get swine flu i wont get paid???

[positivenote]

hi guys,
just a quick query... my wife works in Montessori's and was at a staff meeting tonight. she was told that all the staff were getting checked to see if they have any symptoms for swine flu. If they did they will be stopped coming to work and they will not be paid for the time that they are not in work. To me this seems ridiculously unfair. Nobody we know has contacted swine flu andas a result;t if she does show symptoms she will have contracted it through work... So she will have caught it through work but they will not pay her sick pay for while she is not permitted on in the creche, despite the fact that she wants to go to work...
what can she do in this situation as to go a week or two without pay will have us defaulting on our mortgage and/or looking at getting a credit union loan.

thanks in advance
​

 

[Cat101]

Would you send your child to Montessori if the teachers showed symptoms of swine flu??
I know I wouldn't. The Montessori are looking after their business and the well-being of the kids that attend.
What are her employers usual rules regarding time off for ilness?

 

[GreenQueen]

If she is sick and she is not fit for work then she would be able to claim illness benefit providing she has enough stamps.

Sickpay isn't mandatory for employers in Ireland.

 

[annet]

A number of issues.

1. How is the employer exactly going to establish whether the employees actually have the H1N1 virus - is the medical assessment going to be done by a doctor - are they taking swabs from suspected cases that will be sent for analysis? Will this involve medicals that will be regular and done on an ongoing basis ie. if anybody presents with flu like symptoms they going to re-test everybody?

2. Are they going to report cases to the HSE? Are they going to inform parents of suspected H1N1 outbreak cases on their premises?

3. Are they going to close down their facilities if any suspected case is identified?

4. Is the montessori going to also test every child for suspected H1N1 or any child that presents with flu like symptoms - will they refuse to take any child that presents with colds, sniffles, aches or pains or a gastro complaint?

5. Are they going to test every parent/carer for H1N1 that is dropping a child off?

6. Is there going to be mandatory reporting by staff or parents/carers if they come in contact with any person who they know has contracted or been in direct contact with a person with suspected or confirmed case of H1NI virus?

7. What does the contract of employment say about sick pay - does the contract say you dont get paid by the employer during periods of sick leave.... you cannot arbitarily change terms and conditions without the agreement of both parties who are subject to the contract.

8. To claim illness benefit you have to have a certified cause of illness - is the medical practitioner who will be employed by the employer willing to fill in the form for social welfare with their opinion of the certified cause of illness.

9. What other actions is this employer taking to minimize risk - ie. education for staff and parents re: infection control, handwashing, do they provide latex gloves, anti-bacterial agents?

Or is the above testing the sub-total of their endeavours?