To break lockdown rules and go to MILs?

[DotTheCaddy]

Because Plusnet are arseholes.

We moved house the week before last and they were supposed to come and connect the internet on Friday. We arranged it in plenty of time before the move. However someone their end cancelled the order and now they cant send out an engineer until next week.

DH and I both WFH as our offices are closed. Have taken all our leave for the move now. WIBU to break lockdown and go and stay with MIL so we can work? I don't know what to do otherwise. They wont budge even though they admit it's their fuck up.

Can you not tether your computer to your phone for the internet?

Would it be breaking the rules since you are unable to work from home and therefore need to go elsewhere to do your job?

If she lives alone can't she be added to your bubble?

Seriously just do it. Needs must. People are breaking the rules for far less reason. So long as your mil hasn't got COPD severe asthma on long term steroids or particularly frail or elderly. Obviously it's important to ascertain how she feels about it. But I'm sure you've already discussed that

I most definitely would, unless as already said, she's extremely old/frail/vulnerable

Yes she does live alone! So does that make it okay if we form a a bubble?

Have you spoken to your work? Could they arrange hotspots or for dongles to be provided? Do they have procedures for when employees have broadband issues?

Government guidance says

"If you’re in a single-adult household
You can form a support bubble with another household of any size that is not part of a support bubble with anyone else if you:

live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support
are a single adult living with children who were under 18 on 12 June 2020"

Yes it's fine and well within the rules to bubble with her.

You'd be fine to bubble with MIL but if you prefer not to and stay at home I second the suggestion to speak to your work IT dept. We had the exact same issue earlier this year when we moved and they stuffed up our connection. We used my work mobile's internet via tethering our laptops to it.

@DotTheCaddy

Yes she does live alone! So does that make it okay if we form a a bubble?

As long as you don’t have another singleton in your bubble then go ahead and bubble with her.

If she lives alone can't she be added to your bubble?

Not if she's already got a bubble.

But if you have to do this to be able to work then that's your answer. Bubbles have nothing to do with it, I wouldn't have thought

I agree I think it’s allowed if you can’t work from home and need to.

But also I think if she doesn’t have another bubble she can be in yours - might be beneficial for her generally?

Absolutely do it, I read the title and thought you just wanted to pop over for a cuppa LOL but if you cannot work from home - I don't see you have a choice! Just wash your hands, keep distance if possible and obviously don't go if any of you are symptomatic.

@Elvesinquarantine

If she lives alone can't she be added to your bubble?

Thats not how 'bubbles' work. Not everyone is entitled to form a bubble, or 'add to' a bubble. Bubbles are for a single adult household to form an extended household with another household in order to receive support. There are also rules surrounding each person's contact with others.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the OP in this situation going to stay with a relative in order to do their job, but doing it under the guise of "adding to your bubble" is inaccurate.

Elves, how is that different to what’s being suggested?

Sorry, quoted wrong poster.

Oh just do it, my DH had to yesterday as we switched providers and they said it would be fine but woke up and wasn’t working and he had to work. I tethered from my phone as I had some work to do but it was awful as it relys on normal phone signal which is iffy where we live.

YANBU. Don’t give it a second thought. No different than going to an office

Could you go into your respective offices anyway? That's what I did when my connection went down.

You can buy a dongle from Argos or add credit to your phones and tether?