Claims staff at risk after Covid cases reported at Manchester sorting office

There have been claims that staff were put at risk by a decision to keep a sorting office in Manchester open after cases of coronavirus were confirmed there.

A post office worker who wished to remain anonymous says the office on Oldham Road has stayed in operation, despite the fact that a number of cases have been confirmed in the last week.

The member of staff said he had not been told to self-isolate, even though he had been in direct contact with those infected. He added that although some workers had been contacted by the government’s track and trace system, others had not.

In addition he claims that when he asked a manager about whether he should isolate, he was told he could, but that he would not be paid.

We have been told we will only get sent home if we are contacted by the track and trace system. Some members of staff have had calls but a lot of the time there have been people like myself who have spent more time with that infected person, than the ones that have been told to go home.

The Royal Mail has stressed that it takes the health and safety of colleagues and the wider community very seriously.

Following further positive tests for coronavirus at the Manchester Delivery Office, as a precautionary measure, we are working with Public Health England to provide tests for all of our staff from a mobile unit on site. We are working with our people, to resolve any areas of concern. All colleagues are working as normal.