The Coronavirus Thread - Lockdown for at least 3 more weeks

captain red dog wrote:I did get thinking though, in the event of a quarantine like in Italy, people aren't allowed out of their house for 2 weeks correct? How many people actually have two weeks worth of food in the house?

captain red dog wrote:I did get thinking though, in the event of a quarantine like in Italy, people aren't allowed out of their house for 2 weeks correct? How many people actually have two weeks worth of food in the house?

Jenuall wrote:Most people should be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, but that doesn't really cover you for much in terms of the financial side of things. I think the 14 day self isolation is a sensible precaution from a medial perspective but it is definitely easier said that done.

We've had a guy at work who is in to his second week of it now after he travelled out to Thailand recently. Pretty sure he's basically just been at home watching gooseberry fool loads of Netflix.

captain red dog wrote:I did get thinking though, in the event of a quarantine like in Italy, people aren't allowed out of their house for 2 weeks correct? How many people actually have two weeks worth of food in the house?

OrangeRKN wrote:I'd have thought most people would have enough tins/pasta/rice/freezer food to last two weeks if they had to.

Jenuall wrote:Most people should be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, but that doesn't really cover you for much in terms of the financial side of things. I think the 14 day self isolation is a sensible precaution from a medial perspective but it is definitely easier said that done.

We've had a guy at work who is in to his second week of it now after he travelled out to Thailand recently. Pretty sure he's basically just been at home watching gooseberry fool loads of Netflix.

Parksey wrote:The Japanese Prime Minister has just requested all elementary, junior high and high schools to shut from March 2nd right the way through to the end of the spring break (usually ends around the 8th April).

Might need to go out and buy those finger condoms Skarjo was on about.

Knoyleo wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Most people should be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, but that doesn't really cover you for much in terms of the financial side of things. I think the 14 day self isolation is a sensible precaution from a medial perspective but it is definitely easier said that done.

We've had a guy at work who is in to his second week of it now after he travelled out to Thailand recently. Pretty sure he's basically just been at home watching gooseberry fool loads of Netflix.

But most people will only qualify for this if they're actually ill. They won't be covered if they're self isolating as a precaution, and turn out to be fine. They'll get docked two weeks pay at best, potentially lose their jobs at worst. So you'll have people who keep going into work until they display symptoms, even though they've maybe been contagious for a week beforehand, because they're not covered until they're actually visibly ill.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has sent guidance to UK employers telling them staff who have been asked to self-isolate are entitled to take the time as sick leave.

Acas, the independent arbitration service agrees and has also published advice for staff and employers

But senior adviser Michele Piertney told the BBC: "If a medical expert says we are putting you into quarantine then you... won't get sick leave as a matter of course."

If you can work from home, you may be able to carry on as normal, says Sarah Evans, employment law partner at JMW Solicitors. But shop and factory workers probably won't have that option.

Acas, says it's "good practice" for your employer to treat it as sick leave or agree for the time to be taken as holiday.

"Otherwise there's a risk the employee will come to work because they want to get paid," it says.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development goes a step further and says "there's also a strong moral responsibility to ensure that employees feel safe and secure in their employment", and that firms should make home working easier and be flexible with time off.

But this is only advice and not the law if it is you who decides to self-isolate, rather than your boss who asks you to.

"There is no statutory right to pay if you aren't sick," says Ms Evans. Although some contracts may be more generous than others.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "People who are prevented from working because of a risk to public health are able to claim universal credit."

She said they may also be entitled to contributory employment and support allowance, which helps with living costs for people who cannot work because of a health condition.

Hexx wrote:I'm on immune suppressants. If the UK is hit hard I'm basically dead aren't I?

poshrule_uk wrote:My work will pay sick pay if you have to isolate which is pretty cool