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Original poster

Coronavirus quarantine and work

152 replies

VocalDuck · 26/02/2020 10:06

Posting in here for traffic really.

I got back from Italy at the weekend (in the north, but not a town that is quarantined or any current cases of coronavirus).

Following the advice on the news to self isolate, I asked my GP surgery as the town I was in (near Verona) wasn’t mentioned and was told to stay home for 14 days. However, whilst work support me staying home they are looking into whether it will be unpaid leave or not. There is little I can do to wfh and their current view is that I’m not ill, so it’s not sick leave. I don’t have enough annual leave left to take (and have handed in my notice so can’t even borrow leave or work overtime to build up hours once back).

I just wondered if anyone was experiencing the same and what their employers stance had been? I’m trying to get hold of ACAS so I’ve got as much info as possible for when my HR calls me back.

I suppose my AIBU is I feel it should be paid although I do appreciate I am well yet not working. However, it’s not like I can go out and do anything sociable or fun.

I’m hoping they were just caught off guard (this is probably fairly unprecedented in some respects) and after having a think and chat, will agree to pay. Although I wonder if they are worrying about large numbers of employees ending up in quarantine and the financial implications of paying them all.

YABU = unpaid
YANBU = paid

OP posts:
Uptheshard · 26/02/2020 13:52

Hi there. Am just back from como area. My employer sent me home today too. No info about whether it was paid leave or not.

RunningAwaywiththeCircus · 26/02/2020 14:09

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Cohle · 26/02/2020 15:22

"This is from the BBC website, verbatim:

And those who have travelled north of Pisa are asked to stay at home for 14 days if they develop flu-like symptoms."

Why on earth do posters think advising people to follow generic advice from a website rather than specific advice they have received from their own GP after a consultation is appropriate?

It's irresponsible and possibly downright dangerous.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 26/02/2020 15:44

Really the BBC and GPs should be singing from the same hymn sheet from the DoH!!! In fact, they should probably be preparing to do related public service announcements (although I guess that could cause mass panic and prepping pandemonium).

I'm sure they were more on the ball with the Bird flu outbreak (was it about ten years ago?).

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 26/02/2020 15:47

@Cohle

But it's not generic advice from a website is it? It's Public Health England, which the BBC have reported on. OP is fine but has been signed off by a GP..? That makes no sense, and is presumably why her employer don't want to fork out for sick pay!

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 26/02/2020 15:51

From PHE:

Category 2: Travellers do not need to undertake any special measures, but if they develop symptoms they should self-isolate and call NHS 111.

And there's a map showing which towns are Category 1, and which regions are Category 2.

If I can understand that as a lowly administrator, I'd sure as hell hope my employer and GP could. It's not rocket science.

Coronavirus quarantine and work
Cohle · 26/02/2020 15:59

Because unlike her GP, we have no idea about the specifics of OP's case.

You don't even know she's in England for goodness sake.

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 26/02/2020 16:05

Given that the OP refers to ACAS, a public body that serves England, Wales and Scotland, I think we can Wink

Thelnebriati · 26/02/2020 16:13

If its unpaid, there is no incentive for people who are in low paid or insecure jobs to stay at home. How are they supposed to manage? What are they supposed to do if they are sacked?

Windyone · 26/02/2020 16:13

On what grounds have you been signed off?

YukoandHiro · 26/02/2020 16:15

You ought to be paid - you are protecting their business from a major risk by staying st home and doing what little you can from there.

partofthepeanutgallery · 26/02/2020 16:18

Go to work. Tell them if they don't want you there, they will have to pay you to stay home.

Woodifer · 26/02/2020 16:24

You were in a category 2 area - so you self isolate if you have symptoms

If you were a category 1 area (named town) you self isolate anyway

Devlesko · 26/02/2020 16:26

It's on the news, you'll get paid. Just seen it before, it's considered as sick leave.

SummerHouse · 26/02/2020 16:29

*The Foreign Office has now updated its travel advice, warning against all but essential travel to 11 quarantined towns in Italy.

The government said anyone returning from those towns must self-isolate.

And those who have travelled north of Pisa are asked to stay at home for 14 days if they develop flu-like symptoms.*

This is the advice. If you haven't been to one of the mentioned towns then you should be going in unless you feel ill.

Beau20 · 26/02/2020 16:45

Our employer is paying for it. 2 members of staff I know had their holidays booked over 12 months and they have been asked to work from home in those 2 weeks. Simple.

Cohle · 26/02/2020 17:50

Given that the OP refers to ACAS, a public body that serves England, Wales and Scotland, I think we can

So ... she could easily not be in England then. That's my point.

PlomBear · 26/02/2020 18:26

This is exactly how coronavirus will spread. Stay off work unpaid and lose your house and end up on the streets. What will happen when millions of people are off work sick?

Ffsnosexallowed · 26/02/2020 18:28

I'm NHS. We've had a special category of leave added to our system - specifically for coronovirus - paid leave

Aragog · 26/02/2020 18:36

I think this issue regarding no pay is going to cause real issues. People will just lie if they have no symptoms, - say they were staying somewhere else and go into work - with obviously the potential to spread it then increasing.

Many people simply can't afford to miss two weeks pay.

Aragog · 26/02/2020 18:40

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51628524

This information on the BBC yesterday was somewhat vague as to whether or not you will get paid if you self isolate, or if you stay home to look after a child who has to be isolated or is ill with it.

Those on slightly higher pay but without enhanced sick pay are going to be reluctant to take sick leave and only get SSP if they are not actually ill.

Toffeecakes · 26/02/2020 18:42

I think it should be based on reasoning for the trip - for instance, if you chose to travel near the places on lockdown now then I'd take that as being your choice, therefore you should self quarantine and budget for that. If if was a work decision where they'd forced you to go as part of your job then of course they should pay you whilst you self quarantine.

Those people who choose to travel at the moment need to take responsibility and self quarantine if this is what has been advised, if it's a leisure trip/holiday then that's your choice and you can't expect to be paid whist you are off.

TheQueef · 26/02/2020 18:47

Surely sick pay, adding to the ACAS recommended.

HeIenaDove · 26/02/2020 19:01

I saw a programme discussing this earlier, they don't have to pay you but they do if you are at home looking after a child who has to quarantine

Can see childless/childfree employees being pissed off.