Ending isolation early around vulnerable people

[Whathefisgoingon]

My colleague has covid, they sit next to me with one desk space between us. No masks at desks.

I have been out of office however due to return tomorrow, as is said colleague the day after if they test negative twice as per the new guidelines. They are currently WFH.

I have seen on the govt website it says that those who end isolation early are strongly advised to WFH, limit contact with vulnerable and avoid poorly ventilated spaces.

My employees do not give a hoot about covid and as such they have already advised this colleague to come in if the tests are negative.

I am classed as CEV. Where do I stand?

Employers*

Can you ask to wfh for a few days?

@Wellbythebloodyhell No, they don’t allow it even though it can be done from home. They like everyone in so they can crack the whip.

This person is the only person that has been allowed.

What does the employer's risk assessment say?

@JanglyBeads It hasn’t been updated since the new guidance re ending isolation early.

What does it say in general about CEV staff?

There's no legal requirement to work from home and there's no legal requirement for those who end isolation early to also work from home. It's only advised.
CEV and CV don't exist anymore, so I think your only options are to put a proposal to your employer expressing your concerns but being prepared to be told you have to be in work.

CEV and CV do exist. The only option is to attempt to get your boss to let you WFH. Your colleague is an utter twat though, I'm sorry you're in this position

Why is the colleague an 'utter twat' @Lacedwithgrace? Surely it's the employer making them come in that's the twat?

Why is the colleague a twat?! They are following the rules on isolation.

@Lacedwithgrace why is the colleague an utter that? if I was the colleague then I'd absolutely be back in work if guidance tells me I can,I only get ssp, if others want me to stay off longer than necessary they can pay my missing wages also.
I'm sorry you're worried about this situation OP but your colleague is doing nothing wrong by returning to work and your employer is doing nothing wrong by allowing them to return

I don’t think my colleague is doing anything wrong, though the guidance is clear that they should work from home if they end their isolation early, but that is on my employer.

Hopefully they test positive and stay home!

@Whathefisgoingon

I don’t think my colleague is doing anything wrong, though the guidance is clear that they should work from home if they end their isolation early, but that is on my employer.

Admittedly I've not read the guidance, but isn't a huge factor in reducing isolation so people can actually return to the workplace? Those testing negative at day 6 &7 are likely to have had covid very mildly or asymptomatically and could of potentially wfh during the whole time if it was possible in the job they do. I'm sure those who have jobs they are unable to do from home also have CV colleagues they'll return too after 7 rather than 10 days. Again, without reading the guidance I naively assumed if you tested negative after 7 days you were no longer transmitting the virus onto others

Not ideal but can you move desk in the office o you are further away?

@Wellbythebloodyhell

Those who leave self-isolation on or after day 7 are strongly advised to limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home and minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID- 19.

www.gov.uk/government/news/self-isolation-for-covid-19-cases-reduced-from-10-to-7-days-following-negative-lfd-tests

Advising the colleague to come in is different to telling. If I was them I'd be staying at home

I think the avoid crowded places and work from home part of ending isolation early has been forgotten or abandoned, to be honest.

I work in a school and the 7 days return has become a thing already. We've had 3 children return on their Day 7 and 1 colleague due back depending on 1 more negative test tomorrow morning. Nobody's mentioned it being a crowded place or a work place. I don't think many employers will go for an extra 3 days off if they can get round it.

Especially as the news today said they were considering going to 5 days.

@blameitonthecaffeine forgotten or abandoned... it only came in about a week ago! Although whether the govt ever intended that bit of the guidance to be heeded is another matter.

Schools have been specifically advised in the new DfE guidance that children and staff can come back on Day 7 if they've had two negative tests 24 hours apart.

Are they ignoring that school settings are indoor, crowded and largely unventilated? You bet.