To think DH has no option but to go into work?

[RoseLavenderBlue]

DH works in construction. His particular area of work is not essential at the moment. He has diabetes and would love to ‘stay home’ to avoid getting the virus. But if he chooses to do so he will only get SSP of £90 odd a week. Whereas if the government tells his firm to lay him off (like other types of businesses) then he would be eligible for the 80% of his salary. We can not afford for him to take such a pay cut if he goes on SSP so he feels he has no option but to carry on going to work. Any suggestions on what he can do?

He could ask to be laid off. They might agree.

The government has clearly stated anyone who can’t work from home should go to work. The economy needs this

The construction company my friends DH works at are having to shut as the suppliers are no longer open so they have run out of materials to work with. Hopefully the same will soon happen for yours.

The advice is for people with diabetes to self isolate for 12 weeks.

Have a look at the death rates for diabetics to help you make up your mind.

Hi OP.

You need to ask the main contractor for the updated site safety rules regarding Corona.

I did the same as we had 3 out of the 4 on site were in the vulnerable category. The updated safety rules stated that no one vulnerable should be on site. So we could legitimately pull them off. Is he PAYE or self employed?

They also need to confirm that they can safely implement social distancing and have adhered to the usual health and safety rules. If they can't they need to close down the site.

Everything is changing so quickly. I would personally chose his safety and manage on SSP. Do you work as well? Would you be able to claim universal credit?

He has a choice. Too bad you think money is more important than his life. This is the time to use emergency savings or an emergency credit card if you have no savings, or the overdraft if you have no credit card. A little debt is worth more than risking his life.

Knew it was just a matter of time before someone piped up with credit cards/savings/overdraft. Just fuck off ok. Some people don't have access to these things and need to work. 90 a week just ain't gonna cut it.

My partner works in construction, and is currently furloughed, due to building sites shutting ect. He needs to speak to his employers and ask to be made furloughed so you can get 80 percent pay. He is allowed to ask for this under his circumstances.
I watched Martin Lewis tonight and he was even encouraging someone who couldn't work due to childcare to speak to their employees and ask for it to be done.

Just to note that diabetes doesn't put you in the shielding group:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#what-do-we-mean-by-extremely-vulnerable

It puts you in the vulnerable group with over 70s and moderate asthmatics.

I still go to work every day and am moderately asthmatic. I would definitely agree that checking the rules re contractors etc is a good idea though.

This is the time to use emergency savings or an emergency credit card if you have no savings, or the overdraft if you have no credit card.

If they had emergency savings or could just use the credit card or overdraft the OP wouldn't be asking. Being able to find money or have the amount of credit required to live for a couple of months (including bills) is not achievable to most.

Going to disagree NerrSerr
If £90/week is “unaffordable” then the income this couple is used to having means that they most probably do have access to some credit and/or an overdraft. They might even be homeowners!

My uni student DCs who work part time waiting tables, in bakery etc have access to an overdraft and their incomes are less than £90/week.

So while some people have no access to credit, most people do in fact have access to credit that they can use. Even people on job seeker allowance of what £75/week manage to get credit (and go into debt).

I’ve just seen too many threads of people thinking they are entitled to get through a crisis without losing any income or having to use savings or having to take on debt. Sometimes you have to realise money is just money, life is more important.

@haggistramp
“Just fuck off ok.”

Lovely way to make a cogent argument. My point still stands. If you can’t possibly live on £90/week for a mere 12weeks, then you make enough money to have credit.

Disagree.
My partner is self employed in property maintenance/building so not the same bit similar and materials are running low as well as work.
He brings in 575 a week minimum, and I was laid off xmas so weve been struggling anyway on his wage alone. We dont have the ability to get credit. My ex husband racked up huge debts which is still affecting me. My current partner doesnt have a great credit score and cant access these facilities anymore than he already has to keep us afloat since xmas. We have 3 small children.
We had enough coming in before xmas and just enough to survive before the corvid19
With the loss of his wage we could loose everything. Hes having to look into keyworker jobs to earn as an alternative. Risking getting the virus and putting myself (pregnant) and our children potentially at risk.

@em90792
I’m sorry 3 small kids and you are pregnant again in your situation

This is difficult, he needs to be careful. Because he can be asked to be laid off, but depending on how it impacts them, they might decide to make it permanent.

Ideally he is super cautious, washes his hands, social distances. It’s up to him how secure he feels his employment is and if he thinks by asking to be laid off, if they are decent employers and he will have a job to go back to.

Hi all, thanks for the replies. He is PAYE and I work part time. My company have let me stay at home on full pay which I am grateful for as we have DS to care for. I think we were confused as initially, the govt. mentioned diabetics but then brought out an updated list with more vulnerable conditions and things are changing all the time. His firm is a small one and have asked employees to socially distance (which they can do) and wash hands regularly etc. He is planning to take time off as annual leave next week unless anything changes in the meantime. We do have credit cards and are taking payment holidays wherever possible. Thanks again.