Some background first, I worked at a car dealership in the UK and had been there for almost 5 years at this point. At the start of lockdown the director sent us an email explaining that if we had covid and could prove it with a positive test he would give us full pay for our mandatory isolation period.
I had 6 weeks off at the beginning and was on the furlough scheme. I came back to work like they asked and worked through all the lockdowns no questions asked and was made to feel fortunate that I had a job still.
Fast forward 6 months and we are still in a lockdown and I started to get symptoms of covid, no taste or smell and a horrible headache. I informed my boss whilst at work who advised I get PCR test. I booked the test and immediately went to the test centre.
Upon my return he advised I stay at work even though he knew my symptoms. I don't know wether this was because he didn't want to get cover my work or wether he didn't belive me. I knew this was wrong but what choice did I have?
I put gloves and a mask on and tried to stay away from my colleagues. He advised I continue working until I got the results. As I was getting ready to go to work the following day I received a text from track amd trace saying I had covid and needed to stay at home to isolate.
I informed my boss who then started to panic and insisted I tell track and trace I've been working from home so other people didn't have to test for covid and so the business could still operate.
My boss then informed me and tohers that they will no longer cover the mandated isolation period and so everybody else then refused to get tested. Luckily I had saved the email from the director saying we would all still get paid.
At this point I had only taken 2 sick days in 5 years and was always told the company would look after you! I argued that I should still be paid and was told I would get paid for my isolation after having an argument but was told not to tell anyone.
I returned to work after my isolation and tried to carry on as normal. I was still suffering from fatigue and couldn't breathe properly and ended up going to a and e. The doctor informed me I needed to rest and provided me with written confirmation of this.
I phoned my boss and told him and he still tried to get me to come in explaining that I can just answer phones and stay sat at a desk to which I declined and after a week I had to go back to work because this wasn't counted as isolation and I had to use holiday days.
When I informed my boss I will come back provided I can just answer phones and not have to move because I was short of breath. He said this was fine. Only for the second day for him to tell me he needs me on the front desk and was saying things like you will be fine.
I clearly wasn't people were telling me I looked grey and my boss simply didn't care. Everday i was made to feel like i was making it up or over reacting and to this and to this day still hold a lot of resentment about this. There were vunerabke people at work and they knew this and didnt care! This really made me feel awful for coming in to work. It was at this point I fully understood we all but cogs in the machine. Never put yourself out for a job. I lost all respect my boss and the company.
I have now found a job on more pay and closer to home with less hours. Don't let companies scare you and make you feel lucky to be there. Without us they are nothing.