A garden centre has issued an apology after it sent a memo to staff advising they come into work even if they test positive for Covid-19.
Bents Garden and Home, on Warrington Road, Leigh End, recently sent a 'weekly briefing' to colleagues updating them on current government guidance and to give clarity on 'working going forward within Bents whilst living with Covid-19'.
The briefing, seen by the MEN, tells staff that they are no longer legally required to self isolate if they test positive for Covid-19. It goes onto say that if they test positive for Covid-19 but 'feel generally well enough to be in work, can attend work'.
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One person described the note as 'out of order', saying: "This is a retailer often full of older people who will naturally be more vulnerable than most people. I understand that businesses have had a hard time but this is no way to treat people given how many thousands of people have already died."
Bents has now issued an apology after 'misinterpreting' the latest government guidance, saying they were wrong to suggest staff who knowingly tested positive for Covid-19 should come into work. A spokesperson said they will be re-issuing a 'more suitable' policy as a result of this.
In a statement, a Bents spokesman said: "Over the past couple of years and throughout the Covid 19 pandemic we at Bents have followed Government guidelines very closely and put strict safety measures in place to ensure the well-being of our customers and colleagues.
"Whilst we continue to implement, follow and review these safety measures, in line with the evolving Covid environment, we feel we may have misjudged and misinterpreted the latest set of guidelines and we apologise for our latest briefing issued to our colleagues.
"Our intention with this approach was definitely not to undermine all the hard work we have put in to making Bents a welcoming place to be, but to try and move forward whilst ‘living with Covid’.
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"We aimed to provide guidance as to what to do if a colleague tests positive and, whilst self isolation and stay at home steps were provided for those feeling unwell and with symptoms, we understand we were wrong to suggest that colleagues who presented with no symptoms yet test positive could come into work.
"We are truly sorry for this error of judgement, especially at a time when cases are on the rise again.
"The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority and we understand the confusing this message has caused. We immediately retract our latest colleague briefing and will be re-issuing with a more suitable policy, in line with our previous, very strict and careful approach to the Covid pandemic."
This comes as retailer Wilko U-turned and apologised after staff were told to return to work, even if they tested positive for the virus, and as coronavirus cases continue to rise in all boroughs of Greater Manchester.
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