Employer not wanting me to return despite meeting HSE isolation advice

Mimon

I have completed my 5 day isolation period and meet the HSE criteria of symptoms mostly gone for the last 48 hours. My employer is saying because I didn't take a test until Monday I should stay out for 5 days from that time.

Totally arbitrary as nothing in the HSE advice mentioning isolating from the time of a positive test. Feel like asking them to pay me for the time they are telling me to stay out beyond the required HSE isolation period.

Thoughts?

Mrs OBumble

Are you a bot? Or in a timewarp?

Mimon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013210#Comment_121013210

Bots get Covid now? 😂. Definitely still out there as I can attest.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013210#Comment_121013210

COVID hasn't gone away you know? It's back with a vengeance

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013210#Comment_121013210

...as others have said, got it myself last month, managed to pass it onto others, other family members currently down with it also....

Risteard81

No legal requirement to go into so-called "isolation". You can legally work whilst COVID positive.

Mimon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013304#Comment_121013304

I did't mind following the HSE advice but my isolation is complete now. Want to keep a decent relationship so don't want to go against them even if they are misguided.

Although will expect to be paid if they are telling me to not come in when I am entitled to.

Risteard81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013326#Comment_121013326

Insist on full pay.

dennyk

HSE advice is clear that you should isolate for five days from the day you first had symptoms, not five days from the first day you took a test. If you had no symptoms, then you should isolate for five days from your test, as you wouldn't know how long before your test you'd been ill in that case, but if you were symptomatic, the isolation period is based on that. Point your employer to that link and maybe they'll cop on.

AnRothar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058310384/employer-not-wanting-me-to-return-despite-meeting-hse-isolation-advice

What does your employers policy say?

SEPT 23 1989

Here we go again

gauchesnell

symptoms mostly gone is not the same thing as no symptoms. If you have symptoms stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Covid is back (again). Check your employer policy but yes of course you should be paid. Is WFH not an option? While there is no legal requirement anymore basic cop on hopefully applies so please stay home if you have symptoms.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121013304#Comment_121013304

An employer is required to maintain a safe working environment, so failing to adhere to HSE would foolishly leave them open to possible legal action. Whether or not an action would succeed is another matter.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121041146#Comment_121041146

In this case, the employer is following guidelines that are more cautious that the HSE's. An abundance of caution may cause the affected employee some financial distress, but would provide a "safer" environment for the rest of the workforce.

Mimon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121032208#Comment_121032208

"Symptoms mostly gone" is the terminology from the HSE website. I think I'll take their advice rather than yours from up there on that high horse.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202789#Comment_121202789

He's hardly still up on a horse seeing as he made that comment 7 weeks ago.

If you're still in doubt about what to do 7 weeks after being told you're not wanted back at work it's time for some serious reflection on your situation.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202843#Comment_121202843

I want to know what happened, did the OP get paid, did they go back.

Arghus

If I was still getting paid I'd be absolutely delighted.