Workplaces with colds/flu/covid

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731639#Comment_119731639

That's so funny. Onerous to implement. Versus the height of the pandemic where close contacts had to isolate as well as the sick person.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731639#Comment_119731639

That's a companies choice as to what company culture (pun intended) they want to create. Having paid sick leave is part of that, and the HR policies around accessing that. Its a perk and people will be attracted to companies with better perks.

Personally I think coming in sick and making everyone else sick, or coughing and sneezing over everyone and everything its pretty anti social and obnoxious. But if a company wants a good % of their staff in a sub par conditions thats their choice.

Personally I think the risks from COVID are low, but not zero. But I will respect other peoples choices in how they view the risk. Within reason.

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731736#Comment_119731736

Yes, and during the height of the pandemic we were also working from the office (lawyers and accountants provided "essential services"). We only worked from home during part of March and April 2020.

The basic position taken by the company since February/March of this year is that it is in the company's interest that we go back to business as usual, and that there is no further justification for continuing to treat Covid-19 any different from how the firm treat's any other illness. They pay for our annual flu vaccinations and have said that they will do so for the Covid-19 vaccine when it ceases to be covered by the government.

We get paid sick leave when we're actually too sick to work as certified by a doctor (we get generous VHI cover).

Sono Topolino

I should also add that as we deal with personal information, we cannot work from home and if people keep taking sick leave when they are not too sick to work, it will mean that other members of the team will have to take on that team members work thus leading to burnout. This was a major problem in 2020 and 2021, when the policy was that close contacts and people with symptoms (even if testing negative) had to isolate.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731972#Comment_119731972

In reality no two jobs are the same.

I keep using the healthy barman example, expected to work in a room where COVID is likely to be circulating at a high concentration.

I don't see anybody who is calling for sick employees to stay at home saying close bars to protect healthy staff because they know they will be laughed out of it.

Different jobs entirely but it's the same common denominator, either it's acceptable to expose staff to COVID from human interaction or it's not.

Clearly given nobody is calling for bars to be closed then they consider the risk to be acceptable.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731972#Comment_119731972

Lots of places deal with personal information with wfh. If people are out because they are sick, its the same difference regardless if sick or isolating. Its the same choice places make not to have any paid sick. They just make a calculated risk that its worth it or not.

Its not that can't facilitate Covid protocols.. But they have just chosen not. But they are allowed to do that.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731948#Comment_119731948

Except that one person coming in sick doesn't make everyone else sick - especially if you have decent ventilation.

My company has has a number of instances when one person was in the office and then tested positive the next day. Some must have been infectious when they were in. But no one else got sick from them.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119732683#Comment_119732683

The global pandemic would seem to disagree with you.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119732030#Comment_119732030

We are talking about staff that are infected. I take it it's ok to you to have them in work and passing their infection onto other staff members and customers who aren't infected.

I thought it might put manners on people after two years of a pandemic but not even a care in the world to put on a face mask with the "cold" in my workplace. Cold in commas because there's no way of knowing whether it's a cold or covid and if I have to work, I wouldn't get a good swab taken and make sure I get a negative test.

Clearly too much to ask employers to keep their employees safe in the workplace from respiratory infections but i have to wear other PPE in work and follow other safety precautions. But safety from respiratory illnesses, no way.

Flinty997

In Japan people wear masks if they have a cold etc. Considered rude if you don't.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119732946#Comment_119732946

We are talking about workplaces with COVID, as per thread title.

You keep going on about keeping employees safe but how can a bar owner keep his staff safe from COVID carrying customers?

IE, a pub is workplace that most likely has COVID, how do you suggest an employer keeps his staff safe?

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119732713#Comment_119732713

It's not valid to compare 2022 (when Covid-19 was a novel virus) with 2022 ( when Omnicron has made sure most of us have some exposure).

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119733536#Comment_119733536

You made a sweeping generalisation which couldn't possibly be true. Even with fairly benign illnesses we know they spread through schools and workplaces etc. Most People won't charge their routine for a cold. But a proper flu definitely knocks people out for a good few days.

Most of us? 1.67m cases in a population of 5.1m even allowing for unreported cases. It's unlikely that most people have had it.

Anyway even if it's not COVID and just a coughing and sneezing. I'm not going to sit near that person. I don't have any wish to feel miserable for a few days when I don't have to.

greenspurs

Donnelly being wheeled out now to start the death warnings !

And its not just covid ...

we are heading for a "Twindemic" .... yes a fcuking twindemic... Flu and Covid !?!?!

How !? Why!? What !? Who!?!? Wheres Tony gone ??? get him quickly .... NOW !!!

Only his calmless can save us, he saved us the last time.. He can do it agaiN!!

greenspurs

Recommendations/ guidelines - are not Laws , are not mandatory.

HSE provide guidelines ..... (just to cover themselves)