Despite strong disagreement from Usdaw, Tesco have informed the Union of their changed approach to what colleagues should do where they test positive for Covid, effective from Wednesday 24 January.
For some time, company policy has been that staff who test positive for Covid were required to stay off work for 5 days. The policy has now changed to the following:
'Where a colleague is diagnosed with one of the conditions listed [as a 'notifiable disease', which currently includes Covid], that they should follow the advice of their medical practitioner or Doctor regarding their suitability to attend work. Where the medical practitioner or Doctor advises that a colleague should not attend the workplace, the colleague must not work. This is treated as sickness absence and paid in the normal way, subject to a colleague's company sick pay allowance (including any unpaid waiting days where applicable).'
To state that the above change being downright irresponsible and grossly unfair would be an understatement.
Everybody has been coming to work with covid for ages now. plenty have admitted it in our store.
Doctors will 99.9% time will say NOT to work though, if anything you just don't go in... it'd be a fun thing if they tried to get rid of you for it..
Seems a pretty pointless update really. If your ill weather its covid or not you can self certify for the first 7 days and most doctors wouldn't issue a sick note until after the 7 days.
i get that plenty have admitted it and whatnot but regardless of it, it's still something that many have suffered long term with after having .. so the "Removal of the requirement to not attend work when absent with a notifiable disease" - as listed - Is quite BS to be honest, they will have more people off instead of just a person keeping themselves off...
Christ you had staff coming into work in my store when you had to self isolate when you had Covid quite a few sadly and you had certain management kept these people in work and just moved them onto diff depts which caused uproar to say the least it's madness really that now it's a ok come to work type thing don't forget there's plenty of elderly staff vulnerable staff still working ...
Basically if one has leprosy but is "feeling ok" then by all means come to work.
People having time off for Covid now are the same ones who'd have been off for a week with a sniffle before 2020.
Who is even testing themselves these days? If you feel really rough go sick and speak to your GP, if it's a minor sniffle come in and don't look for anything to justify you being at home.
Quote from: Biscuit tin on 27-01-24, 04:35PMPeople having time off for Covid now are the same ones who'd have been off for a week with a sniffle before 2020.
;D Probably get paid for the first three days too!
Quote from: londoner83 on 27-01-24, 05:59PMWho is even testing themselves these days? If you feel really rough go sick and speak to your GP, if it's a minor sniffle come in and don't look for anything to justify you being at home.
Well said!
There was someone who had 16 periods (2 weeks each) of sick for covid ('pinged' and close contact) and all of them was made up
Quote from: Loki on 26-01-24, 09:54PM'Where a colleague is diagnosed with one of the conditions listed [as a 'notifiable disease', which currently includes Covid], that they should follow the advice of their medical practitioner or Doctor regarding their suitability to attend work. Where the medical practitioner or Doctor advises that a colleague should not attend the workplace, the colleague must not work. This is treated as sickness absence and paid in the normal way, subject to a colleague's company sick pay allowance (including any unpaid waiting days where applicable).'
To state that the above change being downright irresponsible and grossly unfair would be an understatement.
All they are doing is following government advice that Covid is now being treated as any other illness and is not getting any special treatment. As people have said before, colleagues were already coming to work with covid or covid symptoms and people got on with it. Don't get angry at the company for doing what any other organisation out there is already doing.
You say that but If you literally search about covid, nhs site says to stay off and away from people, so doctors will just say the same.. All this means is that they want people to try and pester doctors who are impossible to get ahold of to begin with...
So covid = stay off
Not covid = work
Covid + feeling okay = have a brain and think, would you be happy someone giving it you or your baby etc? If so...then congrats.. You are quite heartless in my opinion.
Good point. They're pushing colleagues to contact an already crumbling NHS instead of leaving it as it was. Also their update also includes other notifiable diseases.
Most people who have symptoms of covid no longer self isolate anyway, I know its not a legal requirement anymore but the official advice is to try and stay at home if one has symptoms of covid or any other respiratory illness, however with most places not paying sick pay from day one and covid now managed as any other illness by most firms people have little choice but to just carry on as normal.
aye the company says "we put health first" and then wont pay from day 1 with it etc, just forcing people in more need to go "we need the money, i need to work"
Policy has been to come to work with Covid 'if you feel well enough' for MONTHS
Quote from: .....1 on 26-01-24, 11:04PMSeems a pretty pointless update really. If your ill weather its covid or not you can self certify for the first 7 days and most doctors wouldn't issue a sick note until after the 7 days.
Very pointless. My store, amongst with the rest of the group have been following the April 2022 update which was to treat covid as normal sickness absence and as such everyone just came to work with it
Quote from: oldfashionedplayer on 28-01-24, 05:36PMaye the company says "we put health first" and then wont pay from day 1 with it etc, just forcing people in more need to go "we need the money, i need to work"
Come on at Tesco with the average calibre of people there would be sick calls galore.
The first time around with covid when you did get paid for being off as no one could risk it ALL the usual suspects filled up the sick book straight away.
Beggers believe that people still pat into that union . It'd time people stood up for themselfs. Usdaw only have their own intrest and nothing else .Time to leave them once their numbers drop maybe then they start to care.
Old news.
"From Saturday 30 April 2022, confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases have been treated in line with our normal Sickness Absence Policy, which means that the absence will be paid subject to a colleague's Company Sick Pay allowance and normal waiting days will apply (in Work & Pay you would use the absence code Short Term – Cough/Cold/Sore Throat/Flu)."
Quote from: madness on 29-01-24, 11:42AMQuote from: oldfashionedplayer on 28-01-24, 05:36PMaye the company says "we put health first" and then wont pay from day 1 with it etc, just forcing people in more need to go "we need the money, i need to work"
Come on at Tesco with the average calibre of people there would be sick calls galore.
The first time around with covid when you did get paid for being off as no one could risk it ALL the usual suspects filled up the sick book straight away.
why are you so insulting to Tesco workers? We are all employees of this terrible company and just trying to get by on paltry wages and bad workplace practices but you insist on inferring that we are all lazy shirkers.
I can honestly say that the store I work in did not have anyone taking time off with covid just because they fancied a wee holiday. We now have people coming to work with covid because a) they do not want to let colleagues down in a store that is well understaffed and b) they won't get paid for 3 days and it will count towards their percentage which will trigger attendance reviews and they will be issued with warnings.
This has already happened with a few who have taken the time off.
I was forced to come into work WITH covid in jan 23 by the coop I work for (soon to be a tesco) My options where, stay off and get a written warning for absence, come to work with covid, of course I came into work and made it clear of the situation to all colleagues and customers who came near. After a long wait (7 hours) HR finally got back to the store saying I should leave the building immediately after my initial rant at them in the morning after feeling and looking like death all day.
Tesco are not the only employer who gives no f's about it staff. Infact the coop gave us all 4 weeks notice that our store is now owned by tesco and we can leave or transfer under tupe to tesco. No other choices.
Quote from: madness on 29-01-24, 11:42AMQuote from: oldfashionedplayer on 28-01-24, 05:36PMaye the company says "we put health first" and then wont pay from day 1 with it etc, just forcing people in more need to go "we need the money, i need to work"
Come on at Tesco with the average calibre of people there would be sick calls galore.
The first time around with covid when you did get paid for being off as no one could risk it ALL the usual suspects filled up the sick book straight away.
oh your right, there probably would be with it, thats wht it was initially stopped from people abusing it, there will always be someone abusing something that ruins it for the genuine ones... know one of ours was off 7 times with it over a few months.. they clearly did abuse it as they went to weddings and birthday parties still, even managed to get a fine but didn't stop them..
it shouldn't be a case of lumping everyone in though with the few that do abuse it all, but the company can't go preaching they protect workers and put safety first and continuously invest in our safety against it all and then go and make everything more likely to get it.. removing checkout screens, removing hand sanitizer stations and masks etc while saying they "lost money spending on us still" - BS... give the stuff that they "did spend money on" back then.
Quote from: General Thorn on 29-01-24, 02:57PMI can honestly say that the store I work in did not have anyone taking time off with covid just because they fancied a wee holiday
:D Oh behave!
????
I work in a small store and know everyone personally. I saw how they were affected by covid so please don't judge everyone by the same standard.
Quote from: JJH on 27-01-24, 06:18PMQuote from: Biscuit tin on 27-01-24, 04:35PMPeople having time off for Covid now are the same ones who'd have been off for a week with a sniffle before 2020.
;D Probably get paid for the first three days too!
Quote from: londoner83 on 27-01-24, 05:59PMWho is even testing themselves these days? If you feel really rough go sick and speak to your GP, if it's a minor sniffle come in and don't look for anything to justify you being at home.
Well said!
As someone who has just been off with Covid, the above statements are very small minded. I've NEVER been off with just a "Sniffle" thanks, despite being paid from day one. I still test because I spend a great deal of time with my elderly father at the care home where he lives and I wouldn't want to put those people at risk. Please tar everyone with the same brush.
If you are too ill to attend work regardless of what the illness is you wouldn't go in if symptoms are strong.
But you're unlikely to have the absence removed/mitigated so prepare to have it treated as other absences and added to your %
But if you got sacked cause of it, you'd have a good chance at a tribunal given the aim for companies to still do "what is right" to keep people safe and expect colleagues to do the same by following guidance etc... So cha ching?
Quote from: General Thorn on 30-01-24, 11:08AM????
I work in a small store and know everyone personally. I saw how they were affected by covid so please don't judge everyone by the same standard.
99% of big stores have absence issues. little stores can be different if a longterm team.
Not applicable to Northern Ireland as we still go by the day rule
According to tesco support we didn't have a government to change the rules
Hello
covid has been treated like the common cold for well over a year at my store, and as i work part time i get NO sick pay unless off for 3 weeks straight
you get sick pay from the 4th day of sickness. so unless you are a 1 day a week worker 3 weeks is wrong.
Quote from: person7 on 07-02-24, 01:32PMcovid has been treated like the common cold for well over a year at my store, and as i work part time i get NO sick pay unless off for 3 weeks straight
i dont stay off work with a common cold but i would with covid or flu
Quote from: oldfashionedplayer on 28-01-24, 06:29AMYou say that but If you literally search about covid, nhs site says to stay off and away from people, so doctors will just say the same.. All this means is that they want people to try and pester doctors who are impossible to get ahold of to begin with...
So covid = stay off
Not covid = work
Covid + feeling okay = have a brain and think, would you be happy someone giving it you or your baby etc? If so...then congrats.. You are quite heartless in my opinion.
I am lucky I have not had covid and I chose not to have the jabs ! But to say stay off is the problem. I don't know about anyone else but I can not afford to loose 3 days pay because of what may just be an ordinary cold/ bout of the flu , but lets be honest here covid is now just that, the government down graded it so thats what you get. Last month there were quite a few of our staff who had it one being a manager who I think gave it to quite a few of their staff. No easy answers but I know the general colleagues are the ones who really cant afford a loss of pay.
I get that there are colleagues that can't afford to lose the pay, theres stuff like Groceryaid that people can get help from and with the way costs are going, most are going to be applying and receiving Universal Credit alongside their wage, so by them not working it would be topped up that way albeit at a different date usually..
I definitely wouldn't just put it down to "downgraded" and go by what government say... they made the problem worse to begin with and couldn't care less about you, me or anyone else.. so they'll name it as they see fit.
Quote from: Loki on 27-01-24, 12:03PMBasically if one has leprosy but is "feeling ok" then by all means come to work.
I rang in at 3pm for 10pm shift saying I've got the flu. Duty refused to accept saying "it's too early" I did inform him that's not in company policy, but he said you'll have to ring again coz you may "feel better " I've got the FLU!! Even if did "feel" better I'm not going in risking passing it on to 20 other colleagues. Im gonna put in a grievance I think.
Hi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
Quote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 11:58AMHi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
2 absences will trigger an AR. However if you worked more than half of your shift before going home this should not be recorded as sickness. Less than half your shift is added to figures.
Quote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 02:26PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 11:58AMHi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
2 absences will trigger an AR. However if you worked more than half of your shift before going home this should not be recorded as sickness. Less than half your shift is added to figures.
I thought it was 3 absences that trigger an AR? Or is that a typo on your response? Yea I don't think I should be having one, and believe when I say I have tried to come to work when I'm ill, I don't take the p**s, the fact they've called me for a meeting has had a really bad affect on my head, I'm feeling low as it is and this really hasn't helped
Quote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 02:32PMQuote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 02:26PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 11:58AMHi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
2 absences will trigger an AR. However if you worked more than half of your shift before going home this should not be recorded as sickness. Less than half your shift is added to figures.
I thought it was 3 absences that trigger an AR? Or is that a typo on your response? Yea I don't think I should be having one, and believe when I say I have tried to come to work when I'm ill, I don't take the p**s, the fact they've called me for a meeting has had a really bad affect on my head, I'm feeling low as it is and this really hasn't helped
Yes it is 3 instances. Therefore no AR. Less than half a shift doesn't count.
Quote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 03:42PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 02:32PMQuote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 02:26PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 11:58AMHi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
2 absences will trigger an AR. However if you worked more than half of your shift before going home this should not be recorded as sickness. Less than half your shift is added to figures.
I thought it was 3 absences that trigger an AR? Or is that a typo on your response? Yea I don't think I should be having one, and believe when I say I have tried to come to work when I'm ill, I don't take the p**s, the fact they've called me for a meeting has had a really bad affect on my head, I'm feeling low as it is and this really hasn't helped
Yes it is 3 instances. Therefore no AR. Less than half a shift doesn't count.
[/quote
Thankyou, Quote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 03:42PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 02:32PMQuote from: Misery on 13-02-24, 02:26PMQuote from: Killstreaking on 13-02-24, 11:58AMHi, been a member for years but havnt logged in for years. I don't really know how to make a post. So I'm commenting here incase someone can help me. I've had 2 absences within 26 weeks. Then the other day I came to work with the flu, wasn't feeling great at all, I worked more than half a shift, but then had to go home. I've been called for an AR, which means it's been coded as sick. Is this right? Also my attendance is nowhere near 3%
2 absences will trigger an AR. However if you worked more than half of your shift before going home this should not be recorded as sickness. Less than half your shift is added to figures.
I thought it was 3 absences that trigger an AR? Or is that a typo on your response? Yea I don't think I should be having one, and believe when I say I have tried to come to work when I'm ill, I don't take the p**s, the fact they've called me for a meeting has had a really bad affect on my head, I'm feeling low as it is and this really hasn't helped
Yes it is 3 instances. Therefore no AR. Less than half a shift doesn't count.
Thankyou, appreciate it 😊
Surely notifiable diseases time off should be paid and not counted as absence, after all if your willing to go in but company says youve to stay off then surely they have to pay you as they told you not to come in (if they dont pay you is it not tantamount to breach of an employees contract if they are willing to come in)
They'd just be subject to the SSP rules of 3 waiting days, there's no requirement for an employer to pay you CSP for any days... So by doing the right thing, your >:( out of luck.
If however your due to be on holiday, you can move your holiday, but you'd still just follow normal company rules of CSP waiting period.
I get paid sick from day 1
Then you'll be one of the lucky ones that do, like before 2004 or something? Can't recall the year, but way back anyhow.. Those after are 3 days.. Though I'd expect them to remove that too.
Quote from: oldfashionedplayer on 24-02-24, 06:07PMThen you'll be one of the lucky ones that do, like before 2004 or something? Can't recall the year, but way back anyhow.. Those after are 3 days.. Though I'd expect them to remove that too.
they can't remove it as it firms part of my terms of employment
im sure if usdaw are bribed enough by tesco they will find a way
They will have to find a way to buy you out of it like they have with countless other premiums in the past, in the hope that whatever they offer does enough legally to negate whatever you are losing.....
Managers for example are seeing their notice period increase from 4 to 13 weeks but are having a enhanced bonus scheme.