On holiday or just going and have to self isolate or have Covid Q&A's

[POSTMAN]

Covid helpline email thingy
I have answered each of your questions within your original note below however in summary, where an employee is asked to self-isolate due to close contact then the pre-booked annual leave remains in place. If an employee tests positive during annual leave then their annual leave for the period would be re-credited as they are actually ill during their leave.

1:
Due to working with someone at work with covid, I had to self isolate. But I was on annual leave that week. My question is can I claim back my weeks holiday?
No your annual leave wouldn’t be recredited in this scenario because you were not ill.

2:
So i've just started 1 weeks A/L today and have had to take my wife for a Covid test. Been told to self-isolate till she gets the result back either way. If the result is positive can I claim my A/L back?
No your annual leave wouldn’t be recredited in this scenario because you were not ill.

3:*
Also, I am told to self isolate and in a couple of days my holidays start, I can cancel said holidays right for another day?
It depends on the reason for self-isolation and this is something you should discuss with your line manager in the first instance who would then consider whether or not they can accommodate the request to rearrange your leave.

4:
Started my AL and a couple of days in I get a positive test, can I cancel my holidays and go sick (Bare in mind this is the default position in normal circumstances).
If you test positive during your annual leave then the remainder of your annual leave can be rearranged because you are ill.

Any other questions guys I can re reply to the email for more answers although it seems self explanatory.

*
3: Is a dodgy one as it involves talking to managers, who as we know a lot of them make things up as they go along.
Please see the AL agreement for perhaps some clarity...
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=96618
The possible crux of it, as you're not sick you lose it? Again, depends on your manager.

[hcaeolb]

Hi all. Newcomer here, although been a postie for just over ten years. Hoping you might be able to help me with a C-19 question.

I'm currently half way through 2 weeks annual leave and have tested positive for the coronavirus (2 lateral flow tests followed up by a PCR test). I now have to isolate for ten days which takes me up to the day before my leave ends. Just spoke to my manager and he has told me that it is no longer company policy to change annual leave to sick leave due to catching the virus.

Is there anything I can do about this? I have so far had zero time off due to the virus. Foolishly thought by going the extra mile for the company might help me out down the line! ;)

I had planned a whole bunch of things for the next few days (including the wifes birthday) and am now going to be in a bit of a bind.

Much appreciate any information you can send my way.

Thanks in advance, and apologies if I'm posting this in the wrong place (pun intended).
Cheers.

[POSTMAN]

See this thread, my answer 7 posts down...
viewtopic.php?f=71&t=101529

I can send you either the email or 2 screenshots for proof of the answer, but tbf your rep/area rep should know this.

And my signature, which I will post for good measure...

It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low life c***s they have always been.

[Woody Guthrie]

Just spoke to my manager and he has told me that it is no longer company policy to change annual leave to sick leave due to catching the virus.

So Dick the Dom thinks the company has changed its policy to one that breaks the law?

How do these morons get into positions of power?
They're barely f***ing employable.

[hcaeolb]

Thanks for the quick responses all. It's very much appreciated.

Does anyone know how I can get the contact details for my area rep? I've tried to contact my union rep, but he's about as useful as my manager.

I have also tried calling HR, but they are closed until Monday. I'll try them again then and hopefully this mess will get sorted.

Oh - and just for reference I found this on the government website:
"If they’re ill just before or during their holiday, they can take it as sick leave instead."
https://www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave

[POSTMAN]

Try here for CWU branch contacts...
https://www.cwu.org/contact-us/

[hcaeolb]

Quick update in case you're curious. I had a very apologetic phone call from my manager yesterday saying he "misunderstood" the situation. Yeah, right. Anyway, I spoke to my area rep who spoke to my managers manager, and everything turned out as it should. So if anyone else out there is in the same boat, don't settle for it!

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. It's very much appreciated.

[ssdd]

Cheers for the update. I love a happy ending...