as a tour guide to refuse to go to work?

[vitaminCandzinc]

I face between 30 and 90 tourists a day who are from all over the world. Many have shown signs of being ill e.g. coughing and have come from infected areas.

I have no symptoms but feel my job is putting me at risk. Can I choose to self isolate and for how long because in 2 weeks time I will still be facing tourists? Should my work place support me in this decision with sick pay? They haven't put any measures in place all is going ahead as usual and tourists are still turning up.

Ridiculous - why should you be paid to be off for an indefinite amount of time? During your self imposed isolation will you never leave your house, never come into contact with other people?

Could you ask to see a risk assessment?

@Hundredacrewoods is this something every work place should have?

@99RedRaccoons thank you for sharing I appreciate hearing what others are doing

@Cacaca my grandmother who I live with is very vulnerable and I need to protect her. I work for minimum wage and even sick pay would mean I would really struggle. This wouldn't be something I would choose to do for any reason other than to protect my health and those around me. If I worked in an office I wouldn't suggest an indefinite self posed isolation but meeting tourists every day from infected countries, who have demonstrated signs of being ill makes me feel unsafe

I think that its very unlikely your company will pay you for being off without a directive from the government re a shut down,
I get why you are nervous though but if everyone is a customer facing job bus drivers etc decided they were uncomfortable going to work, the country would shut down so cant see it changing

What about a&e doctors? GPs? Teachers? Dairy farmers?

Should everyone stay at home?

All our tourist attractions have been closed down until March 29th, likewise museums, galleries, schools, crèches, college. No indoor gatherings of more than 100, no outdoor gatherings of more than 500. Weddings have had to cut guest lists, funerals are private. Shows in the Bord Gais are postponed or cancelled, etc. Thus is in Ireland.

Funerals private in a lot of cases, I should say, but they’ll probably increase. Then again, funerals in Ireland are usually much bigger than England.

I wouldn't worry too much. There won't be many tourists soon. My friend is a self employed guide in London and has had all his work for the next few months cancelled as have his friends who do the same work. They won't be earning any money at all. You will be paid.

We can all only assess our own risk. You're uncomfortable with the situation you're in and feel the need to do something about it.

Can you take holiday for two weeks? Is there another role you can do for a while?

Talk to your employer and see what they can offer you.

Don't forget though that there are still bog standard colds and 'winter bugs' going around. A cough doesn't mean someone is infected with corona virus.