Employer restrictions on out of work activities?

[djc206]

TonyRPH said:

You make a good point.

I guess it's all about managing risk... Not an envious task.

Which is why the government came up with the traffic light scheme. Going to NZ would be safer than going to Waitrose.

[i4got]

Don't tell them where you're going (and don't post on social media).

Even if they think you've been abroad, there's nothing they can do to prove it.


ETA - one additional point,. They can't tell you to self isolate - they can only tell you not to come to work, They can't stop you doing anything else during the two weeks you're not at work.

Edited by i4got on Saturday 4th July 12:09

[djc206]

NDA said:

The company have a duty of care towards its employees - which is why they want those who travel to isolate. It sounds sensible.

No it doesn’t, it sounds like sensationalist nonsense. The reaction is not proportionate to the risk in any way.

[jimPH]

Do you work in oil and gas?

I've seen they are exempt, however it's only for those traveling through to go to work. I'm not exempt even though I'm on the list as an oil worker.

Also, there have been outbreaks on rigs and no one wants to shut a vessel down at $500k/day.

[hotchy]

jimPH said:

Do you work in oil and gas?

I've seen they are exempt, however it's only for those traveling through to go to work. I'm not exempt even though I'm on the list as an oil worker.

Also, there have been outbreaks on rigs and no one wants to shut a vessel down at $500k/day.

Why should they? In essence the majority are fit and not exactly in the over 75 bracket where the majority of deaths occur.

[Drumroll]

hotchy said:

Why should they? In essence the majority are fit and not exactly in the over 75 bracket where the majority of deaths occur.

Because no matter what you may think companies have procedures to follow.

The other side is they ignore government guidelines and they have a major outbreak. Have guess what the first question asked would be?

[Condi]

jimPH said:

Do you work in oil and gas?

I've seen they are exempt, however it's only for those traveling through to go to work. I'm not exempt even though I'm on the list as an oil worker.

Also, there have been outbreaks on rigs and no one wants to shut a vessel down at $500k/day.

No, not O+G. Utilities though.

As far as I know the exemption has nothing to do with work, certainly ours doesn't, the wording is simply that anyone with certain skills is exempt, and there is no legal restriction on travel, just advice to avoid all but essential travel. We have a letter from the CEO saying we are 'critical', if you have something similar then you're also exempt

[PF62]

Condi said:

No, not O+G. Utilities though.

As far as I know the exemption has nothing to do with work, certainly ours doesn't, the wording is simply that anyone with certain skills is exempt, and there is no legal restriction on travel, just advice to avoid all but essential travel. We have a letter from the CEO saying we are 'critical', if you have something similar then you're also exempt

I would suggest you are mistaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

[Condi]

PF62 said:

I would suggest you are mistaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

Which bit is incorrect?

There is no restriction on travel out of the UK, and if you are returning and work in one of the essential categories listed then you're exempt from isolation?

[Brads67]

Power Stations

We have been told the same thing.

[Brads67]

Ziplobb said:

If you dont like it why dont you go and work somewhere else that may not have the same policy. You have many choices available to you.

That's such a brilliant response. Well done. I can see you've had a hard think about the OP's question before coming up with that gem.

[Drumroll]

Condi said:

PF62 said:

I would suggest you are mistaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

Which bit is incorrect?

There is no restriction on travel out of the UK, and if you are returning and work in one of the essential categories listed then you're exempt from isolation?

But, there is nothing stopping a company making its own rules. As is the case here.

The company I used to work for had a lower drink drive limit than the law. So nothing stopping a company making rules that are "stricter" than the law/guidelines.

[PF62]

Condi said:

PF62 said:

I would suggest you are mistaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

Which bit is incorrect?

There is no restriction on travel out of the UK, and if you are returning and work in one of the essential categories listed then you're exempt from isolation?

So has your employer, who doesn't want you to leave the UK, given you a copy of the letter required? Especially since they have been clear they don't want you working for 14 days.

[Condi]

PF62 said:

So has your employer, who doesn't want you to leave the UK, given you a copy of the letter required?

Yes. It says we are 'critical' to the continued business activities.

[PF62]

Condi said:

PF62 said:

So has your employer, who doesn't want you to leave the UK, given you a copy of the letter required?

Yes. It says we are 'critical' to the continued business activities.

It isn't a general letter which is required, but a letter which details the work you will be doing - which will be hard since they don't want to see you for two weeks.

[Condi]

PF62 said:

It isn't a general letter which is required, but a letter which details the work you will be doing - which will be hard since they don't want to see you for two weeks.

The Border Agency even signed the letter saying exempt from isolation.

[jimPH]

Condi said:

PF62 said:

I would suggest you are mistaken - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronav...

Which bit is incorrect?

There is no restriction on travel out of the UK, and if you are returning and work in one of the essential categories listed then you're exempt from isolation?

It doesn't work like that. Just because you are exempt with work, doesn't give you free reign to do as you please. I get the feeling you think you can go on holiday with your family or mates then go back to work. Have a think about that.

If you are traveling with work, you travel under a strict policy. You don't travel under policy outside of work and therefore are not exempt when not at work.

[Condi]

jimPH said:

It doesn't work like that. Just because you are exempt with work, doesn't give you free reign to do as you please. I get the feeling you think you can go on holiday with your family or mates then go back to work. Have a think about that.

If you are traveling with work, you travel under a strict policy. You don't travel under policy outside of work and therefore are not exempt when not at work.

We'll agree to disagree there. All it says is that you'll be doing essential work when arriving in the UK. Nothing to say there are any restrictions on you going abroad in the first place. Nowhere does it say you have to be travelling for work either. You just have to be doing a specified role on your return. If you choose to go on holiday and are coming back to do essential work, by the letter of the law, and by the acknowledgement of the Border Agency, you haven't done anything wrong.

[PF62]

Condi said:

jimPH said:

It doesn't work like that. Just because you are exempt with work, doesn't give you free reign to do as you please. I get the feeling you think you can go on holiday with your family or mates then go back to work. Have a think about that.

If you are traveling with work, you travel under a strict policy. You don't travel under policy outside of work and therefore are not exempt when not at work.

We'll agree to disagree there. All it says is that you'll be doing essential work when arriving in the UK. Nothing to say there are any restrictions on you going abroad in the first place. Nowhere does it say you have to be travelling for work either. You just have to be doing a specified role on your return. If you choose to go on holiday and are coming back to do essential work, by the letter of the law, and by the acknowledgement of the Border Agency, you haven't done anything wrong.

But you are not doing essential work as soon as you return as your employer doesn’t want you back for two weeks whilst you quarantine.

Hence the requirement for a specific letter from your employer saying what work you will be doing as soon as you arrive, which in your case would be nothing, so no letter.

[b0rk]

The concern will be you go away and come back unknowingly with cv19 then promptly spread it to other workers before you realise (or if asymptomatic never realise) and a few days/weeks later a load of your colleagues then have to self isolate leaving the company short of "essential workers".

The restriction isn't about protecting you but about protecting the company from you.