Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I say no to work?

43 replies

Pinkerbells · 11/05/2020 22:55

I work in a garden centre cafe and so have been furloughed for several weeks. We have been told garden centres can reopen on Wednesday, so the company has decided to also open the cafe. It will be for take away drinks and snacks .
What is concerning me is my home situation. I have a 10 month old, and my partner is classed as vulnerable with a very low immune system. This has meant isolation for 7 weeks (so far), he has been advised to isolate for at least 12. I honestly don't know if I should risk going back to work, and if I say no, where would I stand being furloughed? I am really scared that one of them will get ill

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 11/05/2020 22:59

Is he in the shielding group or vulnerable group?

WorraLiberty · 11/05/2020 23:06

I'm fairly sure you can't be furloughed if your employer has work for you to do?

Also, at the end of his twelve weeks, what then?

What do you think might change in 5 weeks time?

SusieOwl4 · 11/05/2020 23:12

I would just ask your employer . With social distancing rules he or she may still not need all staff, so your furlough may be extended . But I agree long term what do you propose ?

It’s a very difficult situation.

Work but be fastidious about hygiene ? Keep separate at home as much as possible ?

StatisticalSense · 11/05/2020 23:14

If your partner is at home he can look after the baby so having a baby is irrelevant. As long as social distancing can be maintained you don't really have a choice but to return to work.

Palegreenstars · 11/05/2020 23:14

You should join a union urgently

Peggysgettingcrazy · 11/05/2020 23:17

If they tell you to come back and you refuse, you will be unpaid or possibly lose your job.

Furlough is for people, who are available to work but there is no work for them.

Those living with people who are sheilding, can still go to work.

You could ask. But they have no obligation to accommodate you.

Your partner will need to look after the baby.

ilovesooty · 11/05/2020 23:20

Sadly many people are anxious about returning to work but this is not what furlough is for - the job is there for you.

DonnaDarko · 11/05/2020 23:22

Being furloughed is up to your employer. You can put forward the case about shielding but there is nothing to stop them from insisting you take the time off as unpaid leave.

You should ask what measures will be in place to ensure you can wash your hands regularly and don't come into direct contact with customers. For example, my local co op has screens up and is only taking payment by card.

If you do have to work, when you get home you should immediately change clothes and wash your hands and face before touching anything or anyone in the house. Anything you do touch, sanitise with anti bac wipes.

I hope this helps

FrankRattlesnake · 11/05/2020 23:27

I had a read through the education information produced by the government. They discuss this situation and I’m sure it said people can return to work but you could request to be in the least face to face contact role available given you have a shielding partner. For the coffee shop that maybe put back doing prep or washing up.

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 11/05/2020 23:28

You are lucky that you can socially distance & that its T/As only .

I cant socially distance in my job ... im a nurse and i have 2 vulnerable people at home . Sad

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 11/05/2020 23:30

Your dh and the baby can keep one another company. Have him make sure the washing machine is empty so when you get home from work, strip and wash all your clothes and take a shower. Then with gloves, soapy wash the door handles etc where you came in from work.

It's recommended that the shielding person maintains distance from the one leaving the home - is there a spare room you can sleep in?

WorraLiberty · 11/05/2020 23:33

You should join a union urgently

And tell them what?

All the unions are going to do is act if her employers haven't set up the work place to make social distancing possible.

EnglishRain · 11/05/2020 23:36

I am classed as vulnerable and DH works in retail he's worked the whole of lockdown. It's just how it is sadly. He is very vigilant with washing clothes and showering as soon as he gets in.

maddening · 11/05/2020 23:37

As long as social distancing and you observe good hygiene like change and shower as soon as you get home, possibly sleep in seperate beds then it should be doable Imo.

You can also let your employer know your concerns, perhaps you can do tasks which are slightly removed like clearing up and preparing drinks rather than directly with the public?

Unravellingslowly · 12/05/2020 00:01

honestly don't know if I should risk going back to work, and if I say no, where would I stand being furloughed?

Sorry to say I have a shielded person at home. My option is to work, have unpaid leave or holidays. I’m terrified. I changed into clean clothes before leaving work, put clothes straight into the machine and shower as soon as I get home.

StatisticalSense · 12/05/2020 00:33

@DonnaDarko
If any cafe doesn't have the facilities for staff to regularly wash their hands they'd have bigger problems than those caused by the virus.

SpiritEssence · 12/05/2020 00:39

I have a disabled dd in the vulnerable group as I've had to work through all of the current situation. But take proper precautions and it will be fine

Lou898 · 12/05/2020 00:40

Even if shielding, the govt letter Says members of your family are not required to not work but only carry out extra precautions such as hand washing, changing clothes, showering on return etc

Osirus · 12/05/2020 00:51

I saw on the news yesterday that garden centres could open BUT not the cafe area, if they have one. It was on BBC news. I would have a look at this OP, as they will potentially be breaking the law if they open (unless it’s just takeaway).

Peggysgettingcrazy · 12/05/2020 05:59

The cafes can open if its for takeaways. As has always been the case.

They cant operate as somewhere as an eat in.

throwaway201809 · 12/05/2020 06:08

Has he received a shielding letter? Or has he just been told to socially distance for 12 weeks (like the rest of the population). If your employer has work for you then you can no longer be furloughed. They can't make you go back into work but they can let you go for refusing to work. Everyone has to get back to work at some point unfortunately

DianaT1969 · 12/05/2020 06:33

OP - read this to the bottom. By a US epidemiologist.
www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them
It will help you know what to do when you get into the workplace. Ventilation is important. Not spending time with anyone. So it would be safer if you worked alone behind the counter. Is that possible?
Ventilation in the shared bathroom. Not touching surfaces in shared bathroom. Less talking, no shouting.

supermanisdead · 12/05/2020 06:37

@IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls

I'm not sure lucky is the correct term here.

user1487194234 · 12/05/2020 06:37

Ask for unpaid leave to buy some time,but eventually you will need to go back to work or lose your job
We are all going to go back sooner rather than later

Givenupno · 12/05/2020 06:43

The brutal reality is that if you don’t go to work you will lose your job. Loads of people already have so they won’t struggle to replace you.

Not sure how benefits work for someone who have up a job because they didn’t want to do it?

The chances of contracting anything are very low, same as for all the people who have been working throughout and not really any different to if you take a trip to the supermarket