Covid - is this something people are genuinely doing?

[alldaysleeper]

A colleague disclosed to me that out of 4 periods of self isolation for them having Covid or family members contracting Covid only two of these were genuine and they were done to have time off "just to take a break". They said it was no questions asked so why not and lots of other people are doing the same. I've honestly never come across this and was surprised by the sheer brass neck of this person especially in disclosing it. Has anyone else come cross this as I can't believe it's as common as this person would have me believe.

I've not done it and don't know anyone who has admitted it but I'm sure lots of people will have. It's a dream come true for folk who take the piss.

Hadn’t ever crossed my mind that people do this. I couldn’t.

On the other side of this, DP is self employed so if he doesn’t work he doesn’t get paid. He’s absolutely terrified of catching Covid as he doesn’t want to take time off work. Mainly because of the loss of money but also he worries a lot about letting down his clients.

I've heard of Teenagers doing this to get off school but not working people.

My employer is quite light touch but they ask for confirmation of test results and you can't fake a PCR in the same way as a lateral flow.

At my workplace, everyone works through actually having it (from home) unless they're totally bedridden so it wouldn't really work!

I was speaking to a (large) store manager and she said that she could have told you from the moment it started who would have regular periods of isolation and who wouldn't and she's not been wrong in any of them.
She also knows at least a couple (from Social media) who were still going out over the time they were "isolating".

I guess those people don't have two under two I've never done it, nor has anyone said this to me but I can imagine it's not uncommon.

Not endourcing it but I know of several people at work and school who have done this. Usually as a way to take a few days off/ staycation / stay on holiday longer / take the kids out of school for a term time break. School / work don't check pcr results so....

I started a thread about people lying about covid to get out of social/Christmas/family plane and was largely told I was unreasonable and it's a normal thing to do.

I would imagine that lots of people do this !

I've suspected people of doing it. I couldn't, I'd be too scared of being found out!!

I imagine that some people will be doing this. For us though we can both still work at home. So having to balance looking after a child and Wfh means that we defo are not getting a break of any sort

@Justcallmebebes

Definitely would have done this as my employers are shite. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the pandemic they suspended all sick pay so if you catch it and have to isolate, you don't get paid

That's illegal surely?

Like the cunts who make bogus insurance claims to get a new carpet, there will always be some

^^
This I think! And they’d be the type to call in sick when they’re not anyway - maybe wouldn’t have as long off work but it’s the same principle.

I think employers do need to ask for proof.

I bet these same people have broken the actual rules when they didn’t feel like following them.

I wouldn’t do this - I’m just not a dishonest dickhead.

I started a thread about people lying about covid to get out of social/Christmas/family plane and was largely told I was unreasonable and it's a normal thing to do.

^^
You do just get some rogue weird threads some times - where people all give the opposite answer to a consensus you’ve read on numerous other occasions. Moral - don’t listen to MN!

Oh god no. The idea of being trapped at home with toddlers for two weeks is horrific. Working front line NHS is like a spa break in comparison.

I think most of my colleagues continued wfh too if they caught it (with the exception of those who were really ill with it)

I have a friend who is a consultant in a hospital and he said that it's rife. Everyone is burnt out and are taking a break while they can. Unfortunately it just piles the stress on to other colleagues.

A school head was sacked for doing it. Off sick with Covid allegedly but seen at airport getting on holiday flight by fellow pupil 😱

Absolutely people are doing this. If you are in a job that pays sick pay without proof like mine then it’s very very common indeed. I haven’t done it myself but I know LOTS who have.

I work as a medical secretary for the NHS, yes it’s rife in the service, no line managers every ask for proof, one persons has isolated 8 times and has had Covid twice since April 2020, works from home as well.

4 episodes is a lot. I'd have thought most employers would be a bit suspicious even if they can't say anything. Plus if they're vaccinated they don't need to isolate so I assume they're not vaccinated. Which is why some companies such as Morrisons are stopping sick pay for such employees having to isolate due to contact.

I have a colleague who won't get vaccinated, so has to SI every time they come into one contact with a positive case. We work in a school 🤦

@Winniemarysarah

Of course people do it. We were down from 2000 employees to 400 over Xmas/new year. What a coincidence that over 3 quarters of the workforce caught Covid over Xmas 🙄

They didn't make the rules and with an estimated 0.5 to 1m real world daily infections, its not improbable.

Don't know anyone who made up stuff as most firms weren't paying or would expect you to WFH.

However, i know several people who wouldn't test so they could continue working & not lose wages.

Yes, I can believe it OP. I was talking to an electrician a few weeks ago, he said that he was the only one working in the area as everyone else was taking advantage of COVID because the company is paying them.