Possibility of a covid exposure

LegacyUser · 07-10-2020 3:00pm #1

My employer went away at the weekend over to England. He came back on Monday. It's a small work environment with only the boss and 1 worker/me. He reassured me that he was highly vigilant all weekend and avoided socialising and crowds. He got public transport to Dublin Airport but after that, it was private transport/taxis. He's back now and he's in work. I'm nto happy working alongside him considering he should be in quarantine at home. He got me to run the place yesterday while he went to golf. Golf was hardly essential. He could ha e cooled off his love for golf for a week or two, during his quarantine time to minimise risking others. Today, he cleared his throat by coughing but he didn't cover his mouth. Naturally I'm absolutely horrified sharing a work space with him when he should be in quarantine and at least cover his mouth when he's clearing his throat by coughing. He's generally a sound fella but this is appalling.

I'm completely put at risk in my job. Would I be entitled to the PUP if I leave. Heck, even normal/regular dole would do me until I find new work. What do I do? If he was exposed to the virus but there's no symptoms yet, I'm fcuked with this virus. So is my family. All venerable if I take the virus home?

Could I lie and pretend to be a close contact of a covid positive and get 2 weeks off while I look for new work? Or go to social welfare and claim dole?

TP_CM · 07-10-2020 9:49pm

Can you work from home? That's very annoying and so selfish of him. Phone the Gardaí and let them know. Explain to them that you have a vulnerable family and ask if they could handle the situation sensitively. If it's easy to find work in your industry, get the hell out of there whenever you can. He sounds like a moron.

Gekko · 08-10-2020 12:32am

If none of the above work, can you both wear masks and open as many windows and doors in your workplace so there’s plenty of ventilation?

kaymin · 08-10-2020 12:33am

Is he more likely to have caught covid in the uk than if he stayed put in Ireland? I'd have thought it would be a marginal difference in risk.

Away With The Fairies · 08-10-2020 12:36am

There's people and workplaces that just do not care. I walked out of a job a couple of weeks ago because there was little distancing between staff and no face masks. I got a new job but people wear their face masks under their nose, not a care in the world. One problem replaced with another. Is there any job that is covid safe?

ILoveYourVibes · 08-10-2020 5:55am

I think you need to ask a health professional.

I have no idea of how to assess your risk nor what you can do about it.

I wouldn't want to give you bad advice and put you at risk.

My advice is to ask someone in the HSE. Also the Covid forum might be a place to ask.

vintagecosmos · 08-10-2020 7:17am

kaymin wrote: »

Is he more likely to have caught covid in the uk than if he stayed put in Ireland? I'd have thought it would be a marginal difference in risk.

You would have to know where he was. Some very high rates in parts of England. Regardless, government advice is to restrict movements for 2 weeks. Think of all the contacts he is having if infected i.e. golf club, social, work. It's because of inconsiderate people like him we all suffer. Christmas may very well be cancelled...

Jequ0n · 08-10-2020 10:01am

What exactly is your biggest fear? Are you or anyone in your family in the at risk category?
If so you should probably be shielding and not be in an office and see it the work can be done from home.
You seem to be panicking which is never good. Quitting a stable job that has survived covid until now should be the least of your options. Particularly if it involves lies or scams, as you will be burning bridges.
The chances of him picking up the virus at golf are probably the same as picking it up on the trip.
Have you actually spoken to your man and voiced your concerns?
I am confused why you are THIS worried about the situation.

Dial Hard · 08-10-2020 1:23pm

Jequ0n wrote: »

What exactly is your biggest fear? Are you or anyone in your family in the at risk category?.

What does it matter? The boss is supposed to be self-isolating for two weeks, end of. And the likelihood is that someone who doesn't feel the need to follow those guidelines is likely just as cavalier about all the other ones too. I wouldn't be a bit happy about having to work alongside them either.

OP, there's probably not a whole lot you can do here. If you're in a job that can be done from home you could always ask can you do that for the two weeks but tbh, your boss sounds like such an asshole that he'd likely say no anyway.

facehugger99 · 08-10-2020 2:14pm

TP_CM wrote: »

Phone the Gardaí and let them know.

Or even don't.

Jequ0n · 08-10-2020 3:18pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

What does it matter? The boss is supposed to be self-isolating for two weeks, end of. And the likelihood is that someone who doesn't feel the need to follow those guidelines is likely just as cavalier about all the other ones too. I wouldn't be a bit happy about having to work alongside them either.

OP, there's probably not a whole lot you can do here. If you're in a job that can be done from home you could always ask can you do that for the two weeks but tbh, your boss sounds like such an asshole that he'd likely say no anyway

I can’t see how this cannot be addressed with the person in question. Yes, inconsiderate behaviour from the boss, but ratting out your employer or quitting your job without anything else lined up is nothing but short-sighted.

Hannibal_Smith · 08-10-2020 4:09pm

If he assured you he was highly vigilant, I take it there was a conversation about it between you both? Can you talk to him and ask him whether you can work from home for the next 2 weeks?

Are you maintaining distance and following hand hygiene etc in work? Is there a covid policy to follow (other than the most basic that's being ignored by your boss!) in work?

LegacyUser · 08-10-2020 5:36pm

Op here. I don't work in an office unfortunately and I am not in a position to work from home. The location of the trip was Manchester. I don't know what the flights are like lately and if they are quite or busy or hit and miss. I live with my parents who would be high risk because of their age. My problem is the man I work for is supposed to be quarantining or self isolating or restricting movements incase he becomes infectious of the virus. That's not happening. He is not restricting his movements. Also he cleared his throat with a cough and didn't cover his mouth. He is putting me at risk for not only the virus but a high viral load if he has the virus and becomes infectious.

Graces7 · 13-10-2020 10:57am

Ophere wrote: »

Op here. I don't work in an office unfortunately and I am not in a position to work from home. The location of the trip was Manchester. I don't know what the flights are like lately and if they are quite or busy or hit and miss. I live with my parents who would be high risk because of their age. My problem is the man I work for is supposed to be quarantining or self isolating or restricting movements incase he becomes infectious of the virus. That's not happening. He is not restricting his movements. Also he cleared his throat with a cough and didn't cover his mouth. He is putting me at risk for not only the virus but a high viral load if he has the virus and becomes infectious.

As others have said you need to report him to the Gardaí / HSE and you need to get away from work immediately until this is sorted. Go sick, anything, Please..

Possibility of a covid exposure

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