Being made to go work with covid

[PurpleSummer]

Is this allowed?

DP has been unknowingly working with people with covid. Quite a lot has been of ill, so he's been doing extra shifts

Then he tests positive, his boss says he's has to come in, that you don't have to isolate anymore. So he goes in and theirs a few others in that have tested positive and have been told the same

How can this be right? It's going to go round in circles reinfecting everyone. We have family that are vaunerable. What can we do?

@Lilaclavenders

No, you knowingly have a proven infectious illness (and could, in theory, present evidence if required). You should be eligible for SSP. Again, if your work isn't making provision for this, they are dicks

No they're not dicks. They're businesses that want to be profitable. Do that they can remain in business and employ people!

Money doesn't grow on trees unfortunately

Profit margins should not take priority over the health and well-being of workers. That's a very unhealthy attitude towards work and sickness. We aren't America where having being sick over your 'alloted allowance' could see you sacked.

Oh the ignorance of those more fortunate 😂🙈 SSP is £96 a week and only claimable after day 4 of sickness/isolating

You know absolutely nothing about me, my life nor my financial situation. I agree that SSP isn't enough but it's the bare minimum: employers should have proper sickpay policies in place that allow employees to properly look after their own health and the health of others. As I've said, it's not acceptable in this day and age to prioritise a company's profit margin over employee's health and well-being.

Again, if you are working for an organisation that doesn't place enough importance on the people that make up its workforce then then owners of that company are acting in a dickish way.

What would he have done pre covid if he was unwell and felt awful, would he take time off sick?

Profit margins should not take priority over the health and well-being of workers.

We have to strike a balance - of course genuinely ill workers should rest at home, but we cannot afford to isolate asymptomatic or only mildly ill workers for up to 10 days.

Companies may go bust and then these workers will permanently lose their jobs...

And no, the Government does not have spare money - our National debt is actually almost as high as our GDP. That's a LOT of future taxes for our children to pay...!

Dp does not have covid (yet) but staff are going into his workplace with covid now. It's because they won't get paid if they don't go in, most people can't afford to have time off and mark are mildly poorly. Not right but it's the point we are at right now. Workplaces refusing to pay, SSP is not enough to live and and people can't afford time off.

I do agree with you though op.

The thing is not isolating just risks wider disruption to peoples lives, education, hospital appointments, risks of infecting more vulnerable staff and family members. It's a vicious cycle.

The thing is not isolating just risks wider disruption

The disruption from forced isolation is much bigger.

Most people, especially when vaccinated and recovered from previous infection, get Covid very mildly and so do not need to isolate.

@Lilaclavenders

How is he feeling? Is he well enough to work?

Unless he's working with very vulnerable patients, he should be at work if he's well enough. That's the current law I think.

Its not "the law" that you must go to work unless very ill. It's just not a legal requirement to stay home if you are feeling well.

Guidelines are still to isolate and/or minimise exposure if you are positive, regardless of how you are feeling.

'Guidelines' don't pay the bills though do they?

So they are pointless