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AIBU?

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Original poster

Dd been sacked for isolating

228 replies

ShittingHell · 23/01/2021 15:46

My 16yr old has a part time job. Me and her dad had tests earlier this week. Unfortunately she was supposed to work so had to call in and say she couldn't.
Today she gets a text saying she's let them down! She's replied and said she can prove the tests were genuine and she had to isolate by law but they've not replied. This isn't bloody right is it?

OP posts:
BrokenCircle · 23/01/2021 15:49

Have they actually sacked her?

HermioneWeasley · 23/01/2021 15:53

How long has she worked there?

Mooselaurels · 23/01/2021 15:55

When did you test positive and when did she inform her work that she was required to isolate?

How did her employer tell her she was fired?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 23/01/2021 15:55

You don’t say what about the text makes it clear they’ve actually sacked her.

HermioneWeasley · 23/01/2021 15:57

Sorry, just seen her age - she won’t have 2 years service. I don’t think she has any legal recourse - it would mostly likely be an unfair dismissal if she had the service to claim it, but I think this is a loophole for employers. She might be able to claim without 2 years service under health and safety?

SuperbGorgonzola · 23/01/2021 16:04

There's not enough info here to give an answer.

What is the job?

Did she give as much notice as she could so that they could get cover?

Have the actually said she has lost her job?

NekoShiro · 23/01/2021 16:09

When I was younger and in my first job I took a day off due to having the flu (I worked at a fast food place) and they never called me back in after that so I'm not surprised, she probably isn't sacked though, my work likes to try to guilt people like that out of being off sick but it's shocking that a company would during the pandemic

peak2021 · 23/01/2021 16:11

They have just been lax in replying surely? If it is a job in retail and they are short staffed as a result, they may be not able to do so yet.

Aprilx · 23/01/2021 16:13

The text they sent doesn’t suggest she has been sacked.

ApolloandDaphne · 23/01/2021 16:16

What sort of job is it? I can;t think what is open at the moment apart from essential retail. The text wording you posted doesn't suggest she has been sacked. Was there more?

PinkSnowAndStars · 23/01/2021 16:16

What exactly did the text say? It doesn’t sound like she’s been sacked from what you’ve said

LIZS · 23/01/2021 16:17

Have you had results?

BlueSussex · 23/01/2021 16:19

Eh?

Bookriddle · 23/01/2021 16:21

I thought you only have to isolate if the test come back positive, but you dont say

SinisterBumFacedCat · 23/01/2021 16:21

Is it a customer facing job? Are her employers happy for her to go in and infect customers and her colleagues? If so I would share it on their social media pages, then customers can be aware of how little regulars they have for the safety of others. Fuck the job.

PhatPhanny · 23/01/2021 16:22

Regardless of her time in the job, if they have dismissed her for isolating you could claim automatically unfair dismissal.

majesticallyawkward · 23/01/2021 16:24

Did you test positive or was she just isolating because you had symptoms?

Did the text say she has lost her job? 'Today she gets a text saying she's let them down!' Isn't a sacking, it's saying they felt let down.

How long has she had the job?

Seafog · 23/01/2021 16:25

But that doesn't say she is sacked?

EmeraldGreenGlass · 23/01/2021 16:26

Just for those unclear. If a family member is getting tested for Covid, you are advised to isolate, while they await their test results.
When to self-isolate

Self-isolate immediately if:

you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
you've tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
someone in your support bubble has symptoms and you’ve been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started
someone in your support bubble tested positive and you’ve been in close contact with them since they had the test or in the 48 hours before their test
you've been told you've been in contact with someone who tested positive – find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
you arrive in the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk – see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK

redsquirrelfan · 23/01/2021 16:27

@PhatPhanny

Regardless of her time in the job, if they have dismissed her for isolating you could claim automatically unfair dismissal.
I don't think that is correct, although it should be.
user1487194234 · 23/01/2021 16:33

No wonder they estimate that only 17% of people self isolate

MadameBlobby · 23/01/2021 16:34

I agree @redsquirrelfan. I think it should be automatically unfair to dismiss someone for having to isolate but I am not sure it is. Unless she could try and somehow bring it under health and safety or whistleblowing but not clear on what OP has said.

Skipsurvey · 23/01/2021 16:37

they sound irresponsible and pathetic.
fingers crossed you are not positive and she can stop isolating.
why didnt she test?

Redglitter · 23/01/2021 16:38

Unless there's more than the text you've mentioned i don't see why you're taking it that shes been sacked.

coconuttyhead · 23/01/2021 16:41

@EmeraldGreenGlass

Just for those unclear. If a family member is getting tested for Covid, you are advised to isolate, while they await their test results. When to self-isolate

Self-isolate immediately if:

you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
you've tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
someone in your support bubble has symptoms and you’ve been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started
someone in your support bubble tested positive and you’ve been in close contact with them since they had the test or in the 48 hours before their test
you've been told you've been in contact with someone who tested positive – find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
you arrive in the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk – see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK

Exactly this. It is unbelievable that some people STILL don’t know that they should be isolating if a member of their household have symptoms and are awaiting test results Angry