When awaiting covid test results...

[LubaLuca]

Admittedly, I have completely lost track of the rules and guidelines, so I might be pissed off about nothing.

When you're awaiting covid test results, you're supposed to isolate until you've had a negative result returned, right?

A colleague was pressured to go into work on Saturday to get some system testing done even though he had a PCR test as ordered by his GP on Friday afternoon because they'd been displaying symptoms (they were absent from work). The result didn't come back until the end of the hours we worked on Saturday, luckily for him and us he worked with, it was negative.

Now if a manager knows there's been a covid test, and even though the colleague says they 'don't think' they have covid, there is no question of them being in the workplace, right? They should stop at home and have no contact with other people I thought. This colleague's manager had a day out planned, and made it clear they weren't happy to cancel that, and told the colleague that there was nobody else to do the testing. I feel it was a hell of a risk to take, and very unfair to this poor chap who was very unwell coughing all over the place. But was it illegal, or just a bit selfish?

Ironically, I went straight from work to get my 2nd covid jab .

Report the business to your local trading standards office, there is no reason the manager should have called him in. I'm also really confused why a tester can't work from home, don't you guys know about the internet?

There was some physical equipment that needed testing as part of it eg specialist printers.

Then have a separate person on video call doing what the tester asks. Really no need to have gone in.

@MRex

Then have a separate person on video call doing what the tester asks. Really no need to have gone in.

I could explain, but it would be very outing. Basically, at the location, none of the staff work from home. He was a regular member of staff at that location.

It doesn’t matter how important the job is, if someone displays symptoms and has a PCR test, they isolate until you get the result, as well as close contact who also have to isolate.

If they had genuine symptoms (fever, cough, loss of taste/smell) then that is terrible.

If Zoe asks me to test for other “symptoms”, e.g. sore throat, I don’t isolate.

That isn't the point though.

So Trading Standards is the way to go? That wouldn't have even crossed my mind. Thank you.

You're correct. Both DS tested positive this week. My SIL as a close contact was advised by t&t to self isolate but her boss put her a desk by the window and told her to go in. She can't work from home. PIL just ignored the advice and are seeing people as usual, pretending to misunderstand.
Too many holes in the whole system.

My SIL as a close contact was advised by t&t to self isolate but her boss put her a desk by the window and told her to go in.

That's terrible, but seemingly not that unusual a thing to do.

Please do report it if your happy to. This government has a massive blind spot to how appallingly some employers and their management teams have behaved during this pandemic.

@cptartapp

You're correct. Both DS tested positive this week. My SIL as a close contact was advised by t&t to self isolate but her boss put her a desk by the window and told her to go in. She can't work from home. PIL just ignored the advice and are seeing people as usual, pretending to misunderstand. Too many holes in the whole system.

Your SIL and PIL will be fined if that's identified when T&T call, e.g. if they hear background noise they will send police to the house. You can report them to police yourself if you're minded to, and SIL's business to local trading standards.

The difference in these situations is that until there's a positive result or T&T contact, there isn't a legal requirement on the individual to isolate. There is still a requirement on the business to ensure covid safe working practices even without a positive result though, and that means they are not to pressure staff to come in who are awaiting test results for symptoms.

@Cornettoninja

Please do report it if your happy to. This government has a massive blind spot to how appallingly some employers and their management teams have behaved during this pandemic.

I don't know if I should. If it's investigated, would the man who was waiting for his result get in trouble as well? In theory, he should have had the sense to refuse, but it's not so easy in practice.

Trading standards are only interested in the businesses anyway, because it has a larger effect on spread. He might get told not to do it next time but legally fines are only if he tests positive or is contacted by T&T. In guidance everyone is asked to isolate with symptoms until they get a result, but that isn't law. He did break the law if he'd had known contact with someone who tested positive and been asked to isolate by T&T, but at that point he was being reckless.

I would be fuming. If it had been positive, anyone who had been in contact with him would have to self isolate!

Its selfish people like this (and the employer) that make it worse for everyone else.

@LubaLuca I completely understand your dilemma.

It’s all very well knowing the right thing to do in theory but when it’s your job and your colleagues job on the line it’s a tricky situation. I agree that your colleague would be the first to have the finger pointed at him.

Only you can make that judgement and weigh up all the factors involved. Makes me mad but I completely understand how people are forced to step back.

I'm going to speak to the manager who encouraged him to get to work, rather than going down the 'reporting' route. At the very least it will make me feel better for getting it off my chest, and hopefully in future make them think twice about being so cavalier.