Positive but work day to come in

[workCovid]

Hi, now the rules have changed wondered how other employers were implementing?

My employer has basically said if you're well enough to come in, you have to come in, despite still testing positive. I'll be day 4 tomorrow and I'm to go in and work in an office environment.

Feels so wrong after the 2 years we've had. Their argument is that we have to get back to normal.

I do get that to an extent but can't help but feel no one will want me there! And the guilt if I infect anyone 😔

You could always say you don't feel well enough to return for now

I wouldn’t go in with covid or even just a normal cold, or D&V, or anything contagious. Especially not if I can work from home on any other day.

We've been told that under no circumstances are we to come in until the 5 days are up (and ideally wait until 10 days regardless of test results), but it probably helps that we can do almost all our work from home. They also prefer household contacts don't come in.

I’m afraid I would say that I was feeling too unwell to come in till at least 5 days. Then hopefully, provided you feel well, you won’t be as contagious. I too wouldn’t want to knowingly transmit it to someone else.

If you feel well enough, then go in. Employers have the stronghold now, unfortunately.

I would say I felt too ill to go in.

We have been told isolate for ten days, unless two positive tests after day five, which is a very reasonable thing.

As someone who doesn't get paid if I don't work then if I felt well enough to work I would.

It's crazy, I'm a teacher and we have been told to go in if positive ...

@Snowdropsarelovely
I work in a school also, we have been told to stick to the 2 day negatives from day 5 if still positive each day then return after day 10.
I was under the impression that had come from the DOE.
However it could just be our County..
This is in England.

@Snowdropsarelovely that's definitely against DfE advice! May be worth bringing that up with SLT?

Thanks, does anyone have a link to the DfE advice ? I'd like to bring that up with SLT

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1057106/2202244Schoolsguidance.pdf

Which refers to this:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts

@enterparentone

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1057106/2202244Schoolsguidance.pdf

Which refers to this:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts

Thank you, that's really helpful

I would hold out for five days regardless, but if you're hesitant about going back the other thing you could do is wear a proper FFP3 type mask which would give those around you better protection than a regular one.

The link to the gov guidelines above says clearly that if you have covid you should stay at home and NOT attend work. It's no longer law, but it is still what you are supposed to do.

It's a tricky one
My work have issued guidance which basically says stay the fuck at home, recover, we will pay you don't want your germs so they've been very clear!

No legal requirement to self isolate but your employer should really have updated their risk assessment as they still need to consider Covid until 1st April. Can you wfh?

@SQLserved you clearly don’t have sickness monitoring in your workplace then! Either that or you rarely get ill. If I was off for every blooming cold I had, I’d have been sacked under ill health capability years ago.

The issue as always in employers and employment policy.

I said (in all truthfulness) that I didn't feel well enough to go in. I told my GP that my employer asked me to go to work and she let out the most enormous sigh.

This is the hardest part now.Ive currently got covid and haven't got out of bed in 3 days.ive missed 2 work days and know the obligation is to get right back to work quickly even though I work with someone who is quite vulnerable.😪