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 hope not. I can't really imagine anyone I know has done that. My friends and family are all decent honest people!
When I've self-isolated I've worked just as much as just work from home. No break here!

I would love to do this however I would feel guilty.

I have already got more breaks due to lockdowns as I wfh and have no commute saving an hour a day. Also, dcs activities were curtailed so less driving around each evening after a day at work.

I could understand people working in shops feeling annoyed as all the wfh people are saving on commuting time and lunches.

I work in a school and we currently have about 8 staff off with Covid. I think they are all honest but I’ve discovered that school don’t ask for proof of a positive test, so you never know!

Well if you are a piss taker it's also a good reason not to get vaxed, as unvaccinated have to isolate if a close contact or family member gets it.

This is why the service we are receiving from companies is so shite at the moment. Shirkers.

I wouldn't stay indoors one minute more than I have to. We have had covid in the house at various points over the past year or so and I HATE being stuck at home.

Yes. Someone at my previous workplace (NHS) had to self isolate 3 times because they were a close contact. He never actually got it. He’d come into work and then receive a message saying his friend is positive. All bullshit because he used to go home with a smirk on his face.

I tested positive this morning, and feel like shit. Don’t know how or why people would tempt fate by lying like this.

Some kids DS 16 knows got themselves named as close contacts last summer when they weren't to get time off school. They hadn't processed that they also had to miss football, going out etc

I wonder whether i have done subconciously or am just burnt out. Fuckers getting rid of staff, not replacing them and then making us work harder. Believe me waiting 4 days for a negative pcr test was lovely. (Still had to work and suffer reduced pay though.) Maybe some companies are reeping what they have sown?

Sadly i'm starting to have suspicions with my own company. Based on the fact one close contact double vaccinated but not boosted had 10 days off on full pay whilst another still had to work because he had the booster (jobs cant be done from home). At this moment in time, and not something I'm proud of, I might be ever so slightly tempted myself such is burn out. Unfortunately I can wfh so wouldn't matter.

Surely most employers ask for proof of a positive PCR? Mine do, I assumed that was the case everywhere but maybe other places are more trusting!

Yes, of course they are.
Taking the piss- same with everything really.

Not done it, wouldn’t do it, and don’t know anyone that’s admitted to doing it.

@neverbeenskiing

Surely most employers ask for proof of a positive PCR? Mine do, I assumed that was the case everywhere but maybe other places are more trusting!

You don't take a PCR now, just an LFT where you tell them what your result is.

Student dd was doing a roaring trade in forging positive PCR emails for people before everyone stopped having to take them. So easy enough to get the "proof" even then!

Yep, the same people who order postal tests every time they cough so they can isolate and realllly drag out the test result, oh look it's negative..

Wow I’ve never heard this before !! I can’t think everyone would do this thou ! People who do it thou can’t be team players with who they work with it’s just not fair

YOUR DD, @CovidCorvid?

Bloody hell.

I haven’t done it but if I didn’t like my team at work I probably would. Several people in my wider organisation have had 5-7 periods of sickness “due to Covid”. So it’s definitely going on.

Of course people are doing this, you're naive if you think otherwise

I couldn't do this as the guilt would ruin it for me (if I don't go to work it makes everyone else's workload higher) - but I understand why people do. There has to be some perks to this horrible period of history!

Of course people are going to do it, and no they're not going to actually observe the isolation. It amazes me that anyone is surprised by this. Honestly I've had jobs that were such a nightmare I'd have been tempted myself, if the option had been there at the time.

Working for a section of the nhs and we had a huge jump in the number of staff off with covid from Christmas eve until jan 2nd, funny that! Its gone back to lower levels since then

I’d love to do this if I wasn’t self employed

I thought about doing it this week when my 2 daughters tested positive and I had to take more unpaid time off work to care for them. I thought about saying it was me so I could get paid but I knew if I tested positive in weeks to come then it would be obvious it was a lie and I just can't risk that.

They tested positive in October so it's the second lot of unpaid dependent leave.

Oh, it definitely happens! I’m NHS.

Especially I’m the beginning when it was simply isolating if you had a new cough or temperature. It was really frustrating. Tended to be the people you would expect IME.

It’s been a shit couple of years to be a nurse but people take the piss hasn’t helped.

I've had to isolate 6 times I think so far due to myself or family having symptoms.

I have 2 kids in senior school and they have all been since they returned to school.

My DD's school seem to be super strict, they nearly sent her home once as she complained she was cold in class, and was the only one c/o being cold - as it is they removed her from the class for half the day till they decided to let her back in.

The one time she did have covid I almost did not test her as she had a temperature for about 6 hours and that was it (and this was the 3rd time in as many months I was going to have to isolate) - no other symptoms - negative on LFT - but ended up getting her a PCR just in case - and she was ruddy positive.

It seems from my workplace, those with kids at school have certainly had to isolate more then those without.

I am currently isolating for myself, after a positive LFT - they got rid of the nearest test centre by us just before xmas so if I had to get a postal PCR it would be a pain, and it took over 6 days to get the result from a postal last time. When I could go to the walk in without fail I got the result in about 20 hours.

I could arrange a PCR through work as I work for the NHS but again this is only a drive through service.

I am utterly fed up with it all now.