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Barmaid Sacked After Refusing To Come In With Covid Symptoms

Barmaid Sacked After Refusing To Come In With Covid Symptoms

Rachael Baylis was waiting on the results of a PCR Covid test, but her boss insisted she come in

Anonymous

Anonymous

A barmaid who was showing symptoms of Covid-19 has claimed she was fired for not coming in after her manager said it was not an 'acceptable' reason to be off.

Rachael Baylis spent three months working at The Walrus in Brighton when she started to develop a cough and fever on Tuesday (14 December).

Although a lateral flow test came back negative, the 22-year-old decided to arrange a PCR test and isolate until she'd received the results.

However, emails that she says are from her boss tell her she should work as normal until the PCR test results are in and that having symptoms wasn't a good enough reason to miss her shift.

Kennedy News and Media

This is despite the fact that the NHS advises anyone showing symptoms to 'self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test'.

Furthermore, Rachael has since had her PCR test results and they confirmed that she does in fact have the virus.

Rachael, from Worcester, said: "I wasn't upset or sad, I was just angry. How can they get away with this? How can they force sick staff to come in?

"It's a public health concern. They don't respect sickness and health. I couldn't get out of bed and they wanted me to go into work."

Kennedy News and Media

Rachael says she emailed explaining that she wouldn't be coming in to work to avoid infecting other members of staff.

After that was disputed, she offered her resignation before being fired, telling her boss: "I am not personally comfortable coming in whilst unwell and with potential to spread to both customers and staff which would make staffing very difficult should all of us get it.

"I will have my PCR tests back tomorrow and I will try to find someone to cover my shift but I will not be coming in for the benefit of not spreading anything to the remaining team.

"If you still wish to understand my reasons then consider this my notice."

Her manager responded: "I do not accept your resignation due to the below issues I was going to discuss with you in person today at the start of your shift before terminating your probation period.

Kennedy News and Media

"You have shown a clear lack of respect for management requests/procedures over the last week which reached tipping point last night.

"You threatened to walk out numerous times last night. Changed clothes and sat outside before you were told by the shift manager you could finish."

Rachael explained that on Tuesday she had told management she felt ill and simply went to sit outside with her jumper on to get some air.

Rachael is now set to start a new job in recruitment on Monday, adding: "Luckily I'm in a position where I could say f*** this job.

"I've tried to follow as many rules as possible but it's been hard to do that, financially."

Kennedy News and Media

A spokesperson for The City Pub Group said: "The City Pub Group is aware of allegations that the company's well-established Covid-19 safety protocols were not followed at our Brighton pub The Walrus, in relation to isolation arrangements for one of our team members.

"As a company we place paramount importance on the health and welfare of our colleagues and customers, particularly during the ongoing pandemic challenges. This takes precedence over any other considerations.

"We are now urgently investigating all aspects of this situation to understand precisely what has happened and what needs to be done in response.

"We do not wish to make any further comments on next steps until the facts of the case have been established clearly."

Words: Daisy Phillipson

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Topics: Pubs, Coronavirus