Rights when not at work during covid

LittleGreenCactus

Asking this on behalf of a friend in care.
Their employer is asking all staff members to isolate at home when not at work, telling them to not see anyone outside of their household including family, and not to go to pubs /restaurants even with their household. 
As long as staff keep to government rules about socialising, surely they still maintain a right to a private life? what are peoples thoughts on this? 

Thrugelmir

Employers can ask. Much depends on the individual concerned how they manage their own behaviour and personal responsibility. Could they live with their actions killing someone albeit unintentionally.  Much is down to common sense. Over the past 6 months evident that many have very little. Nor care for the wider community.  The right to live should be everyone's top priority. 

Grumpy_chap

LittleGreenCactus said:

Asking this on behalf of a friend in care.
Their employer is asking all staff members 

Is your friend a worker in a care environment?  Otherwise, this part is a bit confusing.

Beyond that, I don't think the employer can enforce what is mentioned, though you might understand why they would want to follow that type of approach.  

Aranyani

Thrugelmir said:

 Could they live with their actions killing someone albeit unintentionally.  

That's very unfair.  Care workers have had a very difficult year and their mental health is important too. 

With proper infection control and PPE there's no reason why they would pass on the virus, there has been very little transmission from healthcare workers to patients/residents. 

LittleGreenCactus

@Grumpy_chap
A care worker! Can see that would be confusing! Thanks for your comment!

bradders1983

Its an unreasonable request.  Tell your friend to contact her union.

Barny1979

Unreasonable request and how could it be enforced or punished by the employer?!

Thrugelmir

Aranyani said:

Thrugelmir said:

 Could they live with their actions killing someone albeit unintentionally.  

That's very unfair.  Care workers have had a very difficult year and their mental health is important too. 

Mental health is important to everyone not just care workers. We are all in this together. 

bradders1983

Thrugelmir said:

Aranyani said:

Thrugelmir said:

 Could they live with their actions killing someone albeit unintentionally.  

That's very unfair.  Care workers have had a very difficult year and their mental health is important too. 

Mental health is important to everyone not just care workers. We are all in this together. 

None of this is relevant. An employer asking an employee to "eat sleep work repeat" is ridiculous and would be on a sticky wicket at an employment tribunal should the employer choose to sack someone on this basis.

Thrugelmir

bradders1983 said:

Thrugelmir said:

Aranyani said:

Thrugelmir said:

 Could they live with their actions killing someone albeit unintentionally.  

That's very unfair.  Care workers have had a very difficult year and their mental health is important too. 

Mental health is important to everyone not just care workers. We are all in this together. 

None of this is relevant. An employer asking an employee to "eat sleep work repeat" is ridiculous and would be on a sticky wicket at an employment tribunal should the employer choose to sack someone on this basis.

That comment was in response to something said, totally relevant in that context. 

We don't know what precisely was said or in what form. 

Let's see what the next six months brings. Then the semantics can be discussed. 

JamoLew

As long as the employee follows the law and generally abides by the recommendations then I can't see that the employer has any right to dictate their actions.
If this is in a care setting, then this to me  suggests that they do not have sufficient precautions in place AND they know it as well
I personally know people working on Covid wards and even they aren't dictated to like this (they do take extra sensible precautions though)