, but neither is their business running - no income, no salaries paid, no tax paid. Things very quickly escalate.

Report
notanotherjigsawpiece · 26/02/2020 10:21

It’s unprecedented so may be worthwhile contacting ACAS or similar for advice. As a previous small business owner, having to close up and still pay staff would have caused me immense hardship. But I appreciate most people can’t afford 2 weeks unpaid leave either Sad

Report
Tulipan · 26/02/2020 10:21

I overheard someone in aldi talking about this yesterday - they were supposed to self isolate but wouldn't get paid. I moved away sharpish!

Report
helpfulperson · 26/02/2020 10:22

I would phone 111 for confirmation but my understanding is you only need to self isolate if you have symptoms unless you were in one of the quarantined areas

Report
notanotherjigsawpiece · 26/02/2020 10:23

Actually just reading this again - it doesn’t look as though you need to avoid work if you don’t have symptoms, unless you were in a lockdown area. I’ve attached advice from the UK chief medical officer.

Coronavirus quarantine and work
Report
HoneyBee03 · 26/02/2020 10:27

As PP have said, the government is advising that you only self-isolate if you have symptoms. Otherwise you can carry on as usual.

The only reason you need to self-isolate regardless is if you were in one of those specific towns. I know a few people who have just come back from north Italy and it's business as usual. So no, you shouldn't expect to be paid if you're just choosing to stay at home.

Report
WhentheDealGoesDown · 26/02/2020 10:29

I would go to work if you haven't got symptoms as that is the government advice so YABU for that but YANBU to expect to get paid if you are following government advice

Report
VocalDuck · 26/02/2020 10:29

Just to reiterate my GP said to self isolate and my employer agrees with me doing so.

OP posts:
Report
EC22 · 26/02/2020 10:29

If you have to self quarantine you should be paid, but you are not in that category.

Report
WhentheDealGoesDown · 26/02/2020 10:32

Are you showing any symptoms then, but I thought if you were you shouldn't go to the GP

Report
onalongsabbatical · 26/02/2020 10:32

If not returned from lockdown area specifically, you don't need to self-isolate UNLESS you have symptoms. Both your work and your GP are giving you the wrong info. Can ACAS intervene on your behalf?

Report
Hobbesmanc · 26/02/2020 10:34

We got back from the Venice carnival. I don't think your GP or your work are following current guidelines. You should only self isolate if you visited one of the quarantine zones or you are showing flu like symptoms.

Report
Tarararara · 26/02/2020 10:35

Your employer can't have it both ways! Either they accept govt advice and have you in the office as usual, or they ignore govt advice and insist you quarantine, in which case they need to pay you. Your GP's advice (which contradicts govt) is irrelevant in this situation. Present it as a choice to your employer.

Report
RunningAwaywiththeCircus · 26/02/2020 10:36

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

VivaLeBeaver · 26/02/2020 10:36

Well if they decide it's unpaid I'd tell them I'm coming in - see how they like that!

Report
Tulipan · 26/02/2020 10:40

Your GP is not the person to ask, nor is 111. You look at the national guidelines. If your employer still wants you at home then they can pay you.

Report
Froq · 26/02/2020 10:40

What is the actual advice? It’s all very wishy washy.

And when does it start from? Eg if you travelled in northern Italy up until 09/02, 14/02 etc?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.