To be cross with M&S for this?

[MindfullWWer]

I work for M&S, 2 and a half years, not one day taken as sick leave. Tried to follow Boris "strong" advice to self Isolate due to underlying conditions today. M&S Policy says as it's only "advice" I have to take it unpaid on this "occasion" ....meaning don't try it again, you work Dodger, and I'm expected back in on my shift into the heaving food hall as that's the only place making money. AIBU to be feel unsupported by M&S.?..Daily Mail feel free.......

Seems to be fault on the part of Boris too. He should be insisting. Sadly there is still more concern seeming to be given to profit over personal considerations.

that is shocking! i would feel totally unsupported. you are being sensible. look after yourself . I was in there today and they have changed their policy on clothing to no returns...?

Unfortunately we are in unprecedented times and paying staff for isolation has huge cost implications to any business even profitable ones. At the moment it isn’t enforced isolated.

It’s difficult as there seems to be so many interpretations of ‘underlying illnesses’. Someone at my work rang in today as apparently it’s been suggested that obesity is a underlying health issue, and anyone with a BMI over 40 needs to self isolate. I guess employers want to be supportive but there will also be people who, shall we say, will try it on a bit.

My DH works in a public facing role for the local government authority and they've told him the same.

It's shit.

Semantics.

This hasn’t yet been recommended. We’ve just been told that it will be recommended in the upcoming weeks. When it is recommended, I imagine (hope!) that you will be paid. It’s the same with holidays. If you’ve booked a holiday and you decide it’s best not to go, it’s your loss. If the official advice that you don’t go, you can claim a refund. You’re jumping the gun!!

You've worked there two years not twenty and you aren't sick or self isolating due to sickness in your household so unfortunately M&S don't have a choice - they can't pay everyone indefinitely- fake is as paid annual leave instead

It's tough times for all. "Enforced Isolated" will come, but sadly for some of us (if we bow to work bullying) it will come too late. This is the sandy beach before the Tsunami, don't be fooled by the calm.

This has really angered me. I got a long email from M&S about. Coronavirus, thanking colleagues, mentioning more staff in food and ending with

Throughout our history, our customers, colleagues and communities have relied on us during the most challenging circumstances. We don’t take that lightly and in the coming weeks we will share more about what we are doing to help you and the wider community, particularly its most vulnerable members.

Obviously not the vulnerable staff!

Unfortunately looking at Acas you don’t seem to have rights to sick pay unless you get a fit note, and I’m sure it would be really hard but you could try.

Absolutely disgusting. Most Companies are the same. Johnson needs to get on with locking down this country and stop his crap waffling confusing everybody and allowing Companies to get away with this or they will have blood on their hands.

Icare, I will be taking up my GP surgeries time again tomorrow on my day off to try and get one.(Had to call for advice today) I really like my colleagues at M&S, It's not about me losing a day's pay, this is so much bigger. It's a cruel and heartless policy and the NHS don't need extra work.

My DH works in a public facing role for the local government authority and they've told him the same

That’s really shit, the LA I work for is insisting all those in the vulnerable group work from home or don’t come into work going forward - my colleague with asthma doesn’t want to but management are insisting

Unfortunately I think the assumption was that most ( all) people with underlying conditions and risk factors will not be working- because the majority are retired

Althea, please watch Boris in action and read the Government's website, I'm in no way jumping any gun. But opinions differ.

I understand your concerns, howeverif everyone is self isolating by choice all businesses will grind to a halt and most smaller than M&S will just fold if they have to pay for everyone self isolating by choice and they are not taking any income.

Imagine if workers in ASDA, Aldi, etc self isolate too. It is not just M&S. Companies should provide proper masks, gloves, and procedure to make people feel a bit safer though. And the sad truth is with the inevitable economy downturn you are replaceable.

Dish, there are millions of people under 70 who have underlying issues who are classed as Vulnerable by the NHS and Government, too many to mention here....just not M&S. Bad form.

I know that, you know that. The decision makers in number 10 didn’t think about that

Businesses cannot afford to pay everyone who ‘self isolates’ as I said above it’s naive to think any business regardless of how profitable they are can absorb the cost of a large amount of their work force going off on full pay.
I guarantee you are well enough to work for the interim until decisive direction is given.

I think at the end of this there will be a massive rise people suing companies.

Looking at the Gvt website - what it actualkly says is that they "strongly advise" you to "work from home, where possible".

Woolly as fuck, but given the wording I would say M&S aren't completely in the wrong for making the call they have.

The problem is, if BJ actually wants people to be doing "social distancing" he needs to use stronger language.

Many businesses are refusing to pay people to isolate. I know someone who was told if they did so then there would be no job to go back to. Universal credit for housing benefit takes weeks to pay and SSP until then just isn't enough (as enhanced pay has been "suspended"); there's no way to know if they'd be allowed to continue claiming after isolation either.

They don't qualify on sickness grounds as that's why they're working where they do they lost their ESA and appeal was refused as well. DLA to PIP transfer failed as well. Like me they're in multiple vulnerable groups. When ill she can have two weeks SSP but given her lung condition she likely won't need it. GP won't issue a sick note for three months isolation either.

Some businesses are using masks and gloves and that's causing people to panic as they think they're infected. Also some of us are allergic to latex so using latex gloves is really bad, but apparently the others are "too expensive".

The "guidance" is far too wishywashy. And too many people are being fooled by promised protection - this is a government who promised the genuinely ill they'd continue to get benefits when incapacity benefit ended and ESA changes meant the genuine were protected, likewise DLA to PIP. All of it was rubbish. The might pay universal credit from day one but his former people prove their identity? There's no jobcentreplus in my county must go to another county and they refuse to do homevisits here due to distance (the irony). Average wait here with identity check can be as little as eight weeks, more likely much more.

I guarantee you are well enough to work for the interim until decisive direction is given.

It isn't about being well enough. It is about being at risk of severe consequences and thus taking measures to avoid catching CV.

lt's not just M & S, unfortunately. Someone sent me this link tonight.
www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/health/how-supermarkets-are-putting-customers-risk-coronavirus-245021

His former = how do (autocorrect having a moment there!!)