Into work or don't get paid

[Itsmeandhim]

Our DD works at an assisted living facility. Today she tested on a lateral flow test positive.
She was told that she has to go in or not get paid as they are short staffed.
Minimum wage.
Also she has been told not to tell the other member of staff she is working with or any of the service users she deals with.
Part of her contract is they arrange a taxi for the late shift and not to mention to the driver.
This is midnight so not practical to walk home.
DD has booked a PCR for in the morning.
To be paid she needs a PCR positive test every day.
No wonder why covid is rife around the country if this is how other work places react.

Surely this is a massive whistleblowing "opportunity". If this provider were exposed for deliberately putting vulnerable older people at risk by telling someone who tested positive on a LFT to come in to work, and to "keep quiet about it, that's dynamite, especially given the scandal in social care back in 2020.

I mean it really is dynamite... I dislike the media picking up stories from MN, but sometimes there are times I hope they do so.

Is this her usual terms and conditions?

@KiloWhat

Is there a whistleblowing service?

If she works in a care home or similar, they will be regulated by the Care Quality Commission, if in England, there are similar bodies in Scotland, Wales etc.

I'm sure they'd be very interested in this sort of thing, and I expect that there is a facility for staff to report concerns about inappropriate policies/care.

Plus there also appears to be a requirement to report 'events that stop the provider running safely and properly' eg too high staff absence.

www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/notifications/notification-finder

So responsibilities on the employer, that they may not be meeting.

My workplace is like this. No one has had covid so far apparently. Small company with mostly minimum wage workers that can't afford to be on ssp.

When you report a company, they may be fined, often it's the people on minimum wage jobs that get the sack to pay for the fine. It's not so simple as whistleblowing in a private company even when it's the right thing to do.

Surely she’s not actually going to go is she? 😬

@sunflowerpants

My workplace is like this. No one has had covid so far apparently. Small company with mostly minimum wage workers that can't afford to be on ssp.

When you report a company, they may be fined, often it's the people on minimum wage jobs that get the sack to pay for the fine. It's not so simple as whistleblowing in a private company even when it's the right thing to do.

If that happens, she's a carer and she'll be able to walk into another job immediately... Care providers are desperate...

@treeflowercat

Surely this is a massive whistleblowing "opportunity". If this provider were exposed for deliberately putting vulnerable older people at risk by telling someone who tested positive on a LFT to come in to work, and to "keep quiet about it, that's dynamite, especially given the scandal in social care back in 2020.

I mean it really is dynamite... I dislike the media picking up stories from MN, but sometimes there are times I hope they do so.

Agree, if this is as she has described it, it's a major scandal.

Can she report to CQC?

She needs to stay home, report her employer to the local authority and find another job with decent conditions.

Facilities are so short of staff atm that she’ll probably have another contract before her isolation is over.

@MrsSkylerWhite

She needs to stay home, report her employer to the local authority and find another job with decent conditions.

Facilities are so short of staff atm that she’ll probably have another contract before her isolation is over.

Agreed, and she could get another job tomorrow without any hassle.

Does she have this in writing?

@Jjjayfee

Can't you claim the up to five hundred pounds per week from the government if you have a positive pcr

It's a one off payment of £500 if eligible

The secrecy thing apart, it depends how they worded it - they don't have to pay her. If they said you wont get paid if you don't come in that's normal. Insinuating she can come in positive is dodgy!

I think this is very common. It's why people don't test. Off the top of my head I know at least 3 people who don't get paid sick/isolation leave. They are all basically casualised workers, work odd hours in retail/hospitality/care etc. One works for the NHS, but not in hospitals. They all avoid testing and I don't blame them.

@MakkaPakkas

I think this is very common. It's why people don't test. Off the top of my head I know at least 3 people who don't get paid sick/isolation leave. They are all basically casualised workers, work odd hours in retail/hospitality/care etc. One works for the NHS, but not in hospitals. They all avoid testing and I don't blame them.

Me neither, what else are they going to do in that situation really?

She needs to report them. I’d also message asking for confirmation that they want me in work after a positive LFT. Do they expect her to lie to Track and Trace?

It might be worth mentioning by the way that anyone who went off sick on or after 10th December can now self certify for up to 28 days. This is a temporary measure.

The reality is very few small businesses can afford to pay full wages to sick staff if a large number are off. The same staff cannot afford to get just SSP to live on.

Given how rife it is I believe it would be better to let non symptomatic staff carry on working but with increased PPE. I know ideally we don't want carriers to assist the elderly. But if it is an option between that and receiving little or no care, What is the other option.

She needs to report this to the public health and adult social care teams at your local council.

@treeflowercat

The irony is that the Government are throwing money at social services departments across the country to help with the recruitment and retention of carers for the providers that deliver services on behalf of councils. Providers aren't bidding for the money as the issue is that there just isn't enough interest in caring jobs. This could pay for sick pay in the sector... the problem is that's not what's needed - care providers need people in and doing their jobs.

I though its (some) NHS trusts that have taken money from their budgets (which haven't yet gone up - April) and diverted it into the Social care sector. But dead right, people are leaving in droves, its an awful job from a wage pov.