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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why is my NHS employed SIL 'working from home'?

266 replies

emptyfridge · 02/04/2020 13:55

Really confused as to why the government are taking on thousands of volunteers to support the NHS and we are constantly being told of the immense pressure staff are under when my perfectly capable SIL is working from home apparently catching up on paperwork?

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 02/04/2020 14:29

Judgy much?! It's got nothing to with you.

Jellycatfox · 02/04/2020 14:30

Why is she entitled to school places for her dc when she is working from home and can look after them herself?
What?
Working from home is working from home. It is not fetching snacks and looking after children

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 02/04/2020 14:30

You sound like a lovely person OP:) No one forces volunteers to volunteer, and your SIL can clearly work from home, maybe she has a health condition you are not aware of that makes her vulnerable?

mindutopia · 02/04/2020 14:30

It totally depends on what her role is. I work in the NHS in the a research capacity (I'm not a clinician), as do many of my colleagues. I've been working from home for 3 weeks and won't be going back to the office for at least 3 months (our clinic is closed). I have several colleagues who are clinical psychologists. All working from home now and doing plenty of paperwork. Even my consultant friends are doing some time in the clinic and sometime working from home doing various other things (research, admin, etc.) because they have not yet been redeployed. The real demand on clinical services hasn't even come close to happening yet so there are many people who are in a place where their face to face care has been halted (for patient safety reasons) but they are waiting on redeployment. The best place for them is at home staying healthy so they can replace colleagues who have to come out to self-isolate or to fill slots in rotas when demand picks up. Doesn't sound unusual to me. She is still a key worker even if she isn't providing face to face care because presumably she could be called up any day.

FazakAli · 02/04/2020 14:31

It appears that there is more than just your fridge that is empty.

Popc0rn · 02/04/2020 14:32

Well what is her actual job? Some of our nurses and doctors are working from home: doing telephone clinics with patients, assessing GP referrals and planning care etc. They are more useful using their specialised skills doing that than anything else right now.

The government call for NHS volunteers is for people to deliver shopping and medications to people who need to totally self isolate, drive them to appointments, and ring them to check they're okay/offer a befriending service. There is no clinical care involved (yet). It makes no sense for your sister in law to be pulled from a job that probably requires specific skills and experience to do those things right now.

briebuiltthiscity · 02/04/2020 14:32

So you’d rather she, her children and presumably your or dh/s brother were put a risk? What a fucking delight you are

sageandroses · 02/04/2020 14:33

Who do you suggest do her paperwork instead OP? It has to be done. Maybe you could volunteer yourself Grin

GemmeFatale · 02/04/2020 14:33

I suspect ‘catching up on paperwork’ is code for ‘none of your business’

HappyHammy · 02/04/2020 14:33

What is her job

smiffypeabrain · 02/04/2020 14:33

NHS workers still need to socially distance at work if possible.

Staff are being asked to work from home where they can so those who cannot work from home can use their space/clinic rooms/offices to reduce footfall.

LagunaBubbles · 02/04/2020 14:34

She's just riled me a lot recently by using key worker slots at school for her 2 dc and using the special NHS time at the supermarket

So let me get this right, she works for the NHS and it riles you up she's shopped at a time allocated by a supermarket for the NHS workers? Thst doesnt make sense!

PuggyMum · 02/04/2020 14:34

Even if she was abusing the key worker school places and the NHS slots it's really none of your business.

DH and I are both key workers. Both working from home now but for the first week sent DD to school because I was having confidential calls that were subject to NDA's. He was at work but is now WFH too.

I felt really guilty about it and maybe your SIL feels the same?

DH is eligible to use the emergency services slots but we've not needed to as I've found whenever I've been able to shop it's been quiet anyway.

peoplepleaser1 · 02/04/2020 14:35

A relative of mine who is a midwife has booked 3 weeks off despite that meaning she's now used all her of her annual leave. No DC and no partner so no one to shield.

Magic2020 · 02/04/2020 14:36

I'm an NHS worker that can't wfh, but we are still reliant on every other part of the NHS working together, so if they can be protected by working at home, and if they need their children to be looked after while that happens, and if they need to do shopping at a time when they can get the things they need then that helps the rest of us too.

She is vital, whether she has to come in or not, and is still a keyworker.

simplekindoflife · 02/04/2020 14:36

OP, are you on glue?!

Your sil is "catching up on paperwork"! The NHS has to justify and document everything they do! She needs to concentrate and do the work correctly, something she probably can't do while looking after children! She could be working with crucial and sensitive information for all you know.

You sound petty and jealous and not at all supportive. Sort yourself out. The NHS, at every level, need our support right now. FFS.

Aesopfable · 02/04/2020 14:36

Whilst I can see how many NHS roles can be done from home the implications for confidentiality are worrying. Chasing up paperwork, booking appointments etc all mean patient information is potentially visible to all and sundry.

Haffiana · 02/04/2020 14:36

She's just riled me a lot recently by using key worker slots at school for her 2 dc and using the special NHS time at the supermarket.

Don't you bloody dare clap for the NHS ever again. They don't need jealous little weenies like you pretending to support them.

BraveLittleDragon · 02/04/2020 14:38

@peoplepleaser1 Lots of people are being advised to this - overtime will give us more holiday and it will mean that staff are protected and don't all come down with it at once.

I am working a four day week, taking one day as annual leave, but working 1.5 days overtime each week through extended days.

MrsDoylesTeaBags · 02/04/2020 14:38

I say this with all the best intentions emptyfridge. Don't bring your private grudges onto a public forum. I honestly don't know what you expect to gain from it.

ilovesooty · 02/04/2020 14:39

I bet she thinks highly of you too...

She's working from home, probably with confidentially important information. She's entitled to the key worker help. You just can't stand her and are seething with jealousy.

Popc0rn · 02/04/2020 14:39

Just to make it clearer that volunteers will not be doing your sister in laws job...

Who can join and what are the tasks?

The NHS and social care urgently need people to join the NHS Volunteer Responders to do simple but vital tasks including driving people to and from hospital, and delivering food and medication. Volunteers will also support the NHS to transport equipment and supplies, and make regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.

www.england.nhs.uk/participation/get-involved/volunteering/nhs-volunteer-responders/

Port1aCastis · 02/04/2020 14:40

You're asking Mn a question about your sil when you should ask her yourself

slipperywhensparticus · 02/04/2020 14:40

The less footfall through the hospital the better

whichnamenow · 02/04/2020 14:40

She could be pregnant or have a health condition she doesn't want to tell you about.
Stop being such a bitch.