Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel uncomfortable being asked to work throughout the upcoming Welsh lockdown?

29 replies

qazwsxedcrfv · 19/10/2020 21:15

I recently started paid work in a charity shop. The shop isn't yet open, myself and a colleague have been spending a few weeks setting up and are nearly there. I assumed that today's announcement by the Welsh government would mean that for two weeks I wouldn't be required to go into work as it is a non- essential shop and I am not a key worker. However, I have been informed that I am to continue going in as normal to continue setting up throughout the lock down period. I believe that this request actually is against government requirements, as, if our shop was open, it would have to close anyway and there would be no need for us staff to be there, but it is gray as the shop isn't yet open to the public. I still believe it is non-essential and we shouldn't be asked to work. As well as asking us to do something that is essentially against government law, I also think that it is against the principles of the charity to put ourselves and others at risk by being out and about, as the charity supports disabled people who the lock down is primarily designed to protect. I have also been informed that as I wasn't enrolled in the previous furlough scheme, I wouldn't be eligible for it in this instance. Does anyone know whether this is true or whether, as I suspect, the government pays companies to furlough staff based on who is working for them AT THE TIME of furlough? Besides, I am not interested in the money, charity pay is very low anyway, it is more my desire to do the right thing and follow the correct rules set for EVERYBODY living in Wales. I know I am not above the law and feel that the charity is interpreting the rules to suit their own agenda. AIBU, therefore, to refuse to work over lock down as I do not believe it to be a legal or moral request for my employer to expect of me?

OP posts:
Floatyboat · 19/10/2020 21:18

If you can't work from home you should go to work. An empty shop sounds pretty low risk. Stop being lazy and looking for a handout.

vanillandhoney · 19/10/2020 21:21

Why can't you continue going to work in an empty shop? What actual increased risk are you at by doing so?

The whole point of closing unnecessary shops is to stop all that contact between staff and customers, surely?

RunBackwards · 19/10/2020 21:21

There's nothing in any rules/guidance about only essential shops and guidance says you should go to work if you can't wfh, so you should go to work.

CasperGutman · 19/10/2020 21:22

The rules are that non-essential shops have to close, and anyone who can work from home must do so.

The shop would have to close to the public, but even if the shop was up and running that wouldn't necessarily mean there was nothing to do.

Your work isn't only serving customers, it's also managing stock and merchandising. You can't do that from home, can you?

ThousandCows · 19/10/2020 21:23

I'm in Wales. I believe the 'rules' say that you work from home, unless it's not possible to do your job from home. It sounds like you wouldn't be able to carry out your work from home, so I don't think it's unreasonable to expect you to go in...

1AngelicFruitCake · 19/10/2020 21:24

Why can’t you go in? You can’t do it from home?

Original poster
qazwsxedcrfv · 19/10/2020 21:25

I did say I'm not interested in the money and certainly not interested in any hand outs! Read it, I know it's low risk, that's not the point, it's also not essential. This is a lock down like we had in March and throughout the summer, it's a question of whether I would be breaking the law by driving 20 miles into another county for what is in essence, NOT essential!

OP posts:
CasperGutman · 19/10/2020 21:25

@RunBackwards

There's nothing in any rules/guidance about only essential shops and guidance says you should go to work if you can't wfh, so you should go to work.
There is something in the rules about non-essential shops.
To feel uncomfortable being asked to work throughout the upcoming Welsh lockdown?
vanillandhoney · 19/10/2020 21:27

@qazwsxedcrfv

I did say I'm not interested in the money and certainly not interested in any hand outs! Read it, I know it's low risk, that's not the point, it's also not essential. This is a lock down like we had in March and throughout the summer, it's a question of whether I would be breaking the law by driving 20 miles into another county for what is in essence, NOT essential!
But the shop isn't breaking the law because it's still closed.

But that doesn't mean you don't need to go to work. Lots of my old retail colleagues worked at the start of lockdown - merchandising, sending clothes to the warehouse to prepare for all the online orders, moving things off the shop floor etc.

If your work can't be done from home, you still need to go to work. Just because the shop is closed, doesn't mean you're not needed.

YellowBeryl1 · 19/10/2020 21:27

Have you asked them for unpaid leave then? Sorry, you sound like you're after paid holiday.

StatisticalSense · 19/10/2020 21:29

At no point have those unable to work from home been prevented from going into work however essential they consider their jobs. If there is work to do that doesn't involve opening the shop it is entirely right that employees are asked to do it during the closure period.

Mammyloveswine · 19/10/2020 21:29

Ffs some of us worked throughout lockdown, are working now and are at considerable risk (early years teacher so no social distancing with 4 years olds!!).

Honestly op with all due respect you sound very entitled.

emilyfrost · 19/10/2020 21:31

YABVU and you need to be at work.

LittleMissA · 19/10/2020 21:31

They are right on the furlough scheme, unless the rules have changed for local lockdowns staff had to be on the payroll from a certain date in February/March to qualify.

Original poster
qazwsxedcrfv · 19/10/2020 21:32

Not entitled whatsoever, not interested in the money whatsoever and not after paid holiday whatsoever. I am just asking whether it is law, or not. I'm getting the jist that it is not, which is fine. If rather go to work anyway, but NOT if it involved breaking the law. That's all, so please stop advising of things I have no interest in.

OP posts:
Original poster
qazwsxedcrfv · 19/10/2020 21:33

**accusing (not advising!)

OP posts:
OverTheRubicon · 19/10/2020 21:34

The official rules are:
You must work from home if you can. However, people who are not able to work from home, but are able to work safely in their workplaces, can do so, provided their workplace remains open.

This is the rule, on which basis YABU to refuse to work. The guidance (but not law) is that they shouldn't put pressure on employees unless there is a clear business need - and they could argue there is, if the shop is nearly set up and like many charities, they are very short of funds and high on needs right now. They've not opened the shop, so they are not breaking rules there either.The guidance also says to work with employees, perhaps instead of complaining you could try to have a constructive discussion about minimising risk e.g. flexible hours to travel in quiet periods etc.

gov.wales/coronavirus-firebreak-frequently-asked-questions#section-53255

Cocomarine · 19/10/2020 21:36

It’s not a grey area, and you’re not being asked to do something against the “government law”. You are being asked to continue to do work cannot be done from home.

Your excuses are quite creative - you want them to protect 2 people in a low risk environment, because they’re a disability related charity? So they lose income and can’t support those people?

If you have a genuine concern over your health, ask about opposite shifts with your one colleague.

Otherwise, you just sound lazy.

freshcoatofpaint · 19/10/2020 21:36

But as a non essential shop it is closed, as you've said it's not open? That doesn't mean you don't have to go to work if there is still work to be done though? To be honest your post does just read that you're really annoyed you're not getting a few weeks off Grin

pandafunfactory · 19/10/2020 21:41

Get on with your job and deal with it.

I'm nhs. No lockdown paid holiday for us ever.

No sympathy from me.

profpoopsnagle · 19/10/2020 21:42

@qazwsxedcrfv

I did say I'm not interested in the money and certainly not interested in any hand outs! Read it, I know it's low risk, that's not the point, it's also not essential. This is a lock down like we had in March and throughout the summer, it's a question of whether I would be breaking the law by driving 20 miles into another county for what is in essence, NOT essential!
It isn't a lockdown, it's a 'Firebreak'. Ask your employer for a letter saying that you need to travel to work to show to police if stopped.
nosswith · 19/10/2020 21:44

I can't see how you can re-stock or stock check a shop without being there. Much as I think you should be laid off or getting furlough as I cannot see you can do this for an entire fortnight, even with wanting to look the best for any Christmas rush.

So you cannot wfh and I agree with the suggestion to ask for unpaid leave if you really feel uncomfortable going in.

orangejuicer · 19/10/2020 21:44

Also the county lockdowns are no longer in force.

Petitmum · 19/10/2020 21:45

I'm in Wales too, my understanding of the rules is that your employer are within the law to expect you to work in the closed shop. You can travel to work in another county.
Your job can't be done from home.

CakeRequired · 19/10/2020 21:45

Quit then. If the money is of no interest to you, then you'll have no problem quitting. Otherwise go into work. You're not at more risk than you are this week. You're not dealing with customers. Don't see the issue.