Should employer say if someone has tested positive? I'm immunosuppressed.

[Littlemiss74]

Hi
I know a couple of people at my work have been 'working from home' this week. One of them sits on same floor as me and I know she was feeling unwell at the weekend and so told to work from home. I had some emails from her in the week so think she is probably ok snd just being cautious.

I am immunosuppressed and so am really anxious about the whole thing. HR are very hot on confidentiality and data protection which I completely respect but would they have to tell us if an employee does get the virus? I feel I need to know if I have been around someone who has it because of my situation.

I would hope so but they may not.

I would expect them to advise you and your colleagues if someone has been diagnosed but absolutely not to disclose which particular person. Medical data is confidential!

At our work (council) we've just been asked today to advise our managers if we have underlying health conditions, so that managers can assess your risks and put a plan in place. Think seems a sensible approach, for all businesses.

That sounds like a good idea @ethelredonagoodday

Could you ask your employer if you can work from home because you are immunosuppressed? I think that would be perfectly reasonable.

@strawberrygrape yes I could ask them and I think they would probably agree to it but I can't work from home forever can I. I mean how long should I be asking them to work from home for? Also I would feel a bit of a fraud as I will still need to leave my house for school run, shops etc.. life can't stop when you have children can it.
They might think well if you can still go out at home, then you can come to work!