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Original poster

We HAVE to isolate at work but we don't get sick pay.

29 replies

Proudcarer100 · 25/06/2022 14:04

I work in a care home. We still have to test and isolate, if we test positive, which I totally understand. Its still the full 10 days unless we test negative on 2 consecutive days - 5 and 6, 6 and 7 etc...
However, we don't receive any sick pay apart from statutory which is if you're off for 7 consecutive days which means I miss out on lots lf money and this will leave me really short.
My dc has tested +, I'm still negative at the moment but I've now got symptoms so I think it's likely I will test + too..
I just feel so frustrated, I get minimum wage, I earn approx £300 a week but will only get £94.
I just think it's unfair as NHS staff get full sick pay.

OP posts:
MultiBird · 25/06/2022 14:19

It's pants. Absolutely outrageous, but SSP is paid from day 4, small comfort I'm sure, but it's "only" the first 3 days that are completely without pay.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 25/06/2022 14:26

and people wonder why there is a shortage of staff when you get treated like this🤬🤬🤬

It’s utterly crap. Sorry but I can’t see anyone surviving on ssp unless you have a partner with enough surplus wage to cover the shortfall, or have savings.
As I see it you have too options. 1) change job to another sector. 2) don’t tell them you are positive - do they check your lft?

yes!! I know the latter is not morally the right thing to do - but neither is expecting you to have severe financial hardship if you don’t receive the wages you need correct either.

Snog · 25/06/2022 14:44

Get a new job and tell them why.
This is exploitative of your employer OP - there are plenty of jobs around right now, don't put up with this BS.

TankFlyBoss · 25/06/2022 14:57

I wouldn't bother testing.

changingstages · 25/06/2022 15:01

this is why we need better sick pay in this country - you're doing everything right but being punished for it. It just helps nobody.

JuneJubilee · 25/06/2022 15:07

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 25/06/2022 14:26

and people wonder why there is a shortage of staff when you get treated like this🤬🤬🤬

It’s utterly crap. Sorry but I can’t see anyone surviving on ssp unless you have a partner with enough surplus wage to cover the shortfall, or have savings.
As I see it you have too options. 1) change job to another sector. 2) don’t tell them you are positive - do they check your lft?

yes!! I know the latter is not morally the right thing to do - but neither is expecting you to have severe financial hardship if you don’t receive the wages you need correct either.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2

it is NOT right it's not on full pay.

BUT NOTHING justifies taking covid into a care home NOTHING

@Proudcarer100 it's utter garbage. Can you move to a different care home, with better conditions? Or as a private carer??

please check you're getting any & all payment you're entitled to.

.

JuneJubilee · 25/06/2022 15:08

TankFlyBoss · 25/06/2022 14:57

I wouldn't bother testing.

Then don't work in a care home you utter idiot.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 25/06/2022 15:10

A family member of mine moved to work as a HCA in a hospital because of things like this. She is now training as a nurse and the hospital is supporting her doing this.

Fireleap · 25/06/2022 15:17

Snog · 25/06/2022 14:44

Get a new job and tell them why.
This is exploitative of your employer OP - there are plenty of jobs around right now, don't put up with this BS.

I know there are good and bad social care employees out there, but this kind of issue is really impacted by the funding they receive from local authorities and in turn the funding they receive from the government. Organisations aren't paid enough to function and offer decent terms and conditions, employers looking to make a profit just offer even worst t and c's.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 25/06/2022 15:20

@JuneJubilee that why I said it’s not morally right. No need to tell me - I was a care home manager. The exploitation of both staff and residents by home owners is the reason I left. (- yes why not allow covid positive patients into care homes without proper isolation wards… oh yes because they wanted the money. Even when shown they could provide excellent isolation facilities for literally a few hundred quid).

But it is an option open to anyone to do so, and if it meant the difference between being able to heat/eat/pay rent and possibly there are children at home who would suffer as a result of a parent losing pay. - then it’s something that people will do. Because it is an option open to them to do so, if they choose to do so. Employers need to understand that their policies of employment, will force some people into actions, that the employer are trying to stop.

Original poster
Proudcarer100 · 25/06/2022 15:59

TankFlyBoss · 25/06/2022 14:57

I wouldn't bother testing.

I couldn't do that, I'm very conscious to not pass anything on to the vulnerable residents I care for.

OP posts:
Original poster
Proudcarer100 · 25/06/2022 20:26

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 25/06/2022 15:20

@JuneJubilee that why I said it’s not morally right. No need to tell me - I was a care home manager. The exploitation of both staff and residents by home owners is the reason I left. (- yes why not allow covid positive patients into care homes without proper isolation wards… oh yes because they wanted the money. Even when shown they could provide excellent isolation facilities for literally a few hundred quid).

But it is an option open to anyone to do so, and if it meant the difference between being able to heat/eat/pay rent and possibly there are children at home who would suffer as a result of a parent losing pay. - then it’s something that people will do. Because it is an option open to them to do so, if they choose to do so. Employers need to understand that their policies of employment, will force some people into actions, that the employer are trying to stop.

I have to agree with you. It wasn't just the government to blame for the spread of covid in care homes.

OP posts:
happinessischocolate · 26/06/2022 07:57

Do you not get UC

If you get UC then if your pay goes down any month then your next UC will go up and cover most of the shortfall.

It's not just care homes, we have 10 people (out of 90) off out work atm and they're all only getting SSP. 5 are all in 1 department and the other 5 were in contact with the people in that department so it currently seems very contagious

Original poster
Proudcarer100 · 26/06/2022 08:55

happinessischocolate · 26/06/2022 07:57

Do you not get UC

If you get UC then if your pay goes down any month then your next UC will go up and cover most of the shortfall.

It's not just care homes, we have 10 people (out of 90) off out work atm and they're all only getting SSP. 5 are all in 1 department and the other 5 were in contact with the people in that department so it currently seems very contagious

No, we don't get UC.

OP posts:
Mummy289 · 27/06/2022 23:15

It’s dreadful the government doesn’t have a plan for carers. Really could of been something in place for carers that entitled to fill sick pay with evidence of covid. Like face it if there is a out break in a care home or someone vulnerable contracts it, it will cost the nhs and social care more treating that patient. Issue is government sadly (I think).

TankFlyBoss · 27/06/2022 23:54

@Proudcarer100 sorry. My mistake. I did manage to miss the fact that you are a care which of course is different.

User3456 · 28/06/2022 00:03

It is so unfair OP.

I always thought there should be financial support for people who need to isolate, but even more so for carers. I am sure this would have been different had we not had a Conservative government.
Hope you and your DC are ok.

Morellocherries · 28/06/2022 00:06

Mummy289 · 27/06/2022 23:15

It’s dreadful the government doesn’t have a plan for carers. Really could of been something in place for carers that entitled to fill sick pay with evidence of covid. Like face it if there is a out break in a care home or someone vulnerable contracts it, it will cost the nhs and social care more treating that patient. Issue is government sadly (I think).

There was something in place for this exact situation. Until a few months ago, care homes received grants to enable them to pay carers full wages when sick or isolating with covid. However as part of Boris’s ‘living with covid’ master plan, this support was all withdrawn. It is horribly unfair that government rules force those working in care to test regularly but there is now no longer any help for when carers are told they can’t work for a week or more (even if they don’t feel unwell!).

User3456 · 28/06/2022 00:09

This is part of the reason why we still need to try to suppress it tbh. There's a cost of living crisis and people can't afford to be off sick (and despite all the 'it's a cold' stuff I know lots of people that couldn't possibly have worked with it and needed at least a couple of weeks off even though their cases would have counted as mild because they didn't end up in hospital). Long covid is even more financially draining. Get your masks back out peeps.

(I know you will be wearing yours in the home OP - I mean as a community we need to do what we can to suppress it and support each other to not get ill).

carefullycourageous · 28/06/2022 00:14

It is awful. UK workers amongst the worst treated in Europe. In Germany statutory sick pay is 90% of your wage IIRC.

THANK YOU for still testing.

Original poster
Proudcarer100 · 28/06/2022 06:19

Morellocherries · 28/06/2022 00:06

There was something in place for this exact situation. Until a few months ago, care homes received grants to enable them to pay carers full wages when sick or isolating with covid. However as part of Boris’s ‘living with covid’ master plan, this support was all withdrawn. It is horribly unfair that government rules force those working in care to test regularly but there is now no longer any help for when carers are told they can’t work for a week or more (even if they don’t feel unwell!).

Show quote history

We have never had that the whole way through....we could apply for the government's grant of £500 but that finished in Feb I think. A lot of us didn't get it as you have to be on certain benefits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Proudcarer100 · 28/06/2022 06:23

carefullycourageous · 28/06/2022 00:14

It is awful. UK workers amongst the worst treated in Europe. In Germany statutory sick pay is 90% of your wage IIRC.

THANK YOU for still testing.

I've tested everyday since my dc came down with it, even though for carers it's now twice weekly.
Also, if 2 staff members get covid in a care home the whole home gets locked down. Not sure if many people know that. As well as getting rubbish money, we also have so much responsibility on our shoulders. The fear of sending the home into lockdown or passing it on to someone vulnerable is still there.

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 28/06/2022 06:40

Proudcarer100 · 26/06/2022 08:55

No, we don't get UC.

Show quote history

I'm not sure how the UC system works, but could you claim it for the period you are off so you have that on top of SSP?

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 28/06/2022 06:42

SaskiaRembrandt · 28/06/2022 06:40

I'm not sure how the UC system works, but could you claim it for the period you are off so you have that on top of SSP?

Show quote history

You should be able to do this OP
get a claim in now and if you don't get covid you can cancel it

Pandaeyes50 · 28/06/2022 23:36

O op that it's appalling. You should receive full pay in those circumstances