I recently accepted a new 12 week temp job (with the possibility to go perm later) and was due to start tomorrow. However, I started feeling unwell yesterday and woke up feeling worse and with a temperature and tested positive for Covid this morning. I was in the CEV group but I think now that I've dropped to 7.5mg on the Prednisolone I'm likely in the high risk but not CEV (I take Prednisolone and Hydroxychloroquine).
I emailed the business owner who I've been communicating with over the role and apologised and asked to start next Monday (as I haven't started yet they won't be paying me sick pay or anything for this) and his response was basically (this is not his verbatim words but the jist of it) that's a shame as we have lots of work to do but if I'm not feeling well it is what it is. And in his experience Covid gets better quickly after the initial period so if I'm feeling better by Thursday to say and I can start then. Just to clarify, it's a work from home role.
Although I know bosses aren't always sympathetic and there are far, far worse experiences out there I feel a bit shocked the there wasn't even a fake "get well soon". The angry part of me wants to say to forget the job if this is how health is viewed, it feels like a real red flag. Although I didn't say what my exact illness was I was straight forward in that I said during the recruitment process that my job is very, very important to me but there's nothing more important to me than my health and I said I have a disability.
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Take care
BookishVibes
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BookishVibes
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it’s quite simple really, you have an infectious illness and it will be against any employment contract for you to attend work until you test negative. Covid is Covid and it cannot be treated any more lightly now than before because there are still people out there who are vulnerable and who can become extremely ill because of it.
As for his attitude perhaps you should take it as a red flag, any employer who is willing to risk the rest of his employees by letting someone come in with an infectious illness is not very respectful to employment law let alone the welfare of his staff.
Thanks for such a quick reply Star13. Apologies I missed saying it's a WFH job so I wouldn't be infecting anyone else (and I don't intend to leave the house until I'm testing negative). I'm going to update my original post. What concerned me was the attitude of seeming to not believe I am unwell (he said "if" you are feeling unwell) and also that it seems to show his attitude is to expect his staff to work when you're sick and this really concerns me.
ah! Thanks for clarifying. You may be being over sensitive. It’s possible he’s stressed because he’s got a lot of work and was relying on you starting so it’s disappointing for him. I don’t know the nature of the work so I can’t judge how difficult it would be for you to do say sitting in bed if on a computer for short stints.
I worked from home while recovering from a Stroke so was able to pace myself quite well. I could work the hours that suited me as long as the work got done and a lot was done from my bed! You need to think about this carefully because you have a job that he may give to others. Can you pace yourself over the next few days after you feel a bit better. It’s not as though you will have anyone looking over your shoulder?
The first couple of days would be training from what I understand so I think I'd need to be fitting in with other staffs availability, so not able to work at my own pace. It's a sales/marketing role.
I think between the temperature and the chills I'm not in the best condition to be learning something new, so my concern is if I start now even if I take notes my concentration isn't going to be up to much...
Think its because you can go to work now with covid. Perhaps thats why he said ,if you are unwell. And of course no testing, all they say is ,you shouldn't be testing. I emailed my letter from nhs saying i must test if I have symptoms or if anyone else does in my home.
Have you managed to get the anti viral?
From what I've seen on here some have, some haven't.
We had an awful issue here the other week. My daughter very ill with covid, smack bang in middle of A levels. It was all so frustrating nothing in place now to help. Drs , exam invigilator, exam coordinator.. nobody knew what to do as we are all supposed to just carry on now as normal. It was very stressful.
Yes that's true, I tested the moment I suspected it was Covid as I don't want to pass it onto anyone else so I could be extra careful to stay away from people.
I didn't log my positive result yesterday as I thought only high risk people were eligible for the anti virals and I only take 7.5mg Pred and 200mg Hydroxychloroquine, and my understanding is that it's only if you're on 20mg Pred or higher you're considered immunosuppressed in terms of Covid anti virals?
I'm so sorry to hear about your stressful week last week, and your poor daughter. I hope she's better this week?
I'm only hydroxychloquine. Had an email few months ago saying they would send LF tests and to report if positive for antivirals. Lots of people on here got it who hadn't been in this category before. You should be able to find info on here. Had the booster too.
A couple in my lupus group have had covid and got anti viral. They both got them within a couple of days and they worked well. Ring nhs 111 if you don't get anywhere with your gp. You need them quick and as I understand it you can get them within hours and they can be dropped off to you even. Try not to stress as it will make things worse. The two ladies who had covid in my lupus group still tested positive and felt rough for a few weeks but felt that the anti virals stopped things being even worse. Hope you get help and recover soon.
Thank you, dg70, that's really helpful to know. I wonder if I'm still eligible with only being on Pred 7.5mg and 200mg Hydroxychloroquine? During the pandemic I was considered high risk as I had Rituximab the year the pandemic started just before the first lockdown. But I haven't had anymore since.
I got the NHS email about anti virals and got the recent booster jab . I'm just on hydroxy. It's just having lupus qualifies you now not what medication you take.
The boss may have had an awful day, and you were the final straw! Or he's a git. Bottom line is will you enjoy the work? I say give it a go, you can always quit if its awful.
Thank you, Lulamay7, that's good advice. Yes it's true it's worth giving it a go and if he's not nice to work with or the job is too stressful, I can always leave x
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Unfair NHS or government jobs worth !!!!!!
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