Page 12 | For telling my neighbour he should stay home

queensonia · 2022-03-23T18:16:09+00:00

My next door neighbours both tested positive for COVID on the weekend. Today I saw the husband getting in his car to go to work. He works for a medium sized public company with a lot of staff. He said he was told that he’s not legally obliged to isolate and that if he felt well enough he should still go into work. I told him he was morally obliged to isolate because he could infect colleagues who may suffer far worse than he is currently and pass it on to their relatives who may also get very ill or die. Is this what everyone is doing now.? In my industry we are pcr tested twice a week and not allowed on site until the test is negative.

Meadmaiden · 24/03/2022 00:02

I'm also shocked that someone would go into work with covid. Surely any work needs to be done remotely? It's as if people have forgotten that covid kills. While there isn't a legal obligation to isolate, there is a moral one.

Would the people saying 'go to work and spread the virus!' say the same regarding influenza, chicken pox, norovirus? Should we all send our vomiting kids to school, because who cares now? There needs to some common sense.

It's incredibly short sighted of the employer too, as it will lead to increased staff sickness.

What is the point in testing, if the neighbour had no plans to alter their behaviour on testing positive?

XenoBitch · 24/03/2022 00:04

@Meadmaiden

I'm also shocked that someone would go into work with covid. Surely any work needs to be done remotely? It's as if people have forgotten that covid kills. While there isn't a legal obligation to isolate, there is a moral one.

Would the people saying 'go to work and spread the virus!' say the same regarding influenza, chicken pox, norovirus? Should we all send our vomiting kids to school, because who cares now? There needs to some common sense.

It's incredibly short sighted of the employer too, as it will lead to increased staff sickness.

What is the point in testing, if the neighbour had no plans to alter their behaviour on testing positive?

Not all work can be done remotely. OP said her neighbour works in the film industry. I am sure you would complain if your soaps or a film you were looking forward to, was delayed.

DearlyBeloathed · 24/03/2022 00:04

Surely any work needs to be done remotely?

Yeah, because that's always possible 🙄

Meadmaiden · 24/03/2022 00:08

xeno No I wouldn't complain about a delayed soap or film! If this is what people have time to complain about, then they clearly have a very charmed existence.

Original poster

queensonia · 24/03/2022 00:09

@Meadmaiden. No my neighbour doesn’t work in the film industry. I do. His job can’t be done from home either though so I know that wasn’t an option for him. I just hate the idea of people being forced to go into work . I know he wasn’t happy about it either so I don’t think it’s fair to blame him either

OP posts:

BSideBaby · 24/03/2022 00:15

I wonder if HMRC and my mortgage company will take payment in 'morals'?

Gotta love those who have no idea how a large proportion of the population lives. OP, have you ever thought about becoming an MP?

bellabasset · 24/03/2022 00:23

We've got the 2nd highest rate in the country here and we're being advised to go back to hands, face and space. There's no hospital visiting. A relative has just returned home and been contacted by track and trace and LFT is +ve.

Original poster

queensonia · 24/03/2022 00:24

@BSideBaby

I wonder if HMRC and my mortgage company will take payment in 'morals'?

Gotta love those who have no idea how a large proportion of the population lives. OP, have you ever thought about becoming an MP?

Great idea! Thanks for the suggestion. Would love to have a secure job with an actual salary

OP posts:

Original poster

queensonia · 24/03/2022 00:31

@Meadmaiden

xeno No I wouldn't complain about a delayed soap or film! If this is what people have time to complain about, then they clearly have a very charmed existence.

Actually It’s because the film and tv industry are so strict about Covid that your dramas and soaps aren’t being delayed. We don’t have masses of crew off sick because you can’t come on set if you’re positive so it’s not spreading through the crew. Same with norovirus last year. Anyone who caught it from their kids did the sensible thing and stayed home. And no we don’t get sick pay

OP posts:

limitedperiodonly · 24/03/2022 00:37

SleepingStandingUp · 24/03/2022 00:38

DH is expected to do to work unless he's too ill to do so. And then he gets statutory sick. So no, he wouldn't be staying home for over a week feeling perfectly fine without a legal requirement to do so

PlasticCupPolitics · 24/03/2022 00:45

“ Exactly. It’s his choice to go to work but what choice do his colleagues have?”

“I just hate the idea of people being forced to go into work. I know he wasn’t happy about it either […]”

Which is it then OP? His choice as you first mentioned? Or was he being forced to go in?

SleepingStandingUp · 24/03/2022 00:46

I wonder how many of these posters would be happy to know that the guy opposite them at work has Covid and prioritised his mortgage

You can't actually expect people to reservist give up their job because they have covid and you don't want to sit by him. Losing his job isn't just about paying one mortgage payment. It could mean them losing their home. I'm not fully down with UC but I I imagine getting sacked because you didn't go into work when you were supposed to because you morally objected to it is rather frowned upon

Original poster

queensonia · 24/03/2022 00:56

@PlasticCupPolitics

“ Exactly. It’s his choice to go to work but what choice do his colleagues have?”

“I just hate the idea of people being forced to go into work. I know he wasn’t happy about it either […]”

Which is it then OP? His choice as you first mentioned? Or was he being forced to go in?

Really not sure to be honest

OP posts:

ChimbarasiKotapaxi · 24/03/2022 00:57

Of course he shouldn't go to work - nor should his work require him to do so It i dangerous for others who have no choice

nettie434 · 24/03/2022 00:58

I looked up the government guidance after reading this thread. At the moment, assuming it's England because of what the OP's neighbour said:

People who have COVID-19 are no longer legally required to self-isolate. Workers or customers who have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, or a positive test result, should follow the public health advice to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They should not attend work. If a worker is unable to work from home, you should talk to them about the options available to them. For example, they may be entitled to statutory sick pay.

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/offices-factories-and-labs

So legally you can go to work or anywhere else but the government encourages you to stay at home. It looks as if decisions are being pushed back onto employers - which is presumably why the OP says the neighbour himself was not happy with the situation.

Apparently there's going to be new advice on 1 April (note date irony) and of course free Covid tests will no longer be available except in workplaces like hospitals or care homes so presumably more people will end up going to work without testing.

Nothing's really changed from the early days of the pandemic and the big divide between those who can work from home and those who can't because of their work.

Wednesdayafternoon · 24/03/2022 02:00

@nettie434 very well said!
Do you have any ideA what the new advise will be? I just as wondering how they will approach this now with new tests because how can they expect people to keep testing if the test are not free?!

SD1978 · 24/03/2022 02:53

As the current rules stand- he's right. There is no longer covid py, so it will come out if his sick pay, which they may not be able to cover as a family- so ultimately not your business.

BritWifeInUSA · 24/03/2022 03:12

Glad you’re not my neighbor. Imagine having to ask your permission to go about your personal business. Did you Police their shopping in 2020 to make sure they only bought essential items? Did you find their “daily exercise” to make sure they did not take more than an hour? Do you check to see who has chicken pox in the neighborhood?

You need a different hobby. Seriously, have a stern word with yourself.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/03/2022 05:54

@queensonia

Thank you all for your many and varied opinions . I’m loving the irony of everyone telling me I should mind my own business …. on Mumsnet which is literally a site for sticking your nose into the lives of total strangers 😀

People come on here asking for opinions and advice. I doubt your neighbour asked for your opinion.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/03/2022 05:56

@Carla2601

You’re all coming at this from a do what he likes POV. I’m suffering with infertility. We’ve spent our life savings on treatment. I have to go to the hospital every other day and I don’t have a car so I have to take public transport. One positive test and my treatment will be stopped. Mid way through. So I’d really rather if someone is contagious they just stay home and avoid causing me a further two years of pain (whilst I save up again) that can potentially be avoided

With all due respect, strangers aren't bothered about you. They're bothered about feeding their own families and paying their bills. You aren't their priority.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/03/2022 05:58

@TwtrT

We live in a really weird, selfish little place here don't we.

Are the people saying YABU Daily Mail and Sun readers?

Of course he shouldn't go into work and infect people with COVID, it's outrageous.

No, we're people who understand that not everyone can afford to put others ahead of themselves at all times. We live in the real world, the one where people don't have savings to fall back on and are choosing between heating and eating.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/03/2022 05:59

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Waxonwaxoff0 · 24/03/2022 06:00

@Meadmaiden

I'm also shocked that someone would go into work with covid. Surely any work needs to be done remotely? It's as if people have forgotten that covid kills. While there isn't a legal obligation to isolate, there is a moral one.

Would the people saying 'go to work and spread the virus!' say the same regarding influenza, chicken pox, norovirus? Should we all send our vomiting kids to school, because who cares now? There needs to some common sense.

It's incredibly short sighted of the employer too, as it will lead to increased staff sickness.

What is the point in testing, if the neighbour had no plans to alter their behaviour on testing positive?

Not everyone can work remotely, it might shock you to find out.

OfstedOffred · 24/03/2022 06:22

Some of the hospitals that are struggling are struggling because the NHS continues to ask well staff with Covid to isolate (not a requirement with any other virus.....).

"Zero covid" isn't possible, continuing to shut down/restrict our lives and economy isnt possible either and has huge impacts on mental health and childrens development.

We have to live with this and that means accepting it will be endemic and circulate constantly like flu, other coronaviruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses etc.