Well this is just great.
I communicated to work that I am sick with covid. Very long story short, without them acknowledging it, the old covid policy is now dead. Being out with covid to them is now no different than being out with a broken ankle (but even worse/more pressure to return within 5 days).
My Dr told me to quarantine for 10 days (up through Sat 1/22). Then if I was better I could come back to their special covid patient "lab" (a vacant office where I was on Friday across from their real office) and get another test. If I was recovered, no symptoms and tested neg, then I could stop isolation and go back to work. I told work this.
In reponse they sent me a form letter email checklist of YOU MUST DO THIS etc saying to isolate for FIVE days (not ten). To then get a test (they keep pushing rapid tests which you have to buy/do yourself instead of the more accurate lab based ones that the Dr office is using which takes a day or so to get the result back). Then to return to work. And if NOT returning to work then needing to call off for all days that I will miss. Needing to deal with their horrible insurance company (CIGNA) to get FMLA and STD setup. Plus that I will get points for not coming in and working my scheduled shifts (but the points will count as one occurence instead of separate ones for each - which would be enough to get fired btw - just like any extended absence is IF I provide a Dr;s note).
There is more to this but just saying that now I am stuck in the middle (AND am very sick on top of it). Totally stressed out. The effort required to deal with CIGNA is more energy than I even possess at this point.
Doing some research this is all due to the CDC/whitehouse caving in to big business pressure and reducing the already reduced 10 day isolation period further down to 5 days about a few weeks ago. Plus the policy which work was following in 2020 or whenever it was, which made everything easier (no need to call off, no need to deal with CIGNA unless missing more than 2 weeks/80 hours, being paid for timed missed) has expired meaning now I am screwed, in same situation as if I had not tested positive, have to go through the EXACT same hassles as if I just had the flu or a broken toe as far as calling off/not getting paid/dealing with CIGNA etc.
P.S. Heard from a colleague that in addition to a bunch of people being out sick with covid now, that one (a non-vaxxer) has died. The pressure work is putting on people to return earlier than their own Dr recommendations, even if still spreading the germs, could even have contributed to his death (who knows???). Having health decisions made for us not by Drs or health professionals but by bureaucratic business interests is a wonderful thing. No wonder covid is rampaging lately.
Welcome to America. One corporation, under god, etc etc...
(back to bed)