• Replies 11 replies
  • Subscribers 2 subscribers
  • Views 3827 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

Employees want to travel to Coronavirus affected area on holiday - can I ask them not to?

Lola

Hello

A manager has mentioned that two of their team members have a booked holiday to one of the badly hit areas of coronavirus. We are leisure facility that cater for all ages and abilities. The two employees jobs are such that they can not work remotely. 

some members of staff are aware of the employees holiday and are already apprehensive that they may come back with the virus. Any advice on how to handle this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. 

Parents
  • It is none of your business where someone chooses to go on holiday and you shouldn't penalise them for that decision.

    If they are trying to go to a restricted area (e.g. specific towns in Northern Italy - not in the main tourist areas), it's unlikely their holiday will be able to go ahead anyway.

    If they have a holiday booked to an area with no travel restrictions in place (maybe somewhere else in Italy?), then they probably can't claim cancellation back from their travel insurance. If they have been saving up for a while, why on earth wouldn't they go?

    I also think you may as well assume no where is safe by now. For example, if they were going on a cruise in a non-affected area would you tell them not to go in case the ship got isolated? Probably not, but the risk is still probably higher than staying home.

    I would be talking to your colleagues and trying to allay their panic. The stigma around the virus is really damaging and getting a bit ridiculous!

    I think most medical professionals would sign someone off if upon their return from holiday the advice had changed for the area they are going to and they should now be self-isolating, but they've been told by their employer they need a fit note. Especially if the rules around SSP are going to change anyway.
Reply
  • It is none of your business where someone chooses to go on holiday and you shouldn't penalise them for that decision.

    If they are trying to go to a restricted area (e.g. specific towns in Northern Italy - not in the main tourist areas), it's unlikely their holiday will be able to go ahead anyway.

    If they have a holiday booked to an area with no travel restrictions in place (maybe somewhere else in Italy?), then they probably can't claim cancellation back from their travel insurance. If they have been saving up for a while, why on earth wouldn't they go?

    I also think you may as well assume no where is safe by now. For example, if they were going on a cruise in a non-affected area would you tell them not to go in case the ship got isolated? Probably not, but the risk is still probably higher than staying home.

    I would be talking to your colleagues and trying to allay their panic. The stigma around the virus is really damaging and getting a bit ridiculous!

    I think most medical professionals would sign someone off if upon their return from holiday the advice had changed for the area they are going to and they should now be self-isolating, but they've been told by their employer they need a fit note. Especially if the rules around SSP are going to change anyway.
Children
  • in reply to Lesley
    I agree with Lesley: "I would be talking to your colleagues and trying to allay their panic. The stigma around the virus is really damaging and getting a bit ridiculous!"

    People will either get this or they won't: the UK government is estimating that 1 in 5 people will get it in due course. We need to be considerate employers, to both employees going to affected areas and to their colleagues who haven't.

    Will there be some employees who 'swing the lead'? Almost definitely - and let's face it you can probably name them already. But as others have said the greater risk is that people deny they were in an affected area and come in if you don't pay them for self-isolating.