Travel back to the UK and exemption from quarantine

[windymissile]

Good afternoon guys + girls.
Unfortunately, I have been caught up in the government's latest round of travel corridor lottery and I will return to England after the deadline to self isolate.
I have continued to work throughout the pandemic as a key worker under "Specialist technical workers - power infrastructure" and I believe I am exempt from self isolation upon my return today, under this same guidance.
My manager is now saying this no longer qualifies as I am returning to the UK as a "tourist". But I don't see it that way and I can't find any supporting documentation that backs this claim.
I'm not a tourist comming to the UK. I'm a UK national repatriating.

The guidance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

The backing legislation.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/568/sched...

Am I right?
Can I continue to work or will I have to isolate??

Thanks.

[abzmike]

Have you been overseas on a work assignment? I would have thought your employer would be best placed to advise, but working in a particular job isn’t necessarily a get out of quarantine free card.

[windymissile]

I have been on a family holiday.
The guidance states "arrival in UK" not anything about why you were out of the UK in the first place.

[Rozzers]

We are being told that this is to allow key workers to work and its not to be used for tourism.

Thats just employers guidance though - maybe to stop you taking leave!

[anonymous-user]

You are not exempt. You did not travel abroad for work and you are not entering the UK for the purposes of work - you are returning home from a holiday.

[windymissile]

I would understand that if I was coming to the UK as a tourist, but I'm not.
The rules were changed while I was away and now I'm just returning home.

[anonymous-user]

Indeed, and there is no exemption for returning home.

[anonymous-user]

If you point to the provision in the Regulations (NOT the guidance) that you think covers you, I can express a view on that provision.

IAAL but IANYL.

[GT03ROB]

Couple of points:

• your employer may have rules different to government guidance
• with test & release due from Tuesday (if they ever put it in place) you can get out in 5 days.
• son is in plod, he can’t use his exception for returning from holiday
• nobody abides by it anyway

[Amateurish]

I think the relevant wording is that workers such as you are exempt "where they have travelled to the United Kingdom for the purposes of their work." Since you are returning home from holiday, this would not apply to you.

[anonymous-user]

Yup.

[anonymous-user]

GT03ROB said:

Couple of points:

• your employer may have rules different to government guidance
• with test & release due from Tuesday (if they ever put it in place) you can get out in 5 days.
• son is in plod, he can’t use his exception for returning from holiday
• nobody abides by it anyway

Those are in fact four points - you must work for the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expects) - but if you substitute the word "Regulations" for "government guidance" you are right.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 13th December 18:00

[Cylon2007]

windymissile said:

I would understand that if I was coming to the UK as a tourist, but I'm not.
The rules were changed while I was away and now I'm just returning home.

You say you were away on a family holiday, therefore you are a tourist you weren't abroad for work purposes. You are not exempt from needing to Quarantine. You took the risk of going abroad in the current situation and your gamble failed.

Just accept the rules and abide by them.

[GT03ROB]

Breadvan72 said:

GT03ROB said:

Couple of points:

• your employer may have rules different to government guidance
• with test & release due from Tuesday (if they ever put it in place) you can get out in 5 days.
• son is in plod, he can’t use his exception for returning from holiday
• nobody abides by it anyway

Those are in fact four poitns - you must work for the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expects) - but if you substitute the word "Regulations" for "government guidance" you are right.

Sorry, got carried away on the points, your honour.

Back Wednesday & naturally shall be fully complying......... though not really sure what with, probably point 4

[Lonely]

Breadvan72 said:

Those are in fact four poitns - you must work for the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expects) - but if you substitute the word "Regulations" for "government guidance" you are right.

Breadvan - you've been a bit tetchy lately but that one really did make me laugh. Must be an age thing!

[Chris32345]

So you should quarantine after returning from a holiday
You could have easily taken it in the UK

[anonymous-user]

I am not even remotely tetchy. You should not believe what you read on the internet.

[Muddle238]

FWIW

I work as an airline captain, as such myself and my crew are exempt from having to self-isolate when returning back from a country not on the current “good list”. However, the exemption only applies if we’re travelling because we’re actually the operating crew on the flight. Therefore, if I chose to go on holiday abroad to say, Tenerife, I would now have to self-isolate after flying home. Given that you’ve travelled for a holiday, unfortunately you will have to self-isolate upon return thanks to Shapps moving the sodding goalposts, yet again.

[Lonely]

Breadvan72 said:

I am not even remotely tetchy. You should not believe what you read on the internet.

OK. I will refuse to believe what you have written.

Had an English teacher at school many, many years ago who used to start debates by say "All teachers are liars, everything I say is a lie. Discuss."

Nightmare!

[windymissile]

Cylon2007 said:

You say you were away on a family holiday, therefore you are a tourist you weren't abroad for work purposes. You are not exempt from needing to Quarantine. You took the risk of going abroad in the current situation and your gamble failed.

Just accept the rules and abide by them.

What gamble? I had a lovely holiday.
I'll be paid regardless so it's not really an issue as we are in tier 3 and I can't do anything anyway.
I have no problem with the rules. Thanks.