Are some employers really insisting on covid+ staff coming in?

[dorisdohnson]

Keep seeing it posted about, gov guidelines state no work. Are employers really allowed to insist employees with covid come into work

My work isn't. Test positive, stay home

My team is all remote so basically work if you feel well enough to.

However, officially my DH work have the policy that if you have symptoms get a test, if you are positive stay at home.

In reality you are asked if you are sure you want to make a ‘fuss’, if you feel well enough then it’s not a ‘big deal’.

It’s been getting worse the closer to April they are getting.

So far this hasn’t really been an issue for my DH, he has neither been symptomatic or tested positive. However, work colleagues (some who he has worked with) have been.

He was considered a key worker during the lockdowns, so they have all worked throughout, they cannot stay at home.

They have been badly impacted by constant staff absences and sickness.

We are. We are told we are "advised to stay at home" but we can't be "forced". With a hard stare. Meaning, if you're feeling well but positive, we expect you in. My colleagues have said they are not comfortable working with other people who are positive, so no one has struggled in coughing Covid yet.

At the academy I was on my teacher training placement with January and February, the slt were making a big thing of it not being necessary to do lft tests. When those staff who did then tested positive for covid and were off it wasn’t frowned upon as such, but there certainly was a culture of, “I’m not doing a test, cover teachers are unavailable…”

when the rules were mentioned being dropped before half term the first assembly was about how the attendance figures for the year were awful.

The advice to students and staff was, “take a couple of paracetamol and come in and get on with it.”

Back at main school now, kids are
In my class coughing who’ve been off one or two days with covid but are now well enough to be back in.

Have this far managed to avoid catching covid (thanks to the vaccines I’m sure), but yeah in schools life’s back to normal and tbh probably was about spring ‘21. Education was just following the govt rules. As soon as they were scrapped it’s like covid never existed.

I'm in retail. I'll be working with 2 members of staff who are covid positive today. Both with symptoms.

This is going to be controversial but it’s going to become only for the rich covid. I bet mps are not to go in with covid! I bet there will be free tests for them 🙄.
Also notice how holly willoughby still tested and told to be off. However working class will be told to get on with it, already not being paid sick pay unless sick. Typically it’s going to be us working lot that frequently catch this, won’t be able to even afford the tests so won’t know if we have it or not anyway. It will be out vulnerable and elderly family that will take the price, where they can protect theirs. It’s always the same.

I have seen so many people say if your sick you wouldn’t go into work. However every time I’m sick unless D&v I’m in work as can’t live of ss pay. Have no choice. Just take lots of different pain killers and keep going because it’s that or no money next month. With the economy the way it is too.

@ScottishTinydancer321

This is going to be controversial but it’s going to become only for the rich covid. I bet mps are not to go in with covid! I bet there will be free tests for them 🙄. Also notice how holly willoughby still tested and told to be off. However working class will be told to get on with it, already not being paid sick pay unless sick. Typically it’s going to be us working lot that frequently catch this, won’t be able to even afford the tests so won’t know if we have it or not anyway. It will be out vulnerable and elderly family that will take the price, where they can protect theirs. It’s always the same.

This pretty much, they are going to create a two tier society of those that can stay/ work at home if ill/ positive and those that can’t.

To be honest, it’s already happening.

@ScottishTinydancer321

I have seen so many people say if your sick you wouldn’t go into work. However every time I’m sick unless D&v I’m in work as can’t live of ss pay. Have no choice. Just take lots of different pain killers and keep going because it’s that or no money next month. With the economy the way it is too.

This as well.

I am permanently remote, have been long before the pandemic.

However, when I used to work outside the home I was always expected to drag myself into work unless I was literally physically unable to get out of bed.

They really didn’t care if we had been up all night coughing or being sick. If we were well enough to be out of bed we were well enough to go to work.

I remember one colleague when they were sat in A&E, one of our managers lost it with them because they refused to leave A&E without being seen and come in for their shift. After all, it was ‘just’ a bit of pain.

I have frequently wondered what that particular manager is doing and how they coped with Covid .

Mine have been quite clear that we shouldn’t be in if either we have it or a household member has it

That all said we are all set up for wfh since the start of the pandemic

I think there is a clear link with how well set up employers are for wfh- clearly some Industries are not compatible

British Gas are making their gas fitters come in and sending them into customers homes. No warnings for vulnerable customers. Vile company

No but I'm a teacher. I'm also really unwell with it so wouldn't be in anyway.

We don't have to go in for now anyway. Still paying us full pay. This is a retail supermarket.

Yep, hospitality and in very close proximity to guests for hours at a time, and have been told to still come in if covid+ and wear a mask... seems bonkers to me, but employers were bound to push any guidance to the limit to keep the money rolling, health be damned!

I’m glad to see that many employers are now treating covid like any other illness. There is absolutely no reason why people need to be off work due to covid I’d they’re not actually ill.

Given the massive success of the vaccines, it’s time to with with it.

@RocketFire7 issue is I now no so many more people have are actually poorly. Even children. You know this time last year people were testing positive with no symptoms. Now people are having symptoms. Obviously less people are testing and seem to be testing when poorly so maybe it’s that. However since Xmas I don’t know
Anyone that’s had it with no symptoms. Every one (including kids) have felt awful and not been able to work or go to school. :/. Which is like a cold/flu I get but when your catching all these bugs it’s going to difficult attendance abs pay wise.