Shingles in the workplace

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A colleague has it, took the meds early and says she's fine to be at work. Doctor didn't sign her off.

According to the NHS, you can't catch shingles from someone with shingles but you can catch chicken pox. Chicken pox can be dangerous in pregnancy or for those with compromised immune systems (e. g. under going chemotherapy).

So there a huge fuss. We have one pregnant woman (who has had chicken pox, so imo is making a fuss for the fuss' sake) but we also have a man who's wife is undergoing chemo.

Who is the onus on? Should the shingles stay away?

Should the pregnancy/husband stay away (on what grounds? I. E they're not "sick").

Should work be insisting on one or the other?

Or is it just one of those things and a chance we take in the working world, after all you don't know what bugs you come into contact with at the supermarket etc?

Thankfully it won't be my decision, but I just wondered what everyone thinks "should" happen

CP can only be caught from shingles by contact with the blisters. If they are covered there's not a risk. If they are on the face it might be different.

Pregnant lady is not unreasonable, you can get chicken pox twice. Could be catastrophic for her and unborn baby especially as I understand it.

Husband to lady going through chemo also not unreasonable.

However, if Doctor says shingles is not severe enough to have sick note and is being treated with anti virals, that's a tough one.

Would at least expect workplace to immediately risk assess the safety of the pregnant lady as she's an employee.

They don't have any legal duty towards the husband's wife, but morally I'd argue its the right thing to do as well.

Is there scope for home working of the shingles person? Occ Health need to be involved in the risk assessment and decision making. Urgently.

Pregnant woman should be fine, as should the husband if he has had cp. if he hasn't, he's pretty stupid not to get himself vaccinated.
As long as the shingles person has all the patches covered, there shouldn't be a problem. She's probably feeling like shit though, but if she can't get signed off what should she do? Will the employer let her work from home? Pay her without drs certificate?

If the blisters are fully covered by clothes or dressings and the person with shingles is scrupulous about hand washing if they touch the blisters then it should be OK.

I had shingles and my gp said I was fine to work (in a school and also with pregnant women) because I felt well (although bloody tired!) and the blisters were covered by clothing.

Yes, that's the advice shingles lady is getting from her gp cakeninja and she says she feels fine. It's everyone else who's making a fuss. TBH it's the usual suspects, who aren't actually affected themselves, who seem to be most "concerned"

It's a really tricky one, I had shingles whilst pregnant both times and although no danger to my unborn child, it happened that I needed my 20 week scan and I had to be taken in in isolation at the hospital (clearly lots of pregnant ladies there, hence ultra careful!). I did work once I felt a bit better.

As others have said, you do need to come into contact with the blisters directly or indirectly in order for it to pass.

I suspect the employer probably just needs to ensure minimal risk of cross infection and hopefully the person with shingles will take extra precautions/avoid any chance of physical contact.

No advice except I had shingles and felt really really ill. Wasn’t able to work even if I wanted to.

currently at work with shingles having beem given the exact same advuce from my gp as your collegue op. anti virals and ensure they are covered. mine are on my back so always covered. branch manager is pregnant but simply said it's fine i have had cp..