Scared to go to work

[Scaredtogotowork]

Let me start by saying I appreciate that NHS workers are currently carrying out unbelievable work; I am totally in awe of them. I’m sorry in advance if I sound pathetic.

I work for Sainsbury’s and I am not coping well. I don’t ordinarily suffer from anxiety but I am beyond anxious right now.

I’m on the shop floor (I’m a supervisor) all day. The managers continue to treat us like absolute shit and it’s soul destroying. We have no protective equipment, sanitiser, regular access to hand washing etc. My store is barely regulating traffic in and out of the store. The store is NOT cleaned properly (sorry if that makes people anxious).

I have asthma but am not an “at risk” person. I’m grateful for that but I’m so worried about contracting it.

I just don’t know what to do. I need to work. But I can’t cope with another day in that place and feel at breaking point. You wouldn’t believe the way we are being treated by management.

I’ve read so much conflicting information about rights relating to Covid. To be honest, I’m so exhausted I haven’t the energy to filter through even more information.

I feel at breaking point in this environment.

Where has all the sanitiser gone that they've been sent? I'd query that with head office in case someone's sold them on the side!

And obviously speak to HR. I'm very surprised they're literally screaming at you when currently every man and his dog are recording every bit of bad behaviour they see!

Hopefully some keyworkers will stick it out as we need them to keep the country going. I'm frontline but won't be able to do my job without teachers/the food industry/drivers delivering equipment and PPE etc. (And I don't get paid enough for the risk either.....not much above minimum wage).

I’m working in a nursery caring for Key workers children, ie, children of frontline NHS staff. We obviously can’t social distance and have no PPE so feel like cannon fodder.

I take steroids for Ulcerative colitis so am in the vulnerable group but I’m still expected to get on with it.

So, so anxious about returning to work on Monday (I’ve had two weeks off due to an UC flare which I think was caused by the stress of it all) so have no idea what I’m walking in to.

Therewere5inthebed The real "cannon fodder" are the frontline HCPs continually exposed to it. Many both young and old have already died or are critical. If you've had a letter you should be off work shielding though. Work can't force you in so just scan your letter over.

Wow, that sounds awful.

I was in Sainsburys earlier in the week, and it couldn't have been more different. It was quieter than a normal weekday, staff were working hard, stocking shelves (including a manager), but seemed pretty relaxed. They were cheerful, friendly and helpful. The checkout staff all had bottles of hand sanitiser and were asking (politely) for people to pay by card rather than cash. The lady on the checkout told me that they were having protective screens installed next week.

The only real difference I noticed was 3 security staff just inside the door, but they were all friendly and greeted every shopper on the way in (from 2 metres away, of course).

I'm really sorry you're having such a rough time OP, no-one should be shouted at in the workplace.

@Scaredtogotowork I think it depends on store size how many people are allowed in. Im not sure for us, I haven’t been on crowd control yet. Check the guidelines on myhr as they’re very clear on what should be in happening in store.

I’m sorry, your managers sound awful. They don’t have testing kits to test if you’re ill or not, all it says in the hr guidelines is if you’re showing symptoms but test negative to Covid-19 then you’re expected to work. Not that they will test you themselves. They will pay 2 weeks full pay if you have to self isolate too, with or without test.