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You have to go to work even if you are positive

31 replies

organisedmother · 22/03/2022 19:43

The sh**t show I’ve dealt with today, I work for a big retail beauty store that clearly have no idea of procedures.

Me “I’m positive for Covid lft and pcr”
Boss “ok self isolation has ended so you need to come to work and wear a mask”
Me “ok massively uncomfortable with that, can I get sick pay”
Boss “no you used it all for when you child had Covid”
Me “oh ok so what’s my option”
Boss “well you should be attending work and if you don’t its no pay and a formal meeting as you at your max sickness”
Me “ok looks like I’ll be in”

I send a group message to all members of staff apologising and telling them they may want to wear a mask today as none of them do anymore.

Me “good morning everyone”
Assistant manager “ what are you doing here positive”
Me “I’ve been told to come in!, I don’t want to be here”
Assistant manager “I’m ringing another store you shouldn’t be here”
Me “ok I’ll wait in the back”
Assistant manager “they said you are double vaxed so your good”
Me “ok I’ll get to work”

Another member of staff arrives
Staff “what the hell are you doing here with Covid you need to leave.
Me “ I’ve double checked I’ve been told I have to work”
Staff “I’m ringing HR I’m not working with you”
Me “ok I understand I’ll wait out back”
Staff “ you can work out the back because apparently your allowed to be here.
Me “ok that’s fine I’ll do delivery”

Spent 4 hour shift doing delivery with gloves and mask on then left.

Arrive home to messages from another member of staff
Staff “You Cannot come to work tomorrow I am venerable and boris says it’s on your conscience to do the right thing”
Me “I’ve been told if I don’t I won’t get paid and have to have a formal meeting about my sickness I could get sacked!”
Staff “I’m ringin hr, how can you be ok coming to work you could kill someone, what are you doing!! I was just in Waitrose and was telling the girls that the till and she even said she would never come to work with Covid”
Me “ I don’t want to come to work, I don’t really have a choice”

Me in tears with the back of forth, debating to say I read the Covid test wrong, exhausted from everyone telling me I’m going to kill someone but also need money to pay my bills.

Boss rings…..

Boss “hr have called you shouldn’t have come to work today”
Me “but they called hr and said it was ok because I’m double vaxed”
Boss “no that’s wrong, don’t come back until your negative then we can have a meeting about your sickness”
Me “what, is it going against my score”
Boss “yes of corse”
Me “omg, am I still getting sick pay”
Boss “no you have used it all on the kids”
Me “ but I’ve not had a sick day for about 7months”
Boss “yes but when you had 10 day isolating for the children it’s gone and you need to wait till April”
Me “so I have no pay for at least a week?”
Boss “maybe more call me when your negative”

Literally in tears is this the plan of living with Covid….

OP posts:
theemperorhasnoclothes · 22/03/2022 21:44

@organisedmother

Absolutely, a costly punishment for being honest, I’ve learnt my lesson, next time I’m keeping my mouth closed!
This is the society we live in now, it's sad. Someone trying to do the right thing gets totally thrown under the bus.

It's been one of the scariest things in the pandemic for me - I think this government would be perfectly happy for the UK to go back to Victorian working standards.

I hope you test negative soon OP, and in the meantime you use some of the advice upthread and manage to get medically suspended and paid. If they don't want you in to protect customers (and other staff) then they need to pay you to stay off.

I'm guessing if any customers found out (e.g. via social media, perhaps) that positive staff members were being encouraged not to bother testing as they'd get penalised by not getting paid if they tested positive, they probably wouldn't be too impressed and might take their custom elsewhere to more responsible businesses.

SpringRainbow · 23/03/2022 00:32

This is pretty much the ‘policy’ in my DH work.

Officially people who are symptomatic and/ or who test positive must stay at home.

In reality staff are getting told to come in, not make a fuss, it’s no big deal.

I’m guessing by telling others you ‘made a fuss’ so they’ve had to follow their official policy.

This is completely the Governments responsibility reallyHmmAngry

EricScrantona · 23/03/2022 00:59

I have heard (from TikTok posts by advisors in the field) that if your work say you can't work even though you are able to, they have to pay you full pay. This is because legally you are allowed to work and you want to work. Therefore, they pay you. I'd google better sources than TikTok to be sure 😉

Changemaname1 · 23/03/2022 01:49

That’s where boris and his non Comital it’s not legal but do the right thing bullshit was always going to fall down

Lots of pay , colleagues turning on you

Luckily I work for a decent employer so it’s 10 days paid sick as before but i knew there would be plenty of places that didn’t putting people in shitty situations

Am sorry op. Deffo contact HR as advised above

Changemaname1 · 23/03/2022 01:49
  • not illegal
Changemaname1 · 23/03/2022 01:49
  • loss of pay !! Ffs . Sorry I’m tired !
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