Workplaces and employer attitudes Megathread

mea_k · 18-03-2020 9:21pm #1

Our coworker returned to work today - after beeing in UK nightclubs and for past 3 days.
None of us are happy. Manager now put big sign on office door saying that UK is deemed safe to travel to and back and also if person doesn't feel unwell they are fine to work.
My problem is yesterday was announced that now anyone travelling to UK or back has to quaranteene themselves. Also covid19 symptoms won't show untill few days. And she will have whole place infected by then sureley.
Respectedly she returned to work today. After that took place.

Do we have right to request her leave and quaranteene herself?

It's getting quite heated in work, we do deal with public also.

nullzero · 18-03-2020 9:22pm

mea_k wrote: »

Our coworker returned to work today - after beeing in UK nightclubs and for past 3 days.
None of us are happy. Manager now put big sign on office door saying that UK is deemed safe to travel to and back and also if person doesn't feel unwell they are fine to work.
My problem is yesterday was announced that now anyone travelling to UK or back has to quaranteene themselves. Also covid19 symptoms won't show untill few days. And she will have whole place infected by then sureley.
Respectedly she returned to work today. After that took place.

Do we have right to request her leave and quaranteene herself?

It's getting quite heated in work, we do deal with public also.

If she spent three days in nightclubs she may have picked up more than coronavirus.

Jonybgud · 18-03-2020 9:23pm

mea_k wrote: »

Our coworker returned to work today - after beeing in UK nightclubs and for past 3 days.
None of us are happy. Manager now put big sign on office door saying that UK is deemed safe to travel to and back and also if person doesn't feel unwell they are fine to work.
My problem is yesterday was announced that now anyone travelling to UK or back has to quaranteene themselves. Also covid19 symptoms won't show untill few days. And she will have whole place infected by then sureley.
Respectedly she returned to work today. After that took place.

Do we have right to request her leave and quaranteene herself?

It's getting quite heated in work, we do deal with public also.

No, your boss said so.

biko · 18-03-2020 9:25pm

Speak to HR, they're usually better at these things than After Hours..

fonecrusher1 · 18-03-2020 9:27pm

She sounds like an idiot already to be honest. After the multiple broadcast warnings about social distancing / self isolation.

These are the morons who are going to create a surge in infections.

mea_k · 18-03-2020 9:33pm

biko wrote: »

Speak to HR, they're usually better at these things than After Hours..

I'm sure HR will be hearing from 30+ people.
My mum, who looks after my son while I work has lung problem.
Now I don't know what to do, I had to pick my son up today at her gate. I was so scared going in.
I just thought ill ask what everyone else thinks before I blow my lid tomarrow

SEPT 23 1989 · 18-03-2020 9:35pm

Leo's speech just last night

"the latter stages of coronavirus is like coming down after three days on the yokes"

Nothing wrong with your co worker OP

Shaunoc · 18-03-2020 9:36pm

Quit your job, only answer

krissovo · 18-03-2020 9:36pm

Can you not work from home if its an office?

Iodine1 · 18-03-2020 9:49pm

You are absolutely right to be concerned. Well over 100 dead in uk so far and 32 died last night alone, all tested positive for virus. In just one night! It is rampant over there and Boris and Co are brushing it under the carpet, as they try to convince the public Britain is Great again.

pgj2015 · 18-03-2020 9:52pm

There is as much chance you have it, as your coworker.

Rufeo · 18-03-2020 10:21pm

After hours, the solution to all Life's problems

Strumms · 18-03-2020 10:23pm

mea_k wrote: »

I'm sure HR will be hearing from 30+ people.
My mum, who looks after my son while I work has lung problem.
Now I don't know what to do, I had to pick my son up today at her gate. I was so scared going in.
I just thought ill ask what everyone else thinks before I blow my lid tomarrow

HR very rarely if ever go against a managers wishes and back a member of the line staff, the only scenario where they ‘might ‘ is when it’s likely their actions to do so could end them in court and the company suffers loss of reputation and therefore revenue.

If I was HR for a company when this problem began manifesting itself one of my priorities is to request that each manager provide me with their staff holiday calendar for the next 6 months.... I’d begin finding out which if any employee had foreign trips booked and to where or any group plans say a volleyball tournament , golf trip to Portugal etc... encourage cancelling, rebooking, even as a tool of goodwill a one off contribution covering some or all of change fees...

Mrcaramelchoc · 18-03-2020 10:25pm

A lynching is what you need.but stone her first. actually stone her while you are lynching her.

golfball37 · 18-03-2020 10:25pm

It’s a completely unacceptable situation imo. Boss should be sanctioned for that attitude. We’ve heard the guidelines she should be at home for 14 days, no exceptions

Rufeo · 18-03-2020 10:30pm

Mrcaramelchoc wrote: »

A lynching is what you need.but stone her first. actually stone her while you are lynching her.

Absolutely, and streaming live on social media.... with further giving out on boards after wards. I mean anything other than actually going and dealing with the situation

killbillvol2 · 18-03-2020 10:34pm

Luckily you've come to exactly the right place for advice.

Mellor · 18-03-2020 10:36pm

mea_k wrote: »

Do we have right to request her leave and quaranteene herself?

No. the manager has told this person to be in work. That is what they are doing.

golfball37 wrote: »

It’s a completely unacceptable situation imo. Boss should be sanctioned for that attitude. We’ve heard the guidelines she should be at home for 14 days, no exceptions

People showing symptoms show be at home. People expsoed. The co-worker is neither.

The rate of infection is higher in Ireland than the UK. So OP is more likely to catch it by being in work than co-worker was in UK.

Darc19 · 18-03-2020 10:39pm

Uk is a big place.

The main area of infections is London.

But even at that it's a small number of people in the scheme of things (at the moment)

So odds are quite low that she has it.

Simple distancing in the office should alleviate the issue and should be done anyway

Tropheus · 18-03-2020 10:39pm

Your employer has a duty of care towards you. If this employee has admitted not adhering to social distancing guidelines and is a higthened infection risk then HR may have to do something.

s4uv3 · 18-03-2020 10:45pm

Darc19 wrote: »

But even at that it's a small number of people in the scheme of things (at the moment)

So odds are quite low that she has it.

That's only because they're doing damn all testing. If you look at the no of active cases v deaths, the numbers aren't adding up at all. My money says the UK is riddled, they're just keeping the case no's low (for now) by not testing.

fryup · 18-03-2020 11:05pm

this is what happens folks...paranoia

i suppose if people so much as sneeze in the workplace they'd be looked upon with suspicion, people need to get a grip

pinkyeye · 18-03-2020 11:08pm

The numbers in the UK per capita are actually better than ours so what is the problem?

gmisk · 18-03-2020 11:12pm

pinkyeye wrote: »

The numbers in the UK per capita are actually better than ours so what is the problem?

But with how many tests?

twowheelsonly · 18-03-2020 11:14pm

Mellor wrote: »

No. the manager has told this person to be in work. That is what they are doing.

People showing symptoms show be at home. People expsoed. The co-worker is neither.

The rate of infection is higher in Ireland than the UK. So OP is more likely to catch it by being in work than co-worker was in UK.

pinkyeye wrote: »

The numbers in the UK per capita are actually better than ours so what is the problem?

The UK are tesing only when people turn up at the hospital. There is NO public testing going on as there is here. GPs or others are not testing there so are advising those with mild symptoms to self-isolate and only referring more serious cases to hospital.
That alone should set alarm bells ringing. Their numbers are completely arseways.

18-03-2020 11:19pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

There is as much chance you have it, as your coworker.

There is now anyway.

It’s mad reading all the flippant replies here though. Shows how much of a stinking attitude we’re all up against that and that we’ll never control this no matter what the government puts in place.

timhenn · 18-03-2020 11:28pm

Do you know if there's anything that can be done about a company who are putting employees and their families at risk during this crisis? They have the ability to get all their employees to work from home. They have decided only experienced staff will work from home while everyone else will have to work from the office. This is not a temporary measure but it's their stated position for the duration of the crisis.
The company is in Dublin and the majority of staff have to get public transport into work. There are less people going on public transport but still the risk is bigger than staying at home. An employee lives in the same house as a relative who returned from working in Italy. The relative must self isolate but the employee of this company was told to attend work.
Many of the staff live at home with their parents, the chances of passing this virus onto them has been increased hugely because of the stance this company has taken. There's no law against what they're doing but is there any way to persuade this company to do the right thing?

blindside88 · 18-03-2020 11:32pm

Not all companies have the backend infrastructure in place to allow everyone work from home. A lot of big companies have invested very little in IT since the last crash. Best thing to do is practice social distancing on the way to and from work and also while in the office. Wash hands frequently and avoid touching your face. A large number of businesses are still running and will have to continue to do so

timhenn · 18-03-2020 11:34pm

blindside88 wrote: »

Not all companies have the backend infrastructure in place to allow everyone work from home. A lot of big companies have invested very little in IT since the last crash. Best thing to do is practice social distancing on the way to and from work and also while in the office. Wash hands frequently and avoid touching your face. A large number of businesses are still running and will have to continue to do so

But they have the infrastructure! Every employee is set up to work from home, they just won't allow everyone to do it. If someone in the office gets the virus, then they will all be sent home to work from there but only for 24 hours until the office is cleaned and opened again.

jrosen · 18-03-2020 11:40pm

Have they the ability to have all staff work from home at once? There are companies that can accommodate work from home but its not always possible to have 100% of the work force at home at the same time.

Are they keeping social distance? Not using common spaces? If this is the case then the company are following current guidelines and recommendations.

timhenn · 18-03-2020 11:43pm

jrosen wrote: »

Have they the ability to have all staff work from home at once? There are companies that can accommodate work from home but its not always possible to have 100% of the work force at home at the same time.

Are they keeping social distance? Not using common spaces? If this is the case then the company are following current guidelines and recommendations.

Well if the company is closed for the day then they'll all work from home! How many companies are still calling employees into the office when they can work from home?

krissovo · 18-03-2020 11:46pm

Has anyone asked why? Have you seen your business continuity plan? This may go some way to explain the reasoning.

Concurrent licensing of software that allows remote access may restrict the amount of staff who can work. Many companies (mine included) are providing temporary (free) licences to enable more of the workforce from home, it can get quite expensive.

timhenn · 18-03-2020 11:53pm

krissovo wrote: »

Has anyone asked why? Have you seen your business continuity plan? This may go some way to explain the reasoning.

Concurrent licensing of software that allows remote access may restrict the amount of staff who can work. Many companies (mine included) are providing temporary (free) licences to enable more of the workforce from home, it can get quite expensive.

I don't work there so I'm not sure exactly why but my friend says that it would make no difference if in the office or at home, the same work can be done.

Stheno · 18-03-2020 11:56pm

timhenn wrote: »

I don't work there so I'm not sure exactly why but my friend says that it would make no difference if in the office or at home, the same work can be done.

How would they connect to the work network?

pgj2015 · 18-03-2020 11:58pm

fryup wrote: »

this is what happens folks...paranoia

i suppose if people so much as sneeze in the workplace they'd be looked upon with suspicion, people need to get a grip

I was embarrassed for the people I saw today wearing masks out in the open, gloves etc. I walked close to some woman who nearly jumped out of the way like I was Larry Murphy or something.

timhenn · 18-03-2020 11:58pm

Stheno wrote: »

How would they connect to the work network?

They have some program or something, it all set up already! They all had to test it at home.

lawred2 · 19-03-2020 12:00am

Your boss sounds like a dipsh!t

Stheno · 19-03-2020 12:01am

timhenn wrote: »

They have some program or something, it all set up already! They all had to test it at home.

All at the same time doing a full normal days work?

Or "test this works for minutes and you can connect" type testing?

miezekatze · 19-03-2020 12:02am

I'm in a similar situation, perfectly able to work from home, but they will still only allow it in exceptions (such as family member with symptoms and waiting to be tested etc). I don't understand it, it just doesn't make sense. Infrastructure is there. They will not give us a reason. We sit closely together in the office, there is no social distancing. They are putting people's health at risk for no reason.

timhenn · 19-03-2020 12:03am

Stheno wrote: »

All at the same time doing a full normal days work?

Or "test this works for minutes and you can connect" type testing?

No because only some have been told to work from home! If the company shuts, then they'll all work from home.

timhenn · 19-03-2020 12:04am

miezekatze wrote: »

I'm in a similar situation, perfectly able to work from home, but they will still only allow it in exceptions (such as family member with symptoms and waiting to be tested etc). I don't understand it, it just doesn't make sense. Infrastructure is there. They will not give us a reason. We sit closely together in the office, there is no social distancing. They are putting people's health at risk for no reason.

It just doesn't seem right! There's no excuse for it. The lives of people and their families should be number one.

reach for the stars · 19-03-2020 12:06am

A relation of mine returned from a trip to uk and was told bluntly to stay away from work for 2 weeks , in my opinion rightly so and they have no issue with doing so .

anewme · 19-03-2020 12:07am

You need people power OP.

People returning from Cheltenham were originally going to be allowed back in to our office.

There was such a meltdown that a swift about turn was done.

Degag · 19-03-2020 12:11am

miezekatze wrote: »

I'm in a similar situation, perfectly able to work from home, but they will still only allow it in exceptions (such as family member with symptoms and waiting to be tested etc). I don't understand it, it just doesn't make sense. Infrastructure is there. They will not give us a reason. We sit closely together in the office, there is no social distancing. They are putting people's health at risk for no reason.

This is all kinds of wrong, There should be clear and open communication given to staff at this time and rationale for decisions taken. There may be valid reasons for their stance but employees must be told.

19-03-2020 12:18am

anewme wrote: »

You need people power OP.

People returning from Cheltenham were originally going to be allowed back in to our office.

There was such a meltdown that a swift about turn was done.

My uncle in the midlands related a tale of a lad who was hauled into the head office after a jaunt to Cheltenham on the sly:

"I have reliable information that you travelled to England last week".
"Sir, as you are aware I was out sick".
"Try again, and this is your last chance to come clean. Beware that there will be an investigation pending and disciplinary action taken as necessary".
"Alright, it's true what they say. I was booked over for several days and didn't want to lose money cancelling out."
"Thank you. You are now taking a fourteen day sabbatical at home as per our new guidelines on workplace safety. And by the way, we will still be preparing on investigation into your conduct."

He won't be coming back.

ChikiChiki · 19-03-2020 12:20am

mea_k wrote: »

Our coworker returned to work today - after beeing in UK nightclubs and for past 3 days.
None of us are happy. Manager now put big sign on office door saying that UK is deemed safe to travel to and back and also if person doesn't feel unwell they are fine to work.
My problem is yesterday was announced that now anyone travelling to UK or back has to quaranteene themselves. Also covid19 symptoms won't show untill few days. And she will have whole place infected by then sureley.
Respectedly she returned to work today. After that took place.

Do we have right to request her leave and quaranteene herself?

It's getting quite heated in work, we do deal with public also.

LOL some management skills. Basically a spot the rabid dog sign.

Some managers are clueless asshats. I know of someone who returned Monday from the states, has travelled through multiple airports, has the capability to work remotely and the manager asked them to come straight into work today. When they raised the whole concern around the epidemic the manager literally just asked how do you feel now.

Gob****tery is alive and well.

ThewhiteJesus · 19-03-2020 12:21am

mea_k wrote: »

I'm sure HR will be hearing from 30+ people.
My mum, who looks after my son while I work has lung problem.
Now I don't know what to do, I had to pick my son up today at her gate. I was so scared going in.
I just thought ill ask what everyone else thinks before I blow my lid tomarrow

I lost it today and complained in work it’s not being treated seriously enough

weldoninhio · 19-03-2020 12:23am

pgj2015 wrote: »

I was embarrassed for the people I saw today wearing masks out in the open, gloves etc. I walked close to some woman who nearly jumped out of the way like I was Larry Murphy or something.

Same. Morons. Was in Tesco earlier and there was some oul one who must have been on the same route I was, everytime she passed someone she put her hand over her mouth, as if that was gonna save her if someone was infected. Hopefully once Corona is done they can search for a cure for stupid.

OP give her a big Hollywood kiss, then isolate for 14 days. If you don’t go down with it, she’s safe.

murpho999 · 19-03-2020 12:26am

pinkyeye wrote: »

The numbers in the UK per capita are actually better than ours so what is the problem?

The numbers in the UK are false as they're not testing like here.

Look at the number of deaths though, Much higher than here.

anewme · 19-03-2020 12:29am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What time do we make jiggy?

14 days. Looks like shes just gone into quarantine.

golfball37 · 19-03-2020 12:29am

The uk have had almost 300 deaths while Germany has 50. 12000 positives in Germany compared to 2600 in uk. The place is riddled they’re just not testing

Workplaces and employer attitudes Megathread

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