Is DH's company unreasonable?

[MrsWarleggan]

Whole household had to be tested Wed's night. Due to waiting for results DH took leave yesterday. All came back yesterday as negative.

DH went back into work today and greeted a Co worker with "Good Morning" and was completely blanked. He said good morning again only slightly louder and got "Stay away from me with your covid shit" A stand up row ensued and DH's boss walked into the situation and told DH that he had to wear a mask all day. DH replied that he didn't have to as we tested negative and pointed out that when a fellow employee tested negative at the height of the peak he returned the following day and wasn't required to wear a mask. His boss replied "if you want to work for this fucking company you will wear a mask" DH replied that if he was that concerned then perhaps he should go home and self isolate for 14 days. His boss threw back that if he did that he would only be paid SSP. DH said that he would take another leave day (doesn't work on a Friday) and walked out. He's now sitting at home moping.

His company is being unreasonable - YANBU
DH is being unreasonable and should have just sucked it up and put a mask on for the day - YABU

The boss has acted appallingly and unprofessionally here.

And also clearly confidentiality is missing here as surely no one other than management should of been aware of your DH Covid test to begin with.

I would ring H&S at you council and raise your concerns on no Covid Policy being in place, and the issues you have had this morning.

Do not ring his works, email HR about everything to ensure this is documented.

@dementedpixie

Why would he alone need to wear a mask if he tested negative? If they were that worried about it then everyone should wear a mask. Being singled out for no reason is not on or fair

Because he’s potentially been exposed, the tests aren’t 100% accurate and it can take several days from exposure to test positive anyway.

It does sound like he was spoken to harshly however you have admitted this is the way they are at the company.

Even if they did have a company policy this would need to be reviewed in line with guidlines so what happens now may not be the same as before.

As has already been said it can take a few days for symptoms to occur so a negative test does not give him the all clear.

It sounds a horrible place to work but your husband is as ill-mannered as they are.

So, an employee was concerned about working with your DH and his response was basically "so what?"

If your DH had any empathy, he would followed the instruction to wear a mask and to make life less stressful for his colleague. Not exactly a team player - it would make me question whether he really has been bullied at work before, or just been awkward.

Employer hasn't done everything right, but neither has your husband. No one is covering themselves in glory here...

@cardibach it was the child that had symptoms (probably due to MMR injection) and they tested negative so there was no exposure for the dh so he won't be incubating anything

[quote dementedpixie]@cardibach it was the child that had symptoms (probably due to MMR injection) and they tested negative so there was no exposure for the dh so he won't be incubating anything[/quote]
I’m aware of that. It just doesn’t seem like the boss had that information due to the way the conversation seems to have gone. I was just answering why he might want this employee to wear a mask and not any others.
The whole work set up seems bonkers and not somewhere I’d want to work, mask or no mask.

Sounds like an all round horrible place to work, but your husband sounds like he is just as much of a problem than everyone else.

What does he do? If he has the relevant skills in a tough job market, I would suggest looking for another job. But then it might take him time to adjust to a normal 2020 working environment!!

There doesn’t appear to be a policy. That’s the entire point.

Which is why the OP's DH, instead of throwing all his toys out of his pram, should have said something like "oh, Dave, i didn't realise that's the policy" and followed up with something like "let's not talk about private medical stuff here, can we go into your office so i can get up to speed on the new policy?"

And then when it became clear that there isn't one, to make that point calmly and ask manager when he could expect to receive a copy. At which point if he really couldn't face working with a mask, making that point and requesting a further day off.

No histrionics, no shouting, and the company now aware that, yes, they need a policy. Which is government guidelines.

Really? So on being asked to wear a mask, your adult husband stropped like a toddler?