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I’ll have to hand my notice in won’t I?

124 replies

Trytoomanytimes · 27/09/2020 18:40

Had a week off work.
Just got a text from my colleague to say that out of 24 office staff 6 are currently off after testing positive.
Factory setting of around 100 people so I have no idea of how many of the shopfloor workers are currently off.
There is no way I can work from home.
I’m not at all happy about going back tomorrow. I have not been to a pub or restaurant, only go shopping when I have to and always use a mask etc. I’ve not been to see any friends or family and have been sensible. The biggest risk to me is now obviously my work place.
I have been there a long time, and it would cause them MASSIVE problems if I gave then 4 weeks notice tomorrow.
Money wise, we could manage for a bit, but I would have to find something eventually, but hopefully could find a job home based.
If my current job can’t be done from home, and I’m no longer comfortable going into the office, what choice do I have?

OP posts:
blueshoes · 27/09/2020 20:58

Yes. Lots of people lining up to take your job.

Barbie222 · 27/09/2020 21:02

Who else has honestly gone in when an outbreak like this has happened at their immediate work/office? (excepting people who work in covid wards and who have PPE which presumably the OP doesn't have).

Lots of people! If you were closer than 2m for 15 mins, you'd be asked to self isolate. Otherwise yes, people are going in to many, many workplaces, some without PPE like I do (teacher)

Di11y · 27/09/2020 21:06

Surely they need to close the office and give it a deep clean?!

swg1 · 27/09/2020 21:10

6 out of 24 have tested positive? Then no, don't hand your notice in. If you've had contact with any of them you legally need to self isolate. Do so. And ignore the idiots on this thread.

Littleposh · 27/09/2020 21:10

If you're going to work 4 weeks notice then what's the point of quitting??

LindainLockdown · 27/09/2020 21:11

I don't understand why you need to give your notice, but please be assured no one is indispensable, so no doubt your workplace will get by somehow.

StarCat2020 · 27/09/2020 21:11

OP I can’t remember the legislation but you have a legal right to remove yourself from a work environment that you have strong reason to think is a risk to your safety, without being penalised for that. That applies here
It is called constructive dismissal

MintyMabel · 27/09/2020 21:12

If my boss was demanding I came to the office, regardless of whether there were cases or not, I’d hand in my notice.

But, I have a years worth of mortgage payments in my savings account. I don’t think I’d have the option of doing so if I had less than that.

GarlicSoup · 27/09/2020 21:16

@Palavah

If you give them 4 weeks' notice tomorrow you'll still have to work your notice, won't you? So what difference would it make?

Is your workplace not Covid-secure?

Covid secure? Obviously not with a quarter of the workplace infected. Quite frankly it’s a ridiculous term anyway.
OpheliasCrayon · 27/09/2020 21:17

I'm vulnerable and am working as a teacher which is definitely not covid secure as I work in SEN where there is no distancing and no PPE. .... I can't tell you that you should go to work...but I'm not really sure what you're planning to do when you've quit ...as others have said good luck finding a job in this market.

I'm afraid the world has to keep on turning....nothing is going to be risk free...travelling to work isn't risk free - you could have an accident on the road (and it's more likely than you dying of covid). I fell and broke my back walking down the stairs for literally no reason whatsoever. Life has risks... I don't think quitting your job because people have covid is particularly rational.

katy1213 · 27/09/2020 21:17

Stuff it. I wouldn't turn up tomorrow. If that causes them problems, maybe it'll prompt them to do a deep-clean. I certainly wouldn't bother working out notice - you could have caught it and spread it by then.

Worriedmum999 · 27/09/2020 21:18

Have a cough for 2 weeks and be unable to get a test. That will buy you some time to see what happens and if more people test positive it might be shut down

OpheliasCrayon · 27/09/2020 21:21

@Staffy1

Aren't you supposed to isolate for two weeks if you have been in close contact with anyone that's tested positive?
OP has been off work for a week no?
Sakura7 · 27/09/2020 21:21

@Jeremyironseverything

Are people forgetting 6 out of 24 have tested positive and more might be incubating it? That's not health anxiety, that's sensible risk assessment.
This ^

I'm shocked by the casual attitude of so many posters here. This is a serious covid outbreak and OP is perfectly reasonable to want to avoid putting herself at risk.

Poppingnostopping · 27/09/2020 21:22

Lots of people! If you were closer than 2m for 15 mins, you'd be asked to self isolate. Otherwise yes, people are going in to many, many workplaces, some without PPE like I do (teacher)

So, if 6 out of 24 pupils you were in a room with one day were tested positive, you'd just all carry on? Or send a supply in the next day? No, you'd have PHE in, a deep clean, testing for some of the others, and self-isolation. Depending on the risk assessment would depend what you'd do going forward.

Care homes did indeed have multiple outbreaks in one home, and several care home staff members died. It was shameful. They should have had PPE.

You don't just have to put up with large numbers testing positive in your workplace.

Some people here are confusing general risk- i.e. I might come into contact with someone in my workplace, with actual risk, multiple people in my workplace have corona and so the risk to me going back in is quite high if there are other asymptomatic people about.

The whole point of Track and Trace is to track people who have it, trace those who have it, and tell them to self-isolate! That means most of the workforce in an office in contact with those 6 would need to self-isolate. Either the OP is going to be very lonely going back in, or they are not following this (if they tested positive very recently).

Op talk with your boss, talk to them about the safety measures, who is self-isolating, what public health says and take it from there.

Fruitsaladjelly · 27/09/2020 21:26

Unless you are going to drip feed that you are 85 years old with diabetes then you need to just get on with it. Covid is going to be part of life now. I think you’ll feel much better once you’ve had your first dose by the sounds of it, I think people are winding themselves up to the extent that the reality of having it is less than the fear by some margin.

Terrysnotyours · 27/09/2020 21:27

Why do you not want to go into work? Because of the 6 positive test results OP?

joystir59 · 27/09/2020 21:28

4 of my family members have had Covid-19- proven by positive test results. One of the four is a nurse, one is the nurse's son, and the other two are paramedics. Good job they don't have your attitude OP.

Mistigri · 27/09/2020 21:32

I think I might develop a cough that required 2 weeks isolation, because with 6/24 people already positive then in a couple of weeks your office might be close to protective levels of immunity.

Does your employer require mask wearing/distancing?

monkeyonthetable · 27/09/2020 21:33

I understand that you are worried, but bear in mind that for the vast majority of people it's a short-lived virus, like flu, so if you do catch it, then you will probably be fine. You are likely to have been at risk before the week off and come into contact with them. You could play for time and say you will get tested before coming in.

As long as there has been a deep clean, you wear a mask and maintain social distance, you are no more likely to catch it there than in a supermarket or on a commute.

I'm not saying it's right that you are put in this position, but losing your job is likely to cause far greater long term stress in the current economic climate than working under careful conditions in an office. There's no guarantee that you'd find a safer job, or any job within a reasonable time frame.

museumum · 27/09/2020 21:35

If 6 out of 24 in a single office are positive then surely the other 18 are sent home to isolate for 14 days!
I would call your boss and check. And if there are no measures being taken I’d be looking for a number for the HSE or PHE!

MadameBlobby · 27/09/2020 21:36

Is no one else having to isolate as contacts?

I wouldn’t be quitting I’m afraid, I’d take the risk of Covid instead which is likely to be a lot less problematic than long term unemployment, but if you have medical vulnerability it may be different for you . Not sure if it’s a gimmick but I bought these masks:

www.johnlewis.com/wise-protec-anti-viral-adult-face-covering-black/p5111198

They say they have some sort of protection for the wearer as opposed to just protecting other people, home bargains had them for £6.

mumwon · 27/09/2020 21:37

text
so sorry I have woken up with
a sore throat
a dry cough
my sense of smell & taste
(choose one of above)
I have tried to get a test all day but can't get one

cdtaylornats · 27/09/2020 21:37

That business needs shutting for 2 weeks.

That business might not reopen.

Terrysnotyours · 27/09/2020 21:37

@katy1213

Stuff it. I wouldn't turn up tomorrow. If that causes them problems, maybe it'll prompt them to do a deep-clean. I certainly wouldn't bother working out notice - you could have caught it and spread it by then.
Silly advice. OP will be exchanging Covid worry for finicial worry. That’s the reality at the moment. I know what I would rather.

They will hire another OP in a flash.