Garden centre U-turns after asking Covid-19 positive staff to come into work

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'.

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."

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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