If a member of staff tests positive in a workplace should all everyone be informed?

[shesellsseashells99]

As the title says.

Just want to add to that, it is a workplace setting where we have to wear PPE.

Do they legally have to tell you?

I don't know about everybody, but their close contacts should be contacted by track and trace. I guess its a fine balance between caution and patient confidentiality.

Should have proof read that before

I've wondered about this too.

My understanding is its only close contacts of the case, so people within 2m for 15 mins or 1m for about a minute - or something like that.
If everyone wears PPE, and properly, without mixing at break times then I suspect no one is a close contact

Close contacts certainly. Everyone else I think depends on the workplace. There are five of us in my office, so would expect to know (hard not to!) A large place with hundreds or thousands of employees probably not.

It's a job where you all work closely together and can come across a number of people during the week where you work very closely with them, they wouldnt be able to send those people home as we would have no staff...I have heard that we have a couple positive cases. I dont want to know who but good to know as I would hold off seeing my mum who has an underlying condition.

I think morally workplaces should tell employees so that any staff member who has vulnerable family can keep away from them for 2 weeks if they can.

I'm guessing the 'guidance' says only close contacts should be informed which is shit. Why is it so cloak and dagger? Why not just be transparent?

We were. And anyone that was in the office that day wfh till they have a negative test.

We’re mostly wfh and pop in if we need to. We were not told who it was —but of course we all knew before the day was out—

@Gobacktothe90s

I think morally workplaces should tell employees so that any staff member who has vulnerable family can keep away from them for 2 weeks if they can.

I'm guessing the 'guidance' says only close contacts should be informed which is shit. Why is it so cloak and dagger? Why not just be transparent?

Yes, see we had this a couple months ago. A positive case, they actually did tell the staff but everyone wanted to know if they worked with that person but they didnt tell anyone as I think the guidance they were given was if both parties are wearing PPE then they dont need to tell close contacts, there was a bit of panic etc But it was nice to know as I declined to see some friend that week and family just in case. However I'm now hearing we have more, but we havent been told but I'm wondering if it was because of the staff reaction last time, they are keeping it under wraps. I now dont know whether I should be being extra cautious like not seeing my mum or not.

@Gobacktothe90s

I think morally workplaces should tell employees so that any staff member who has vulnerable family can keep away from them for 2 weeks if they can.

I'm guessing the 'guidance' says only close contacts should be informed which is shit. Why is it so cloak and dagger? Why not just be transparent?

Nothing is transparent where I work. Nothing!!

Yes, they should be transparent. Obviously for confidentiality they don’t have to disclose the exact person but they should let you know there’s been a case.

@W3dontdoduvets

Yes, they should be transparent. Obviously for confidentiality they don’t have to disclose the exact person but they should let you know there’s been a case.

You would hope so, but I dont think they will say. They informed us once before and the management were so stressed about it as everyone wanted to know if they had worked with that person and management were inundated with emails and calls

Yes, they should be transparent. Obviously for confidentiality they don’t have to disclose the exact person but they should let you know there’s been a case.

I do think in smaller workplaces it's probably fairly obvious who it would be?

I don't know why it's all cloak and dagger like it seems to be, but agree it's unfair to those who have vulnerable family members etc to not know.