Disciplined for Covid absences

[Nahhh]

Hi there,

I’m just looking for some advice. We’re in Wales we’re the rules are a little stricter but basically I’ve been put on an attendance plan for having too many absences.

In the last 6 months I’ve had 2 days off due to a miscarriage and then 5 stints of 2 days due to Covid tests. I appreciate this is a lot of absence but I’m not sure what to do. I’ve 3 kids and they bring all sorts of germs home and unfortunately on 5 occasions I’ve had a fever and a cough so have had a PCR test and stayed home until I had the results. I’ve been told to make more of an effort to stay healthy. I assume if I’m ill again I’ll have to forego the test and just go to work regardless? Morally I’m not sure what’s best.

@Mantlemoose I don’t think the frequent of op’s PCRs is the issue, just how long she’s taking off work.

We have 2 kids who’s school is rife with covid atm. We are needing pretty frequent tests as a result and here in Wales the whole house has to self isolate while waiting for results.

Op hasn’t said if she’s using postal testing which will obviously take longer to get results from but most of ours done at our local walk in centre are back within 10-14 hours and need little if any time off work at all as they have generally been taken in the evening

[quote Muchtoomuchtodo]@Mantlemoose I don’t think the frequent of op’s PCRs is the issue, just how long she’s taking off work.

We have 2 kids who’s school is rife with covid atm. We are needing pretty frequent tests as a result and here in Wales the whole house has to self isolate while waiting for results.

Op hasn’t said if she’s using postal testing which will obviously take longer to get results from but most of ours done at our local walk in centre are back within 10-14 hours and need little if any time off work at all as they have generally been taken in the evening[/quote]
When Ds had to have a pcr his results came back within 24 hours. A few weeks later with a rise in cases and my next door neighbours took 3 days.

@Nahhh

That’s interesting. I do have low vitamin D as well as B12 and iron. I’m currently on prescribed supplements to sort it out.

This would fully explain your susceptibility and I would have thought it discriminatory if they then punish you for your absences.

@Comefromaway that’s why I asked op where she is. Around here it would be very odd to need to take 2 days off waiting for a result from a walk in centre. Other areas aren’t so lucky and if she is having to do postal tests it would be more understandable too

My LFT didn't go positive until 18 hours after my symptoms started. Negative LFT on Saturday, but PCR done as close contact. Saturday evening, symptoms started. Sunday morning, negative PCR result, and negative LFT. Repeated at lunch time because I felt so awful, positive LFT. Back to the test centre for a PCR. Positive result.

How odd that they tell you to 'limit your contacts' when your 3 kids will be mixing with loads of different households in school or nursery and bringing home the various bugs that are doing the rounds. It is what it is. You've obviously flagged up on their radar. They'd prefer you get back to the lemsips obviously. Give them examples of the situations that have led to the absences and ask them to spell out what exactly they want you to do if / when those situations arise again. At least it gives you clarity.

Honestly op, I think if everyone was doing a pcr and isolating until the results at any symptom, the country would be grinding to a halt more than it actually is.
Plenty of people just aren't testing at all or are relying on lfts, and it's because lots of people know the reaction at their workplace would be the same otherwise.
It's not fair you're getting into hassle for doing the right thing and not your fault either.

@HelplesslyHoping

LFTs are not accurate if you have symptoms so ignore PP.

Maybe you need to send your employer proof of your PCR results so they know you weren't just having a day off for a cough?

@HelplesslyHoping

You're posting misinformation. LFTs test for the presence of the virus... the virus doesn't disappear when you get symptoms!!

It's more that you're instructed not to rely on a LFT if you get symptoms but confirm with the more accurate PCR test.

Getting a fever five times a year is a lot of times

Yes, that is a lot and very unusual... and yet you've been ok to go back to work a couple of days later each time? If that's how your body reacts to bugs which you can then work through with no time off work needed then you need to take that into account when deciding whether to get a test.

@FitAt50

To be fair if I worked with you I would think you were at it. Being off 5 times and then each time not actually having covid, would ring alarm bells for me. The government brought in free LFT tests for a reason - use them.

I'm not sure why some people still don't get it. If you have one of the main symptoms you should get a pcr test rather than do an lft. Seems there's a pandemic of stupidity and shitty employers.

I tested positive on a PCR a few weeks ago (tested as a close contact). Symptoms started the following day. Out of curiosity I tested with LFTs at home and didn't get a positive until 7 days later.

I’ve 3 kids and they bring all sorts of germs home and unfortunately on 5 occasions I’ve had a fever and a cough

Can't you just test the kids when they're ill? Aren't you supposed to be doing that anyway? If you know you have whatever they had, and you know whatever they had wasn't covid because you tested them when they had it, I wouldn't worry too much.

Do you provide copies of your test results to your employer op?

You could ask them to clarify that in the event you develop one of the 3 official symptoms going forward is it their advice that you ignore government guidance and come into the office and confirm that if you do follow the guidance you will be disciplined under the absence policy?

Realistically, many people do not get sick pay at all so will use lft rather than a PCR. This doesn't mean that people should be punished for following public health guidance by their employer though.

I always thought that the issue with lft is not accuracy. If they say you have coronavirus then you almost certainly do because false positives are rare; it is their low sensitivity meaning they can miss cases with low viral loads or poor swabbing technique etc.

I can’t believe some of the responses on this thread, no wonder covid is still spreading if people are ignoring the rules on testing.
If you have one of the key symptoms (fever, cough, loss of taste) YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE AND GET A PCR.
Sorry for shouting, having worked in hospital the whole way through I am a little fed up.
Your employer are being awful, and they are wrong. It would be useful to try and get their view in writing as if they do dismiss you it would be evidence for you to take them to court.
Thank you for doing the right thing despite the crappy employer.

www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

The guidance for those who need to remind themselves

@Nahhh

It’s not a two day Illness once a month. It’s a new cold bug which lasts a couple of weeks with a couple of weeks rest before the next one. My body must be sensitive because I always end up with a fever with a cold/ cough but as I said, in usual times I take some lemsip and get on with it.

I think I’ve been naive in assuming everyone is following the rules to the letter and obviously I need to ignore these bugs and get on with it.

You’ve been naive in that rather Han taking a LFT you have straight for a PCR and been off work for two days. I’m NHS and me and dc have had coughs and splutters nearly every second week since early October but not one day off work at all as LFT have been -ve.

You’ve been naive in that rather Han taking a LFT you have straight for a PCR and been off work for two days. I’m NHS and me and dc have had coughs and splutters nearly every second week since early October but not one day off work at all as LFT have been -ve.

If its new and persistent coughs or any other of the main symptoms it should be a pcr rather than lft. As op has a fever then she was correct to isolate and do a pcr. Being NHS it seems doesn't exclude you from also not knowing the fucking guidance that hss been in place for ages now. Despair.

@Nahhh

Why are you not doing lateral flow test instead of per

Because the government advice is to take a PCR test if symptomatic. From this thread I’ve gathered that I’m obviously one of the minority of mugs who are actually following these rules though hence why I’m having problems. I should have disregarded what the experts have suggested and done LFT instead.

No, not instead, you take the LFT twice a week, every week

This thread makes it very obvious why we still have such high Covid rates, doesn't it.

@whatswithtodaytoday

This thread makes it very obvious why we still have such high Covid rates, doesn't it.

Yep. Get penalised if you try to do the right thing.

Sympathies! 3DC here who have all been endlessly ill since September and I've picked up most of the illnesses too despite usually being very robust! Mixture of COVID, coughs, colds, sickness bugs. My immune system is decimated since catching COVID and I now pick up everything going. I've had 3 covid tests since sept, one of which was positive for COVID. It's been grim!

Are you in a union at work, OP? My work triggers an HR review thing if you are off sick twice in six months, even if one is a broken leg and the other is a broken arm. However this policy has been amended and covid related absences are not counted. I would be asking my union rep for advice in your shoes, and also assuming there would be others in a similar predicament.

It's very unusual as an adult to have 5 fevers in a year. I think you should firstly get a new thermometer and check your readings are accurate. If they are, then go to your GP to get some tests done for vitamin deficiencies, anti-inflammatory diseases and anything else they think of.

For perspective, we have a preschooler in nursery who himself has had lots of colds the past year but only one fever; we've joined him in the colds and all had 2 PCR tests for coughs but with no fever (he's had 3, one with fever). So that's two adults with zero fevers and a child with one fever, while you've had 5 fevers. It's honestly a LOT, and it's worth digging a bit to try to find out why.

Regarding employment advice, call ACAS for help.

Giggly you might want to check your employer’s COVID policy

I'm assuming you've been given a 1st warning and a period of time to improve your attendance?

You need to keep yourself and family as healthy as you can for 6 months and start using your support network/OH to cover unplanned absences.

Or have you had your attendance reviewed before? Are you already under an attendance plan?