I work as a floral clerk for a mid size grocery chain (rhymes with barris beeber), and the common practice to let the employees know of a positive covid case is a “quiz” in our employee dashboards basically saying “someone in the store tested positive, heres ways to stay safe, i acknowledge ive been informed”. then you sign it.
Thursday I came in and my supervisor (its literally just me and her) was not in, and the AGM informed me she would be out until after valentines day. I'm obviously pretty shocked and ask if she's okay, he says “yes shes doing okay, she just can't come in until after valentines.”
Now I'm familiar with the whole legality of “can't say specific person has covid”, so i ask “Is she out for specifically 5 days?” He replies yes, and I ask if they are waiting for a “result” and he replies yes again. I had just worked 2 days in a row in our 15 foot department with her, and she takes her mask off often. So i've basically been severely exposed. I've also got documented autoimmune disease and JUST had a back epidural a few days prior, and had been experiencing what i thought was a flare.
I informed them i physically could not work more than my scheduled 40 hours, but would move my schedule around to make sure the dept was manned for valentines weekend. They seemed to be working with me and respecting my boundaries.
Today I came in, assuming if she was negative she would be at work and if she was positive they would tell me and id go and get tested (fully vaxxed not boosted). I asked the AGM when i dont see her if they had heard from her, he said no and asked why. I explained that i obviously need to know if shes positive so i can get tested.
Here's where the bullshit comes in:
He tells me thats not how it works. If a person is positive they submit a survey to HR and THEY DECIDE if the employees they worked with were “exposed enough” to be informed.
I'm obviously fucking floored and say “but I worked with her for 2 days straight in this tiny space and she takes her mask off constantly! If she's not here and shes positive i have a right to be informed!”
He takes a minute to respond and says i can get a rapid test if im uncomfortable.
I decide to flat out text my supervisor and ask her if shes gotten her test back. she tells me she has and its POSITIVE, she got the results YESTERDAY.
So HR straight up decided the person i worked closely with for 2 days who is covid positive DID NOT EXPOSE ME ENOUGH to tell me. Did i mention im also documented as disabled?
They only care that they make their valentines sales and their HR is complicit in fudging the documentation, hoping employees wont get sick and working them into the ground.
And as of this post, they havent put the “positive covid case” survey up in the dashboard or informed me of exposure,despite knowing for over 24 hours.