PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,795
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Apr 18, 2020 6:00:38 GMT
My kid shared with me a post on facebook by a friend (?) that a local-ish big box store has an employee(s?) that has tested positive for Covid19 and the rest of the employees were threatened with job loss if they shared the news. This person was informed of this by an employee (friend or family) and they are sharing the news for them on social media saying it shouldn't be withheld from the public.
I understand privacy, not naming the person that has it but the hiding it is infuriating to me. It's not just a cold for goodness sake. I wonder how many other people and employers are hiding this info.
Anyone else hear of this kind of thing? Especially the threat of firing. Yikes.
I'm doing my best to stay safe being high risk and want all the information to best do so.
DD sent it with: "stay the hell away, mom"
I don't think this is something you should be hiding from the public let alone threatening their other employees with, do you?
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Post by femalebusiness on Apr 18, 2020 6:27:29 GMT
That right there is why I won't eat takeout or restaurant food until we get a handle on this virus.
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Post by Katiepotatie on Apr 18, 2020 7:49:39 GMT
Yes. A friend of mine has a client who owns and operates a “large store in town”. She knows the husband/wife are both positive and still running it. Because of HIPAA she can’t warn the community. Now, there may have been something done about this that I’m not privy to.
I’ve seen our mail carrier scratch her nose with gloves on.
Neighbors of ours own a popular breakfast/lunch spot. They’re doing to-go food on the weekends. Yet I know she socializes closely with other neighbors.
So I’m assuming everyone could have it and am not ordering from restaurants.
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Post by gale w on Apr 18, 2020 8:28:32 GMT
Someone on a local Facebook page said one of the factories here is doing the same thing. 😑
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Post by KelleeM on Apr 18, 2020 9:24:08 GMT
I work for a defense contractor and we’re considered essential. We have had several meetings where we’ve been told if someone in our facility contracts it we would shut down for two weeks. At our last meeting we were informed that a coworker’s mother was positive and the worker hadn’t seen her for just over a week so he would be taking a few days off. He’s now been out for two full weeks. Of course it’s none of my business why he’s out but if he has it we should be shut down for a deep cleaning and to quarantine for two weeks. It’s business as usual and the company is patting themselves on the back for how well we’re doing, financially, in the midst of all this. Yes, I’m grateful to have a job but not at the risk of infecting anyone else.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Apr 18, 2020 11:43:42 GMT
That right there is why I won't eat takeout or restaurant food until we get a handle on this virus. Same. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 21:28:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2020 11:51:08 GMT
What an irresponsible thing for the employer to do - putting profit before people's health and their lives in some cases. There's little wonder it spreads so quickly!
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305 
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Post by kibblesandbits on Apr 18, 2020 11:53:40 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it.
Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols.
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Apr 18, 2020 12:24:31 GMT
I work for a defense contractor and we’re considered essential. We have had several meetings where we’ve been told if someone in our facility contracts it we would shut down for two weeks. At our last meeting we were informed that a coworker’s mother was positive and the worker hadn’t seen her for just over a week so he would be taking a few days off. He’s now been out for two full weeks. Of course it’s none of my business why he’s out but if he has it we should be shut down for a deep cleaning and to quarantine for two weeks. It’s business as usual and the company is patting themselves on the back for how well we’re doing, financially, in the midst of all this. Yes, I’m grateful to have a job but not at the risk of infecting anyone else. Similar situation at my work - we’re essential. We had one memo initially that implied someone was sick - but further clarification from HR stated that the virus was not at our workplace... No further memos have discussed anybody being sent home and I realized what my manager says versus what HR does are different. To say I don’t feel safe at work is an understatement, thus I’ve taken some banked time off and am using the expanded FMLA rules to stay home for a bit. It’s been three weeks and update memos are non-existent about how our work is protecting us. Apparently we have a protective bubble over our workplace from the virus and we just need to look busy while warming our chairs and keep up billable hours. Our HR thinks we are all children and don’t need to know any information because you know that is how rumors are started... I knew my workplace was messed up management wise but this virus takes everything to leader board level of bad management. |
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Apr 18, 2020 12:28:55 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it. Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. But the employees WERE told. The OP is talking about the lack of information coming from work places. Work places are required by OSHA to maintain SAFE work environments. Not telling employees they’ve been exposed is not a proper safety measure. In your story, I would have expected all those in contact with the exposed to be sent home - keeping the exposed co-workers at work may have spread the virus.
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Apr 18, 2020 12:33:10 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it. Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. And honestly, the virus is not done with us yet - we don’t know the final tally. How does any one of us know how we’ll weather with the virus? And we could do everything right - wash hands, mask, social distance, etc and still get sick. |
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Post by Layce on Apr 18, 2020 12:44:07 GMT
Someone here just posted an uninformed statement concerning HIPAA. Let’s just clear that up, www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/hipaa-covid19/index.htmlPost responsibly. Layce ETA:
"Because of HIPAA she can’t warn the community." (posted above.)
That is a RIDICULOUS statement that has never been true of HIPAA. You want a Cliff's Notes version? First follow the link and read the two paragraphs below the COVID-19 image. Then click on Public Health to the left.
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Dallie
Full Member
Posts: 490
Feb 25, 2020 16:33:25 GMT
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Post by Dallie on Apr 18, 2020 12:54:34 GMT
I know someone who works for a large grocery chain and had a co-worker with symptoms. Her doctor said she was not sick enough to qualify for a test, but should stay home for 14 days. Manager said when would be fired if she did. She was coughing a lot, had a fever, etc. But she had better show up or get fired.
These stories do not surprise me at all.
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Post by shutterbug2sue on Apr 18, 2020 13:02:31 GMT
Cliff notes version? That page has multiple items. |
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,407
Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Apr 18, 2020 13:17:52 GMT
That right there is why I won't eat takeout or restaurant food until we get a handle on this virus. Same! |
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Post by scrapsotime on Apr 18, 2020 13:27:25 GMT
My daughter does in home care for the elderly. Her husband had possible exposure at work. They sent everyone home and shut down until the guys test came back. Told them everyone in the house needed to quarantine. My daughter's work wanted her to still see her clients. The big boss told her not to tell anyone and just wear a mask. She refused to possibly expose these sick and vulnerable people and lost her job.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,922
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Post by pinklady on Apr 18, 2020 14:43:25 GMT
Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. It’s just the flu right. Screw you with this bullshit Fox News thinking. |
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Post by rockymtnpea on Apr 18, 2020 14:48:01 GMT
But why is it just the worker at the store we are concerned about? Shouldn’t we be concerned about anyone who has been in the store that has tested positive?
If someone (not just the worker but Joe Citizen as well)gets tested comes back positive should they be assigned a number (or whatever)and then list where they have been in the last 2 weeks so that others who have been there would know they have mingled with someone who is positive?
Am I making sense? Why are you in arms over knowing the grocery store worker is positive but give no mind to the other xxx amount of people in there with us where it is likely one of them is positive as well
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Post by nlwilkins on Apr 18, 2020 14:58:09 GMT
We have been told to assume that anyone you come in contact with can have the virus. THAT is the answer. THAT is the reason we are supposed to stay home and not contact anyone! Many people we could come in contact with may have the virus and not know it. So assume EVERYONE has it.
If you insist on leaving your home then it is on you. Yes you need groceries, and so on. But, you must evaluate the risks and take responsibility for your own health.
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Post by sabrinae on Apr 18, 2020 15:03:05 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it. Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. Given what we know about the fatality rate for people with co-morbidities this is absolutely irresponsible. You don’t know if your numbers are accurate or not - no one does. There hasn’t been enough testing done to have accurate numbers on fatality rates or severity rates. We do know that those already compromised have much higher death rates. Congratulations to that facility for exposing already compromised individuals. |
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QueenoftheSloths
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Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Apr 18, 2020 15:04:37 GMT
In my state numbers of cases are broken down by county, not even city and certainly not by business address. There are cases in my county, but I have no way of knowing if they are next door to me or an hour away. I take the approach that everyone I see is probably infected and stay as far away as I can. If I knew there was a confirmed case at a particular store, I might go to a different store instead, but how could I know that that store didn't also have a case that just hadn't been confirmed yet?
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SweetieBsMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,741
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Apr 18, 2020 15:20:09 GMT
That right there is why I won't eat takeout or restaurant food until we get a handle on this virus.  |
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
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Post by kibblesandbits on Apr 18, 2020 15:27:22 GMT
Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. It’s just the flu right. Screw you with this bullshit Fox News thinking. I didn't say it was just the flu. Have a pleasant and productive day. |
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Post by peatlejuice on Apr 18, 2020 16:15:38 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it. Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. The current mortality rate for the US is 5.3%, per John Hopkins (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality). If you're going to arm yourself with information, at least make it accurate information. Anecdotally, I have a friend (late 30s, healthy) who caught a mild case of the virus last month. So mild, clinically speaking, that he didn't qualify for a test due to limited supplies (he was classified presumed positive by the state department of health). He described his mild case as "the worst he's even felt, like the flu on steroids" and spent two weeks literally bedridden. Mild coronavirus isn't the same as mild common cold or mild allergies. IMO, the fact that your best friend's workplace chooses to treat immunocompromised patients with workers who've been exposed to the virus, without properly notifying patients, is partly why our mortality rate is 5.3% (not to mention an absolutely terrible ethical practice for a cancer treatment facility). |
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Post by tracyarts on Apr 18, 2020 16:21:33 GMT
At this point it is safe to assume that wherever there are large numbers of people congregating, someone is infected.
I'm sure many employers are covering it up. Especially when there is pressure to keep things running. So unless an employee ends up in the ICU, nothing is done or said.
If you know people in blue collar and service industries, they all know someone at work who had it or has a family member who had it. Usually "probably" had it though, because it's so difficult to get tested.
Blue collar essential industry workers and hourly wage service industry workers do not have the privilege of being statistics. You can't operate a processing unit from a laptop in your living room, and you can't ring up groceries from your kitchen table.
My family members in the petrochemical industry can attest to the fact that there is no social distancing in the control room. And my friend's wife in the grocery industry can attest to the fact that there is no PPE in the stock room. Of course people in those workplaces are "exposed". And some are getting sick. Nothing is being said about it because what's the point?
What do people expect to happen if an essential industry worker or family member tests positive? Shut down industrial facilities and grocery stores and quarantine the entire crew?
Unless a specific workplace starts racking up a death count, it's business as usual.
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Post by scraphappy0501 on Apr 18, 2020 18:57:23 GMT
I'll just add this regarding my company. We manufacture food. We encourage anyone who is sick (with anything) to stay home and if we know they are feeling ill we will send them home if they do come to work. They will be paid and will not have to take PTO time and it will not count against their attendance record. As far as scientists know, Covid-19 is not spread via food. However, we don't want our employees at risk of getting ill from another employee. The two most important things at my company are personal safety and food safety. Those are the first two things we consider when making decisions. We have communication plans in place for notifying employees should anyone at our facility test positive. So far that hasn't happened but we're assuming and planning for when that happens, not if. We're in a rural area in a state with a low number of Covid diagnoses and deaths, but we don't take anything for granted. And everyday we are looking for best practices to keep our employees safe and healthy.
All this to say, not all companies are unethical. There are still some good ones out there!
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,795
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Apr 18, 2020 20:02:05 GMT
Yes. A friend of mine has a client who owns and operates a “large store in town”. She knows the husband/wife are both positive and still running it. Because of HIPAA she can’t warn the community. Now, there may have been something done about this that I’m not privy to. I’ve seen our mail carrier scratch her nose with gloves on. Neighbors of ours own a popular breakfast/lunch spot. They’re doing to-go food on the weekends. Yet I know she socializes closely with other neighbors. So I’m assuming everyone could have it and am not ordering from restaurants. What business is your friend in? Unless they are in health care the HIPAA rules don't apply, do they? Like you know now about this store owner, you could "tell" unless you are their health care provider or such. That is probably why this person told on facebook. The person they learned it from was afraid of job loss, per her employer. and I don't understand what your mail carrier wearing gloves has to do with this. Mail carriers, and clerks often wear gloves, long before this, to protect hands from drying out etc. Paper sucks your hands dry. It wouldn't matter, virus wise, if carrier wears gloves or not unless they changed them between every delivery. In the end, I think it's safest to assume the virus is "everywhere" and be safe as possible. I just don't agree with the hiding of it for the bottom line. Being higher risk, I would like to know if they know. Where to avoid for certain. (although I ain't going anywhere at the moment except to 1x/month medical appointment) |
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PLurker
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Posts: 9,795
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
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Post by PLurker on Apr 18, 2020 20:22:45 GMT
But why is it just the worker at the store we are concerned about? Shouldn’t we be concerned about anyone who has been in the store that has tested positive? If someone (not just the worker but Joe Citizen as well)gets tested comes back positive should they be assigned a number (or whatever)and then list where they have been in the last 2 weeks so that others who have been there would know they have mingled with someone who is positive? Am I making sense? Why are you in arms over knowing the grocery store worker is positive but give no mind to the other xxx amount of people in there with us where it is likely one of them is positive as well I am in the assuming everywhere someone has it mode. I'm "up in arms" about the withholding of info, not telling all employees and threatening others if they shared the info. More information allows for better decision making. At what point would you want to know? If one employee tested positive, tens or hundreds? |
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paigepea
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Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Apr 18, 2020 20:38:44 GMT
Don’t we have to act like everyone has it when we’re out. I’m not saying the business is wrong, just wondering what that changes. Just because someone has it versus positive but doesn’t know it. You have to keep a distance from everyone, even in a store. The store must limit its employees. That is why social distancing helps.
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Post by peasapie on Apr 18, 2020 20:41:00 GMT
My best friend works for a local cancer treatment center and her nurse manager tested positive. Employees were told on a need to know basis, and patients were told NOTHING. My friend still went to work every day through her two week exposure period. Employees were told to follow protocol - washing and masks. Patients followed protocol - but that's normal behavior. That's it. Folks. You all realize 96% of CoVID19 patients experience only mild symptoms? It has less than a 1% morbidity rate? We really need to start hacking through the hysteria and begin arming ourselves with information and using appropriate safety protocols. Please list the source of your information, above. I'm seeing 3-15% worldwide at this at the Johns Hopkins site, which is far higher: coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortalityIs Johns Hopkins fake news? |
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