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Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Coronavirus discussion forum.
postiewhite
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 619
Joined: 23 Jul 2013, 18:38
Gender: Male

Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by postiewhite »

Had a covid symptom this morning, hot chest and back so I phoned my manager initially told me that was not a symptom (clearly is). I wanted to book a home kit but he said I had to go to a test centre. He asked me what my symptoms were?

Anyway ive been to the test centre, I didnt feel like going but felt a bit cornered by my manager to attend one instead of getting a kit.
The test results come back within 36hrs.
What if I dont feel right even if this comes back negative? And is the manager supposed to ask you your symptoms?
Any accurate advise would be great
twoloops
Posts: 1953
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by twoloops »

Whatever your symptoms, Covid or not Covid, if you do not feel well, your Ill, enjoy your time off recuperating & get well soon.
picture123
Posts: 121
Joined: 22 Oct 2014, 20:42
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by picture123 »

Pretty sure there are a few options for recording covid related absences on PSP and some of these are isolating with symptoms / isolating without symptoms so I wouldn't worry about it
Sir Henry
Posts: 1316
Joined: 24 Oct 2014, 00:33
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by Sir Henry »

Nothing to stop them or anyone else asking. How or who you answer is up to you. Argue the toss until they mind their own business or give you a pertinent reason for asking. "Do I HAVE to answer that?" is a good starter for ten followed by "Why?"
"A third of the world's farmland is now useless due to soil degradation, yet we still keep producing mouths to feed. And what's you answer to that? Energy saving lightbulbs?"
streets97
Posts: 92
Joined: 13 Oct 2010, 21:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by streets97 »

Yes they are allowed to ask and you should answer as truthfully as possible. This is so they can record your sickness accurately on the PSP and if you fall onto a stage warning further down the line this should help them with whatever decision they feel warrants a stage or not, or if you are further down the stage warning route if they should continue to employ you or not.

If you just ring up and say your sick without giving any symptoms al the time then your sick record will just show that and then they could say that there is a pattern and just get rid of you as you are always off with the same thing. I maybe wrong but that's what I've been told in the past.
Zicomurphy
Posts: 568
Joined: 24 Oct 2014, 06:40
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by Zicomurphy »

postiewhite wrote:
09 Dec 2020, 15:09
Had a covid symptom this morning, hot chest and back so I phoned my manager initially told me that was not a symptom (clearly is). I wanted to book a home kit but he said I had to go to a test centre. He asked me what my symptoms were?

Anyway ive been to the test centre, I didnt feel like going but felt a bit cornered by my manager to attend one instead of getting a kit.
The test results come back within 36hrs.
What if I dont feel right even if this comes back negative? And is the manager supposed to ask you your symptoms?
Any accurate advise would be great
Not at all certain but my feeling would be if the test result comes back negative and you don’t return to work at the earliest opportunity they would be within their rights to record it as non covid related absence, certainly from the date of the result.
tractorboy2
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 533
Joined: 18 Jan 2012, 11:03
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by tractorboy2 »

Is it a symptom though ?

You say hot chest and back or did you mean a temperature ?
rogersh
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 1368
Joined: 26 Oct 2011, 11:31
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by rogersh »

Typed in Coronavirus symptoms; Top of the list;
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
tractorboy2
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 533
Joined: 18 Jan 2012, 11:03
Gender: Male

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by tractorboy2 »

rogersh wrote:
10 Dec 2020, 07:49
Typed in Coronavirus symptoms; Top of the list;
The main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are:
a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
I admit I have not looked at what the latest symptom thing says , the last time it said a high temperature , not feeling hot to the touch , which lets face it may or may not be Covid , could easily be something else.

Not trying to make anything of this , he could say to his manager he has a temperature ( which is more than likely if he feels hot).
I don't think I've conveyed this very well.

To the OP get well soon.
k979aaa
Posts: 12570
Joined: 03 Sep 2007, 19:14
Gender: Male
Location: THE NORTH

Re: Is the manager allowed to ask what symptoms you have when ringing in?

Post by k979aaa »

If they ask what your symptoms are say " I did not know your a doctor as well" It tends to shut them up but some think they are Doctors!