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Covid

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Original poster

Is work place isolation mandatory for UV?

10 replies

Thewiseoneincognito · 30/12/2021 15:08

A friend has just told me about an issue in their office this week which I’m not 100% on myself…opinions welcome.

Friend is classed as CV and is boosted, the team in their office (services, hence Xmas work hours) is around 15 and they have a few unvaccinated members. Last week one of the vaccinated had symptoms start and tested positive on LFT a day later. Due to delays with PCR results they only had their positive confirmed yesterday.

My friend is annoyed/ concerned the unvaccinated members haven’t had to isolate nor have they been advised to since the PCR result came back and has asked for my opinion. 3 Unvaccinated close contacts are in the office today.

Does the company have a duty of care to all employees that have been in close contact to enforce workplace isolation for the unvaccinated? Or can a business legally get away with not acting to protect the staff if T&T haven’t been in touch?

It’s a grey area and said friend is now rightly concerned this laid back attitude will continue to the point their manager won’t enforce isolation periods of unvaccinated staff despite confirmation of close contact. Should they escalate their concerns to HR?

OP posts:

JanglyBeads · 30/12/2021 15:20

Yes and point to the official rules on NHS website!

Unless they maintain 2m distancing at all times?

Whichjab · 30/12/2021 15:23

Only if contacted by test and trace would you legally have to isolate. (Or if symptomatic)

JanglyBeads · 30/12/2021 18:32

Their risk assessment should contain measures for CEV staff though?

massiveblob · 30/12/2021 18:36

Yes they should and 2M social distancing is meaningless in an office environment with windows closed. Maybe the workplace is just ignoring the rules as they don't want more staff off etc

landofgiants · 30/12/2021 21:14

I think this sort of thing is pretty commonplace at the moment, and other than raise it with her manager, I don't think there is much she can do. She could request to work from home if it is possible?

We've got covid issues in my workplace at the moment. I'm part vaccinated, but had Covid in November. I had a 'close contact' at work yesterday; it's not confirmed yet, but colleague has had a positive lateral flow test, waiting on a PCR. My managers take on this is that I don't have to test or self isolate unless I have symptoms (in which case she says I should test!), which is the opposite to how I've interpreted the advice. I've stopped socialising and I'll be doing lateral flows before going into work, but unless contacted by T and T, I'm not sure what else I can do!

Is your friend CV, or CEV? If she's the latter that may give her more leverage with her employer, reasonable adjustments etc etc. Covid is everywhere at the moment, but that doesn't make the employer's attitude ok.

landofgiants · 30/12/2021 21:24

Just a thought, but when you get your positive PCR, T and T ask you for your close contacts for the last 48 hours. So the delay in getting the PCR might mean that the other office workers haven't officially been counted as 'close contacts' in that time period by test and trace. In which case, the employer hasn't done anything wrong.

ToooutThere · 30/12/2021 21:33

sorry, can't see the issue .... T&T haven't contacted the UV, so they do not legally have have to self-isolate and your friend is boosted. Is she worried about her own health? In which case there is nothing more she can do other than protect herself, which she has done already. Or is she being a bit of a busybody as you say she is 'annoyed' by the fact the others haven't been put into isolation?! You also use the word 'concerned', but don't go into detail.... what exactly is she concerned about? Oh and does she also know last dates of vaccination for all the others in the office? Only asking because it seems that being double jabbed doesn't really mean much nowadays, therefore it's pretty much on par with the UV.

Original poster

Thewiseoneincognito · 30/12/2021 23:14

@ToooutThere

I think she’s pissed off that her unvaccinated colleagues are getting away with not having to isolate when the guidance says they should for the full 10 days, not sure how that makes her the busybody your snide response insinuates when they are a risk to her and the team.

T&T ask for contact details 48hrs prior to onset of symptoms I think @landofgiants

OP posts:

ToooutThere · 30/12/2021 23:58

@Thewiseoneincognito UV are no more risk to her (especially if they have had covid before) than her own double jabbed colleagues, who may not have had covid but were last vaccinated 6 or so months ago. Or should we all start going around work asking people about their vaccine status and the date of their last vaccination just to feel safe?! You cannot expect the whole world to make itself safe for the minority. Has the person been responsible and got herself triple jabbed?! yes, she has.... then she will have to wait patiently and see if T&T is triggered into action. So far, the UV or her workplace have not done anything wrong!!! It's the person testing pcr positive who is in touch with T&T and deals with contact tracing. If so desperately worried about own health, in this case and if manageable, ask the employer to let her do WFH for a couple of weeks.

massiveblob · 31/12/2021 17:38

The problem with track & trace is that they ask for a list of contacts and their phone numbers etc. But if someone doesn't have them or declare them it can't happen. This occurred to me when doing it for my DC. I had no idea who they'd had contact with at a few things they'd been to / at in the holidays and I certainly had no contact numbers. I could only give the school details. I informed friends we'd seen etc but could do no more.
So T&T is only as good as info passed on

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