Was this illegal? What would you do?

[thesmilinggirlfriendx]

Hi, (name change for this)

I need some clarification on what happened at my partners place of work.

SO..... My partner is a key worker. The incident happened just before Christmas.

My partners work colleague did not tell anyone about this until this week..... his wife tested positive at home, so did his child. The colleague still came to work even when he knew this. He had also taken the test before going into work. He went to work and worked with various others. Later on, he tested positive and has not since returned to work.

Partner and colleagues are absolutely furious now they know. They do not know what to do, as in whether to report to management or not.

1. Is this illegal?

I have told my partner that this must be reported. But they all feel bad as they do not want the colleague to lose his job in these awful times.

2. what would you have done? I would've gone straight to management. How dare this colleague be so STUPID!!!!!! ITS PEOPLE LIKE THIS THAT ARE THE ISSUE!!!!!

It is a legal requirement to self isolate as a household contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19

@ChristmasCovid

It is a legal requirement to self isolate as a household contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19

@ChristmasCovid thank you

It's people like this who don't listen to the rules that cause a chain reaction of positive COVID cases :( worrying

Could the colleague have come into work because he was worried about work pressure or letting others down? Or worried about his attendance record?

It is very worrying, anyone that is classed as a contact with the positive colleague 2 days prior to his symptoms started or positive test if no symptoms will also have to self isolate now, this is a legal requirement too once the have been advised.

@ChristmasCovid

It is a legal requirement to self isolate as a household contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19

This. I would not snitch for a harmless breach. But this is life and death. www.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/v7/tell-us-about-a-possible-breach-of-coronavirus-covid-19-measures/

Let it go. No harm occurred to you or to your husband. The colleague made a judgement call based on who knows what and to be honest their are so many assumptions in your post. Perhaps his wife had symptoms but not yet a positive test.
You will end up punishing his family for what benefit?
In December, I had to self isolate from Dec 2 to 28th because my household came down with covid one by one (apart from me!) and if I was a single parent without support, perhaps I would have had to go out to work or to buy food. Unless you know exactly what happened and why, just move on.

@Mummyoflittledragon what about when people come in with flu? Do we get the police involved then?

@MagicMabel

Let it go. No harm occurred to you or to your husband. The colleague made a judgement call based on who knows what and to be honest their are so many assumptions in your post. Perhaps his wife had symptoms but not yet a positive test. You will end up punishing his family for what benefit? In December, I had to self isolate from Dec 2 to 28th because my household came down with covid one by one (apart from me!) and if I was a single parent without support, perhaps I would have had to go out to work or to buy food. Unless you know exactly what happened and why, just move on.

No harm may have come to op of her husband, They may have asymmetric. The colleague may have come contact with members of the public that might not be so lucky. He would have been payed anyway

Totally reckless behaviour

• asymptomatic

@ChristmasCovid

* asymptomatic

@ChristmasCovid this was my thoughts when my partner told me about it. Reckless indeed

Just interesting seeing others peoples views.

It's up to the team how they deal with it and whether they report or not but if it was me I would've reported it

Thanks for all your useful info :)

@MagicMabel

Let it go. No harm occurred to you or to your husband. The colleague made a judgement call based on who knows what and to be honest their are so many assumptions in your post. Perhaps his wife had symptoms but not yet a positive test. You will end up punishing his family for what benefit? In December, I had to self isolate from Dec 2 to 28th because my household came down with covid one by one (apart from me!) and if I was a single parent without support, perhaps I would have had to go out to work or to buy food. Unless you know exactly what happened and why, just move on.

@MagicMabel his wife and child tested positive before he went into work.

Just interesting seeing peoples views that's all.

Thank you

I would report. His behaviour was very ill judged, put other people's lives at risk, and was illegal to boot!
There needs to be a huge attitude change in the wider population,
and people who put others at risk need to be held to account.
Im CEV, live on my own and am fed up with having to shield for so long due to other peoples' irresponsible behaviour.

They are only exempt at work.
Very ill advised but I don’t think my conscience would allow me to report them. Tricky though.

Yeah, stupid of him but pre coronavirus, it was generally seen as an achievement to be proud of, going into work even when you're at death's door. 🙄

How would they Prove it

@Heyahun

How would they Prove it

PHE would have access to details of when his family tested positive. His workplace would have details of when he attended work.

They put 2 and 2 together.

@ChristmasCovid
Nobody has to isolate now because he tested positive over 10 days ago and hasn't been in work since (and therefore anyone who did need to isolate would now be out of isolation).

[quote StatisticalSense]@ChristmasCovid
Nobody has to isolate now because he tested positive over 10 days ago and hasn't been in work since (and therefore anyone who did need to isolate would now be out of isolation).[/quote]
True I missed the before Christmas bit - but he should have isolated & so should his contacts once he knew he was positive.

@borntohula

Yeah, stupid of him but pre coronavirus, it was generally seen as an achievement to be proud of, going into work even when you're at death's door. 🙄

@borntohula yeah I remember those days when I would call in sick with the flu and have a fever and cough and on my return get the ninth degree return to work meeting asking for proof that I was too sick to come in or if I was just being lazy.. those days are gone. Thank goodness because when working in the office when someone had a cold or flu everyone would get it!!! It would run rife!!!!!

OP yeah, I remember actually throwing up in the sink at work (a job involving handling food) and just being asked if I was ok to be there. 😂