Rules for isolation -covid case at work

[ihavenoidea20]

Hi all.
I have read the rules many times but it seems to keep changing and can never keep up with it.

I was at work on Friday, colleague came in explaining how she was 'full of cold and can't stop sneezing'. She then went on to say she had loads of family over for christmas, some from London who have almost all tested positive for covid since she had them over. Immediately I'm wondering why she's in work. She is fully vaccinated but am i right (correct me if im wrong!) in thinking that regardless of vaccination status, if you are showing symptoms after close contact with a covid case you should be getting pcr and isolating?

The next day she still comes in and tells us that one of her grand kids is at her house at the moment with covid. She also starts coughing whilst at work and I tell her she needs a pcr. She informed my manager of the close contact and my manager told her all she needs to do is take daily lateral flows as a precaution. I argued against this and said i thought she should be getting a pcr as she has symptoms. I was told to basically mind my own business, stop causing a panic etc as it's probably a cold.

Said colleague tested positive yesterday. I am unvaccinated, I had to spend friday and saturday in close contact with this colleague despite feeling uncomfortable. She kept pulling her mask down and talking. Manager has just told me all I need to do is take daily lateral flows. I always thought being unvaccinated i had to isolate for 10 days? I have no idea what i'm meant to be doing and don't want to put anyone at risk. Currently have no symptoms. Anytime I question my manager she gets really defensive so don't really want to keep messaging her.

Anyone know?
thanks.

I think 2 issues are being confused.
if vaccinated (which you say your colleague is) she wasn't required to isolate simply because she was a close contact, but is advised to do daily lfts.
However anyone, if symptomatic is required to isolate and get a pcr test (and you would hope people would be more alert to potential symptoms after having close contact)

@Exhausteddog

I think 2 issues are being confused. if vaccinated (which you say your colleague is) she wasn't required to isolate simply because she was a close contact, but is advised to do daily lfts. However anyone, if symptomatic is required to isolate and get a pcr test (and you would hope people would be more alert to potential symptoms after having close contact)

yes, she had close contact with several covid positive relatives and had symptoms herself but still came into work without doing a pcr.

@Delatron

I do wonder how employers are going to manage this going forward. It’s seems very wrong for people who choose not to be vaccinated to keep getting 10 day stints at home. Fully paid I assume. Especially if they are in roles that you can’t do from home.

It could also cause resentment in the workplace for the rest of the employees that have to pick up the slack whilst said well colleague sits at home isolating.

I don't make the rules. I don't understand it myself especially when vaccinated people still catch & spread it. The vaccine is meant to reduce risk of serious illness and being hospitalised. So why is it so many people seem to think the unvaccinated are inferior because of a bloody choice? I don't want to be at home if I don't need to be, i always grab extra hours when its available and have always covered for people so as far as workplace resentment goes, it really doesn't bother me. It's funny i'm getting digs for being unvaccinated but nothing about my colleague and how selfish she is for coming into work WITH symptoms. Baffling.

I don't get your reaction given you are not vax! If you are that concerned why aren t you vax?

It sounds more like you wanted her to test knowing you could then isolate!

Regarding isolation, you do not isolate until T&T contact you. End of. It says specifically on gov.uk. You do not determine if you are a contact - T&T do. So if your colleague doesn't name you then you do not isolate.

Cold symptoms are not an official reason to test to be fair.

She should have done a PCR and isolated until her result, obviously continuing to isolate if she tested positive.

Unvaccinated by choice employees are obviously a potential liability to employers though.

@Watapalava

I don't get your reaction given you are not vax! If you are that concerned why aren t you vax?

It sounds more like you wanted her to test knowing you could then isolate!

Regarding isolation, you do not isolate until T&T contact you. End of. It says specifically on gov.uk. You do not determine if you are a contact - T&T do. So if your colleague doesn't name you then you do not isolate.

My reaction? This isn't about me getting ill, I don't want to break any rules but if I can still go to work then that is exactly what I shall do, you obviously didn't read where I said I like to get whatever hours i can, i don't want to be sitting at home.

Honestly all this shit because i'm unvaccinated people need to fucking get over themselves and jump off their high horse.

It sounds more like you wanted her to test knowing you could then isolate!

How have you come to this conclusion??
I think the OP thought the other colleague should isolate having had close contact (but particularly as she did have sympoms)....then she wouldn't have seen her or been in contact at all?

Just get vaccinated OP, then you won't have to keep isolating if this happens again.

Exhausted
Perhaps im projecting but almost every unvax person i know is either stupid (not many) or genuinely now doesn't vax because they want multiple isolations whilst the rest of the workforce pick up the slack. My unvax colleagues are like the covid police for this reason - they cant wait to be named a contact so they can work from home.

Hence the frustration between collegaues

@Watapalava

Exhausted Perhaps im projecting but almost every unvax person i know is either stupid (not many) or genuinely now doesn't vax because they want multiple isolations whilst the rest of the workforce pick up the slack. My unvax colleagues are like the covid police for this reason - they cant wait to be named a contact so they can work from home.

Hence the frustration between collegaues

I'm neither of those though, I'm genuinely absolutely petrified of something going wrong if I have the vaccines. I've had family try and talk me into it, and it doesn't matter how many 'good' stories I read, I can't bring myself to do it. I get that its frustrating to have people off work due to vaccination status but that doesn't mean we should be made to feel like we've done something wrong. I've always tested myself at the slightest symptom because I'm been so worried about passing anything onto anyone. On the flip side, yes i'm also worried about how my body would cope if I did test positive but then i've made that choice not to have the vaccines therefore I have to live/or die (at the risk of sounding dramatic) with that decision.

You isolate once contacted by test and trace unless your NHS then it's from when you know you are a contact. If she doesn't name you to test and trace (she might refuse to answer the phone) then legally you don't have to isolate, ethically is a debate. I'm surprised employers aren't making it mandatory by making isolation of the unvaccinated unpaid

You will have to isolate if contacted by test and trace. Lots of people are not even getting pcrs these days though- just going by LFTs only
In the meantime if you either get symptoms or have a positive lft you should def isolate

@Delatron

I do wonder how employers are going to manage this going forward. It’s seems very wrong for people who choose not to be vaccinated to keep getting 10 day stints at home. Fully paid I assume. Especially if they are in roles that you can’t do from home.

It could also cause resentment in the workplace for the rest of the employees that have to pick up the slack whilst said well colleague sits at home isolating.

Several local companies have got around it by saying they will only pay for your isolation if you are either vaccinated or medically unable to be vaccinated if you choose not to get the vaccine they won't pay

Non vax isolating is now unpaid at my place from start of term.

Did she have any of the 3 PCR symptoms?

She's been a bit stupid and should have PCRd if she had symptoms. But you're not 100% in the right by not being vax.

I don't blame those companies quite frankly. Even if those employees unvaccinated by choice aren't paid to isolate though, their choice is still potentially disruptive to others.

A lot more could potentially go wrong if you get Covid unvaccinated rather than a safe vaccine but your choice.

It’s frustrating for people as I don’t think we understand the point of your post? You’re worried about breaking the rules? Who do you think will report you? Your employee has told you to go in. That’s good enough really. They should understand the ‘rules’.

You go in until you’re contacted by track and trace. That’s the rules I think so if you follow that you won’t get into trouble.

no wonder government predicting 25 % plus absences next few months. Manager sounds like a twonk

Pretty sure there have been some posts on here where people are not getting paid by their employer to isolate if they are not vaxxed. Why should someone get paid for ten days off when others who are vaxxed don’t?

OP, you have to isolate for ten days from the last contact, meaning she will be back to work before you (she will possibly be back in a few days if she tests neg on day 6 and 7).

@ihavenoidea20 our managers sound very similar!! I am in a similar situation at work (close contact last week with a positive case) and I am part vaccinated. The way I read the rules, is I should self isolate but my manager's view is that I should be in work.

My situation is complicated by the fact I had Covid in November (so still within the 90 days when you are not advised to do a PCR), so I'm doing every other day lateral flow tests and not really going out much. Manager says I don't need to self isolate, and I shouldn't test unless I get symptoms!

I think legally you need to self isolate only if symptomatic, or if you are contacted by T and T. Common sense would suggest that now would not be a good time to visit anyone elderly or particularly vulnerable. I've heard nothing from test and trace and close contact does not have my number, and I can't imagine that my boss would give it to her!

To all those saying that 'the unvaccinated' are all isolating constantly on full pay: I can't believe that is the case. I've had 2 periods of self isolation, once for a similar scenario but before most of us had been offered the vaccine (which I took out of annual leave) and once when I actually had Covid. The unvaccinated (or the incompletely vaccinated) may be making questionable choices, but they are not responsible for the silly rules!

What rules are you worried about breaking? T&T haven't named you as a contact and your employer has told you to go in to work. You say you want to be working as many hours as possible instead of sitting at home.....so go in to work. Easy. Unless, the actual point of your post was because you like a bit of Monday night online drama and knew people would ask you why you've decided to remain unvaccinated, despite apparently being such a stickler about covid 'rules'. Then you could have the enjoyment of telling people it's your choice, it doesn't make you a bad person, they should 'fucking get over themselves', blah blah blah. Maybe you're just a bit bored tonight. Who knows 🤷‍♀️.

@Theunamedcat I have temped for two companies who have this policy only paid to isolate if you have been vaccinated or exempt if isolating due to being a contact.
But then many companies don't pay sick pay at all now other that statutory so even those off with it are barely being paid as a temp im only entitled to stat pay , luckily current job I can wfh if need be

Sorry to bring up a question but just need clarification. If anyone tests positive with a LFT- you must isolate for 5 days? Then have two consecutive negative tests in day 6 and 7? I tested positive today and am fully vaccinated.
I’m isolating by the way.

No if you test positive on a LFT you need to get a PCR test.