Co-workers partner frontline nhs nurse

Section4

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had advice on this scenario.

I work a three shift system and if someone is off, the other two cover it with twelve hour shifts. 

I found out this week that a guy on another shift's wife is a frontline nhs nurse dealing with patients who have covid-19. She then goes home to him and he then comes to work, on my machine. 

I'm not sure the bosses know because if I was in charge, this guy would be furloughed before he had chance of infecting anyone else. It has also made me not want to do the twelve hour shifts where I have to work with this guy. 

What rights do I have here as I have already signed to say I would do the 12 hour shift? Is there anything in place for this kind of scenario? I darent risk anything as me and my daughter have asthma. She has been in hospital three times in two years with it and I dare not risk her getting it.

keithdc

Section4 said:

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had advice on this scenario.

I work a three shift system and if someone is off, the other two cover it with twelve hour shifts. 

I found out this week that a guy on another shift's wife is a frontline nhs nurse dealing with patients who have covid-19. She then goes home to him and he then comes to work, on my machine. 

I'm not sure the bosses know because if I was in charge, this guy would be furloughed before he had chance of infecting anyone else. It has also made me not want to do the twelve hour shifts where I have to work with this guy. 

What rights do I have here as I have already signed to say I would do the 12 hour shift? Is there anything in place for this kind of scenario? I darent risk anything as me and my daughter have asthma. She has been in hospital three times in two years with it and I dare not risk her getting it.

You have the right to resign! There is a reason why you are not in charge.
My understanding is that is that furloughing doesn't apply when work is available!

Section4

keithdc said:

Section4 said:

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had advice on this scenario.

I work a three shift system and if someone is off, the other two cover it with twelve hour shifts. 

I found out this week that a guy on another shift's wife is a frontline nhs nurse dealing with patients who have covid-19. She then goes home to him and he then comes to work, on my machine. 

I'm not sure the bosses know because if I was in charge, this guy would be furloughed before he had chance of infecting anyone else. It has also made me not want to do the twelve hour shifts where I have to work with this guy. 

What rights do I have here as I have already signed to say I would do the 12 hour shift? Is there anything in place for this kind of scenario? I darent risk anything as me and my daughter have asthma. She has been in hospital three times in two years with it and I dare not risk her getting it.

You have the right to resign! There is a reason why you are not in charge.
My understanding is that is that furloughing doesn't apply when work is available!

But why should I resign because others are putting my health at risk? 

comeandgo

I take it you are not working with this person, you just use the same machine?  What sort of machine is it?  Can you use wipes to clean everything he may have touched?  You need to be scrupulous in washing your hands too.  
You also says"before he had a chance to infect anyone else".    Who has he previously infected?

Section4

I work on a corrugator. There are 5 stations for paper and we all have to use them. I disinfect when I come on shift and before I go. However, when I'm working with this guy, I can't disinfect everything he touches each time. What's stopping him doing a sly cough that send airborne particles? 

comeandgo

Wear a mask. Can you ask your employer if you can change shifts so you are not working with this person but I would think he is of no higher risk than anyone else.  My daughter is front line nurse and they know how to limit transferring bugs and viruses.

Mrsn

A little bit of common sense is needed I think. Accusing someone of putting your health at risk isn’t helpful to be honest, I doubt very much that is their intention and if you want to get paid and still have a job then you do the job otherwise as suggested you are entitled to resign.

Strict hygiene practices which you are already doing and I would like to think that if he suddenly started displaying symptoms he would have the sense to self isolate. Many people are already asymptomatic without realising it, this cannot be helped as is the nature with viruses in general but there isn’t anymore you can do about this particular situation.

TELLIT01

Employees should only be furloughed when there is no work for them to do.  If neither this employee nor their partner has any symptoms there is no reason why they should not continue to work.  If the partner had any symptoms they would have been ordered to self-isolate by the hospital.

Comms69

Section4 said:

keithdc said:

Section4 said:

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had advice on this scenario.

I work a three shift system and if someone is off, the other two cover it with twelve hour shifts. 

I found out this week that a guy on another shift's wife is a frontline nhs nurse dealing with patients who have covid-19. She then goes home to him and he then comes to work, on my machine. 

I'm not sure the bosses know because if I was in charge, this guy would be furloughed before he had chance of infecting anyone else. It has also made me not want to do the twelve hour shifts where I have to work with this guy. 

What rights do I have here as I have already signed to say I would do the 12 hour shift? Is there anything in place for this kind of scenario? I darent risk anything as me and my daughter have asthma. She has been in hospital three times in two years with it and I dare not risk her getting it.

You have the right to resign! There is a reason why you are not in charge.
My understanding is that is that furloughing doesn't apply when work is available!

But why should I resign because others are putting my health at risk? 

Because you care about your health, others dont?

Sorry but this is obvious. You choose to work, if you dont like it, quit.

jonnygee2

NHS workers are going through enough, they don't need their partners being furloughed on 80% pay just because of what they are doing for us all.

Everyone is at risk of infection unless they are completely isolated. If you or your family are vulnerable because of asthma then you should be isolating yourself, not expecting others to be furloughed to keep you safe.

Comms69

jonnygee2 said:

NHS workers are going through enough, they don't need their partners being furloughed on 80% pay just because of what they are doing for us all.

Everyone is at risk of infection unless they are completely isolated. If you or your family are vulnerable because of asthma then you should be isolating yourself, not expecting others to be furloughed to keep you safe.

I've noticed something very strange happening recently.

Personally i have no issue if people choose to social distance. I'm genuinely not bothered about catching the virus as i live alone and frankly a vaccine is so far away i'd rather get the antibodies. BUT with that said, i respect the decisions people and businesses make.

What i've found strange is that people with masks, gloves etc - obviously people concerned about their health - often make zero effort to distance and instead assume a pious stance.

As an example i was walking down a path, it's fairly wide and i make a conscious effort to give people space, and most likewise do the same, there's a nod of heads and we get on with it. But on two occasions people in the full gear have walked down the centre of the path, made no effort to move, and proceed to 'shout' (or loudly say i suppose) "2 metres!!) as i walk past. 

I dont know how to describe this sense of entitlement, but frankly if you are worried about your health, take responsibility for it. Dont start blaming others.