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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should be isolating? Work wants me in

47 replies

Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:13

I’ve had one dose of vaccine so far.
At the weekend my grandad was very ill. He was found wandering the streets at 4am, he lives alone. This happened two nights in a row. Referred to memory clinic.
We all rallied round making sure he wasn’t fleeing the house, we all spent the weekend with him.
It now turns out he has covid, first test was negative. He’s back in hospital confused and now testing positive.
Mother in law is now positive and really sick. We last saw them on Sunday. She did a lateral flow test which was positive and a pcr test just yesterday.
My household which includes me, dh and dd did pcr test yesterday. Waiting on results.

Work are saying despite me having one dose of vaccine and despite me been in close contact with two people with covid I’ve to come in because track and trace hasn’t pinged. I’ve tried to explain that pcr results can take days to come through. Grandad doesn’t own a mobile phone and I’ve been told to get him to give the nhs our info for the app. He doesn’t know our mobile numbers and is suffering confusion, plus we can’t visit so that’s impossible!!
I don’t have symptoms and will probably test negative but nhs website says I’ve to isolate for ten days….but I’m pissed off because I work closely with my work colleagues and they will be fuming if I come in for three days or until the app pings, knowing I’ve been in close contact with two people with covid!
My main colleague has just become a grand mother two days ago, which could stop her visiting her grand child. Work are insistent I need to come in. And won’t pay me otherwise.

OP posts:
ditalini · 18/08/2021 09:16

That's going to be seriously short sighted of your work if you come in, then test positive and report all your work colleagues to Test & Trace.

Some people don't have the wits they were born with, or will you be leaned on not to report them as close contacts?

AdventuresDownRabbitholes · 18/08/2021 09:18

Legally, yes, you should be isolating. I couldn't afford unpaid time off work though.

But why have you only had one jab so far? All my friends, even in their 20s, are double jabbed already.

Original poster
Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:22

I’ve told them three times that grandad can’t submit information to track and trace, he doesn’t even know what it is.l, he’s in a hospital bed hooked up to oxygen and he has no idea what our mobile numbers are. He has a house phone that’s it.
By the time he gets home and isn’t contagious anymore, our incubation period will be over anyway! It makes no sense.
Mother in laws will ping on my app but she sent the pcr test away only yesterday so I will be going into work until it pings…potentially infecting work colleagues as I go.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:23

@AdventuresDownRabbitholes because I was ill with the first one and couldn’t afford to take any more time off work so was waiting till i was on annual leave.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 18/08/2021 09:23

According to Government guidance, you should be isolating if you have symptoms or if you have been told to self isolate through Test & Trace. As neither has occurred, your employer is technically correct.

www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 18/08/2021 09:23

As you are not double jabbed, yes you should isolate certainly until your test results comes through and probably for the 10 days anyhow as you are such a close contact, but if T&T hasn't been in touch yet, you might have difficulty in dealing with your employers.

Have T&T been in touch with your positive family members yet? Have you been named to T&T as a non-double-jabbed close contact, so it's just a case of waiting until they call?

Yes, your employer is being foolish, because unless they know everyone else is double-jabbed-+2weeks, you coming in when there is a strong chance you're about to be put into isolation is just reckless

HeckyPeck · 18/08/2021 09:23

I would say I have developed a change in taste and smell.

That way you have to isolate and they can't complain about it.

What dickheads they are.

Purplewithred · 18/08/2021 09:24

Technically they are right - you'd only have to self isolate if you got pinged, had a positive test, lived with someone who tested positive, or had 'old' covid symptoms.

Can you call Test and Trace for advice? were you in contact with MIL enough to get T&T?

LittleOwl153 · 18/08/2021 09:24

Can you ring 119 and give your mil/pil details explain the situation and see if they will trigger t&t for you.

Alternatively I'd be telling your employer that you are a close contact and don't meet the criteria for exemption so you will not be in and if they decide not to pay you, you will see then at an employment tribunal?

What's your sickness policy - can you just say you are sick? It will cost them as they cannot reclaim ssp but you shoukd still be paid the same unless you are on the 4? day ssp wait

Frazzled2207 · 18/08/2021 09:25

I’d be calling 119 and seeing if you can self-declare as a close contact somehow.
You’re right there seems to be a loophole here you are clearly a close contact yet the positive person doesn’t have the capacity to name you as such
What about MIL? If she is positive could she name you as a close contact?

I don’t think a negative test really helps as you could get poorly later

Frazzled2207 · 18/08/2021 09:28

Legally though at least for your your employer is correct. I think if you go in you mask up and let your colleagues know the situation and try to distance yourself as much as possible. And do an lft every day.
Sorry you have such shitty employers. I hope you stay negative but at the same time hope this situation comes back to bite your employers somehow at some point

Original poster
Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:30

Yes mother in law will enter track and trace details but she needs the code from the positive test results and as she’s just sent it off, will probably take a couple of days. She tested positive on lateral flow which doesn’t count and her dad has covid and she’s very ill with it, so much so a dr came out last night, so it’s certainly covid.
We spent two days with them both. In the living room, mainly watching football.

OP posts:
MaskingForIt · 18/08/2021 09:32

Go into work and cough a lot. They’ll soon send you home.

Frazzled2207 · 18/08/2021 09:33

Well it sounds like you will get the call at some point. See if 119 can help otherwise looks like you might have to go in until you get the call.

cathcath2 · 18/08/2021 09:34

Ask work to put it in writing and then send it to your MP for 'clarification'. Then you have covered yourself. Work are stupidly short-sighted.

And fyi for PP we are only 10 weeks from when 25-29 yr olds became eligible and 9 weeks from when 21-22 yr olds became eligible (less than 9 weeks for 18+). With the system inevitably crashing on the first day and booking around work, it is perfectly possible that OP hasn't reached vaccine1+8 weeks quite yet.

LittleOwl153 · 18/08/2021 09:38

Is your MIL in a position to enter the track and trace details for her husband who clearly not able to it himself currently? Or is your DH or a sibling able to do it for them?

lastcall · 18/08/2021 09:39

Email them the details of your contact and ask for clarification that they are insisting you come in. Insist that it be in writing so there is no confusion.

LittleOwl153 · 18/08/2021 09:42

Just reread it's mils dad who is +ve but I would still have though 119 must be able to allow someone to enter these details on his behalf?

RicStar · 18/08/2021 09:46

I am confused. No one has to isolate for close contact anymore in any nation of the UK only if you yourself test positive. Work are quite correct to ask you to come in. You can take extra precautions and work should still be following general covid health and safety advice.

Original poster
Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:48

@RicStar only if you are double jabbed

OP posts:
RicStar · 18/08/2021 09:48

Oh sorry I forgot that is only for double jabbed people or children, but you still don't have to isolate unless T&T contact you. Work are still correct.

FuriousCheekyFucker · 18/08/2021 09:50

Technically and Legally your employer is correct.

Which is the best type of correct.

Original poster
Mojitoqueen · 18/08/2021 09:53

Yes looks like I will need to go in but will explain the app will ping in the next couple of days. I’ve gave them all the info. If my colleagues are mad they can take it up with them. I’ve did my bit.
It’s just a worry because grandad tested negative the first time he had confusion. Nearly a week later he’s testing positive. Scary.

OP posts:
Justcallmebebes · 18/08/2021 09:54

This is exactly the same at our place. Total disregard for anyone needing to isolate due to close contact. One colleague went to Butlins the day after her assistant tested positive.

They wont pay anyone if they're having to isolate.

They're lawyers so assuming they know exactly what they can and can't do legally!

knittingaddict · 18/08/2021 09:58

@AdventuresDownRabbitholes

Legally, yes, you should be isolating. I couldn't afford unpaid time off work though.

But why have you only had one jab so far? All my friends, even in their 20s, are double jabbed already.

Well lucky you. My daughter is in her mid 30's and only just had her second. She had all her jabs as soon as possible.