Covid- paid time off for a nurse

[SaulGoodmansNiceHair]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone can help? I’ve tested positive for Covid for the 3rd time. I have had all 4 of my jabs but this is the worst I’ve felt with it. I am a nurse in a outpatient clinic, I have only worked in this role for 7 months as I am newly qualified.

I had 4 weeks off in January after an operation (could not be avoided I’d been on the list 3 years!) and because I have only worked for the trust for less than a year I am only entitled to 4 weeks sick pay. As well as this, I was put on a. Stage one warning for absence which was great considering I literally could not have worked

Anyway I have now tested positive and I am really ill. I have offered to do admin from
home (calling patients, sending emails etc) but they have said no and that as I am sick I need to be off work totally but my issues are a) they have said this may trigger a stage 2 warning and b) as I have had 4 weeks sick pay I won’t be paid for the time I’m off (10 days is still my trusts policy)

is this correct? I’m in a total panic I am a single parent and cannot in any way afford not to be paid for 10 days. I have had a Google and saw that last year Covid wasn’t counted towards your normal absence levels.

any help would be great, I have emailed HR but they are only contactable by email due to Covid (🙄) so don’t know how long it’ll take for them to respond!

Ex-NHS HR here. Special conditions were in place for Covid absences up until April this year. From April it is managed in the same way as any other absence in terms of pay and triggers. You’ll get SSP - would you be eligible for Universal Credit?

Stop taking that vaccine. It clearly is not doing you any good at all.

Stop testing. There is absolutely zero benefit to you, now that all the special conditions have stopped.

If you are ill, just stay off work until you feel better.

All the stage stuff is correct. Up until last year, I hadn't had a day off sick for 8 years but because the illness was complex (for the trust), I was on stage 3 before 2 months were up, to try to bully me back or force my resignation.

Oh no I'm an HCA at an NHS hospital and I caught covid from a patient, became poorly Thursday & been off sick since then!! Been told to do tests today & tomorrow if they're negative I can return, but if not I have to stay off for 10 days!! I've been quite unwell but feel better today.

Unfortunately I was off sick with stomach pain and extreme nausea for one day two weeks ago. But I had been poorly with that for several days before my sick day.

I'm in trouble aren't I.

You'll get SSP, so won't have zero pay, anf surely you just stay off while you are ill and then go back, may be less than 10 days

I would contact the RCN if you cannot get through to HR. There is a covid sickness section on rheir website.

If you are working in nhs in Scotland then things are different. Covid leave is still recorded as special leave and you'll get full pay

Sadly I’m in England. I will happily work from home which is what other staff have done previously when isolating but they have stopped offering this

I’ve just checked RCN and it does say I should be paid. I’m going to speak to my manager

Your Trust will have an RCN rep who might be able to help you and act on your behalf

How do you know you will need 10 days off? If they aren't offering any special conditions for covid, and you will be in trouble when you return, then you may as well go back to work after 3/4 days however long you actually feel unable to work for. They can't have it both ways

My trust policy is still 10 days from day of positive test, then have to prove 2 x negatives LF’s.