Sainsbury’s employees

kaz100

My son works for Sainsbury’s and I just want to check something 

4 weeks ago my husband became quite ill, so my son phoned his employer and was advised to self isolate for 14 days which our household did. After 2 weeks my son became quite ill and phoned Sainsbury’s and was told that he had had his 2 weeks and so was told he had to take holiday for 2 weeks. At a time where my son is told to put himself at risk to keep the country fed and Sainsbury’s making a Hughe profits.  Is this correct it seems unfair and I feel they are not looking after their staff either with any protection working in the store or supporting them when sick.

epm-84

What's the company's sick pay policy?  If you don't know then it's not possible to say whether they are being 'unfair'.

lincroft1710

Companies may act unfairly but they must not act unlawfully. As your son is sick I would have thought he would be entitled to SSP plus any extra if he qualifies for an employer's sickness benefit scheme.

kaz100

epm-84 said:

What's the company's sick pay policy?  If you don't know then it's not possible to say whether they are being 'unfair'.

Hi
he’s been there 4 years and is normally paid sick. He has only taken 2 weeks sick in all that time.

Fire_Fox

kaz100 said:

he’s been there 4 years and is normally paid sick. He has only taken 2 weeks sick in all that time.

Your son needs to read the sickness policy in his staff handbook or similar. It may be he needs to be 'signed off' work by his GP for example.

calcotti

If he is sick he is entitled to SSP but will almost certainly need a GP Fit Note to support his sickness given that he has already had two weeks off for self-isolation.

yksi

Sainsbury's are not making huge profits, they are suffering right now like all businesses apart from coffin makers. So there is no need to feel like they are profiting from COVID-19. If your son is sick then he is probably expected to show a fit note. Is it possible that they were kind enough to let him use his sick leave already when he was merely self-isolating and it's now run out? In any case, employers are (and have always been) allowed to arrange holiday to be used at a time to suit the business, so at least he is still getting paid.

EssJayD

Is he ill with covid symptoms?

Either way they are wrong, if he is sick and unable to attend work, he is on sick leave, they cannot force him to take holidays if he is sick.  Employers have been advised to have a common sense approach with regards to the usual requirement of fit notes for >7 days sickness if in relation to covid related illnesses, and in terms of absence management procedures if covid related.  Can he call his GP and ask for a fit note if longer than 7 day absence?  At least then he can advise his employer he has tried to obtain one.

He can push back on this but unfortunately, as unreasonable and unfair as it would be, they could make life harder for him long term.  Some employers dislike employees knowing their rights.

EssJayD

Can post links yet - Google nhs111 isolation note
Not sure when this was updated but it looks like he can now use this service to produce an isolation note which has replaced fit notes for covid related illnesses.

unforeseen

The first question:-

Have you been told to self-isolate by an NHS website or a healthcare professional?

For example, the NHS website, NHS 111 online, NHS inform, NHS Direct Wales, Covid-19 NI app or Public Health Agency

If you answer No then you go no further. Probably struggle with the next question as well if its not actually covid or believed to be. 
If husband had Covid symptoms then 14 days would see everybody safe, so does son have Covid symptoms? 

Ashworks

If your son is sick he only officially needs to self isolate for 7 days. Two weeks is for family members. Worth checking the government guidance, but hopefully this will help.