Employer withholding pay as I cannot return my work items as I am isolating while I WFH

[Deleted User]

elsien said:

Money is on a Covid soapbox. Take no notice of those comments. 

I understand your concerns about sending items with a courier - you’d need to check their insurance as well. Is there really no one else you trust to return them? 

There is a possibility that I may have found someone - albeit reluctantly. The courier option is a last resort, if I have to bite the bullet and pay for it (and sort insurance) its the second option. Just the fear of something going wrong and my employer using it as an opportunity to cause more chaos.

At least if the trusted person can keep me updated (and take pics) I can then prod payroll and just have peace of mind at least

jonesMUFCforever

Have any of you been tested for Covid?

Barny1979

It's appears the OP hasn't been a particularly good employee, so the employer aren't going to bend over backwards to help them.

[Deleted User]

jonesMUFCforever said:

Have any of you been tested for Covid?

The two that have had symptoms are past the five day mark to get a home test. They are trying to get booked in on a test site (advised by 111 not to just turn up to one hoping to be tested which they very nearly assumed they could). Their employers and their covid policy are quite generous as they are allowed to isolate at home due to being unable to get a test (and are getting relevant pay at their end).

Other chap has had a horrendous cough - but again that could be anything. I haven't shown symptoms yet, but mindful if I start to then I've got a tight window to get a home test or then wait to get booked in.

Barny1979 said:

It's appears the OP hasn't been a particularly good employee, so the employer aren't going to bend over backwards to help them.

A fair assumption to make if you're only made aware of the Covid parts. Please be aware that you haven't been privy to the entire dealings of what is going on (its a workplace where there will be mass walkouts soon over some very questionable treatment).

Thanks for your advice everyone, very appreciated.

Barny1979

ladystardust88 said:

jonesMUFCforever said:

Have any of you been tested for Covid?

The two that have had symptoms are past the five day mark to get a home test. They are trying to get booked in on a test site (advised by 111 not to just turn up to one hoping to be tested which they very nearly assumed they could). Their employers and their covid policy are quite generous as they are allowed to isolate at home due to being unable to get a test (and are getting relevant pay at their end).

Other chap has had a horrendous cough - but again that could be anything. I haven't shown symptoms yet, but mindful if I start to then I've got a tight window to get a home test or then wait to get booked in.

Barny1979 said:

It's appears the OP hasn't been a particularly good employee, so the employer aren't going to bend over backwards to help them.

A fair assumption to make if you're only made aware of the Covid parts. Please be aware that you haven't been privy to the entire dealings of what is going on (its a workplace where there will be mass walkouts soon over some very questionable treatment).

Thanks for your advice everyone, very appreciated.

Well it appears you've ruffled too many feathers during your probation period, never a smart move.

elsien

Barny1979 said:

ladystardust88 said:

jonesMUFCforever said:

Have any of you been tested for Covid?

The two that have had symptoms are past the five day mark to get a home test. They are trying to get booked in on a test site (advised by 111 not to just turn up to one hoping to be tested which they very nearly assumed they could). Their employers and their covid policy are quite generous as they are allowed to isolate at home due to being unable to get a test (and are getting relevant pay at their end).

Other chap has had a horrendous cough - but again that could be anything. I haven't shown symptoms yet, but mindful if I start to then I've got a tight window to get a home test or then wait to get booked in.

Barny1979 said:

It's appears the OP hasn't been a particularly good employee, so the employer aren't going to bend over backwards to help them.

A fair assumption to make if you're only made aware of the Covid parts. Please be aware that you haven't been privy to the entire dealings of what is going on (its a workplace where there will be mass walkouts soon over some very questionable treatment).

Thanks for your advice everyone, very appreciated.

Well it appears you've ruffled too many feathers during your probation period, never a smart move.

Or alternatively they could be a horrendous employer who try every which way to wriggle out of their obligations and are a nightmare to work for. Given there’s no way of knowing, there’s little point in speculating. 

74jax

Are you sure, even if you send the items back today, you will get the correct pay.  If you are paid on the last working day (Wednesday) won't it have been processed by now? 

gettingtheresometime

I heard on a podcast recently that there was a flaw In the system (who would have guessed it?) if you booked a test, even if it was 200 miles away, the QR code would work at your local test centre.

(this was a week ago though so it may have been closed by now)

The other flaw was that if you put in a postcode 200 miles away, chances were you could book a test nearer home

Savvy_Sue

Just for the record on couriers, I sometimes get a photo from Hermes of boxes they have delivered to my porch, to prove they have done so. I think at work DPD also take a photo of the package they're delivering, with the door open and someone's legs in the background. 

Undervalued

74jax said:

Are you sure, even if you send the items back today, you will get the correct pay.  If you are paid on the last working day (Wednesday) won't it have been processed by now? 

Quite.

Obviously the employer could do a one off payment as soon as they get the equipment back but whether they will or not is another matter. As I said in an earlier post, if the employer has a mind to drag their heels (or is just inefficient) there is very little the OP can do to speed things up. Yes, ultimately, they can force payment of what is due but that could take many months.

Regardless of the legal rights and wrongs, this is a situation where tact and asking nicely may be more effective that trying to force the situation.