To say no to going back to office until I've had vaccine & restrictions lifted?

[Willow79]

I live in Scotland and have been wfh for a year. I'm late 20s and asthmatic. Basically I wouldnt feel safe going back to physical work until I've at least had the vaccine. I know I'm young but I have friends with long covid and the prospect really scares me.

Anyway over the last 2 weeks my boss has been asking colleagues to meet our clients in physical meetings again. They travel there together by car and spend time with multiple teams of people.

Today was the first time the boss suggested I do this soon and another client also put pressure on me for the first time saying they want to meet soon as things go back to 'normal'.

AIBU to not want to do this seeing as the rule is a phased return to work in June?

[quote Willow79]@rawlikesushi It might be yes. I have been using a steroid inhaler for the last few months since my asthma worsened. I saw a PP say people on steroid inhalers have been getting it, so I am a bit surprised it hasn't been offered.[/quote]
The majority of asthmatics are not eligible for an early vaccine, exceptions may be asthmatics that have been hospitalised or do not have their asthma under control with medication.

@Willow79
Why don't you phone your GP and explain about being asthmatic and ask them to book you a vaccine slot?

i have asthma . If yr condition is severe you should have the jab. If its not then it is reasonable to go back to work .

I know vaccinated people that are refusing to return to work. Employers de going to have a big battle to get their staff back.

The vaccine rollout has been very inconsistent for those with asthma and I do not blame you for being nervous. I don’t have any useful advice but wanted to say that I understand your fears.

I'd say check the restrictions for where you love. What do they say and are they law or guidance.

Ask to see the risk assessment for wherever you are meeting. We have people going to client sites but they are not permitted to go until we have seen their risk assessment.

If you do have to go, get there under your own steam and be clear from the beginning you will be keeping 2m apart etc.

Good luck.

[quote Willow79]@rawlikesushi It might be yes. I have been using a steroid inhaler for the last few months since my asthma worsened. I saw a PP say people on steroid inhalers have been getting it, so I am a bit surprised it hasn't been offered.[/quote]
Fill in the form to say you feel you should be in a priority group and they’ll have a look. If your use off steroids is new it may not (if it makes you eligible) have been picked up when the list was created.

www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/invitations-and-appointments/missing-appointment-details

Why do people always reply to any WFH question along the lines of “YABU - shop workers and teachers have been working throughout”. That has nothing to do with office workers situation! It isn’t a competition. The guidance is clear that if you CAN work from home - at the moment you should. It’s about limiting the chance for the virus to spread.

The guidance is clear that if you CAN work from home - at the moment you should

But her clients want to have face to face meetings. And like it or not, that’s key to the business making money.

@TheKeatingFive

The guidance is clear that if you CAN work from home - at the moment you should

But her clients want to have face to face meetings. And like it or not, that’s key to the business making money.

This.

Your clients are requesting face to face meetings, unfortunately they pay your wages. If you don’t work with your clients there may end up being no job to return to.

We had a face to face on site outside last week. A supplier came up to see us, they shared a car but both had Covid tests the previous day to ensure they were safe to do so. Is this an option?

You're not being unreasonable. And other posters are being very unfair suggesting the OP is lazy. I'm an office worker and I can't wait to get back to the office. Winning new business is so hard when you can't make personal connections. I'm working longer hours and it's more stressful from home. But, I'm following government guidelines. Not so much because I'm worried about myself but because everyone who stays at home reduces the risks for everyone else. I'm reducing the risk for my family, my colleagues and the teachers and the other kids at school.

You should be offered the jab soon OP. A friend of mine is asthmatic and she was offered.

The is the problem with people WFH you have almost become cut off from the outside world so the slightest thing is now making you worry and panic.

To be honest long term WFH is unhealthy and I can see how clients want a face to face service!

I think YANBU. Risk assessment for you should be in place if you are to return. But it irritates the hell out of me that people are blazé about asthmatics not being at risk or vunerable of complications for covid. There are ongoing studies which recognises asthmatics are more at risk for long covid. The CDC recognises moderate asthmatics at risk of severe covid complications but UK currently doesn't due to JVCI guidelines and only prioritises severe asthmatics for a vaccine. I would say car sharing is a firm no with regards to risk. I'd be having a open and frank discussion with work about how you feel as mental health is also important and concerns should be listened to about your views on risk within workplace. So many people on this thread saying : but I know such and such is vunerable and still working ... Kudos to them. But it is an individual risk and your concerns should be taken into account. Just because someone else has gone to work doesn't mean you need to bear the same risk or not be listened to regarding your own concerns for risk.

@TheKeatingFive

The guidance is clear that if you CAN work from home - at the moment you should

But her clients want to have face to face meetings. And like it or not, that’s key to the business making money.

Yes but the clients are also subject to the rules. And their staff should also be working from home if they can, not just because their boss prefers face to face meetings.

Yes but the clients are also subject to the rules.

‘The rules’ are grey for a reason. Many people DO prefer important meetings face to face. They get more out of them like this. Better decisions are made. Better relationships are forged. And no official body is getting involved at this stage to rap them over the knuckles.

If the OP’s firm won’t accommodate them, someone else will. So if they want to survive, they play ball.

In an environment where clients can move to another provider,businesses have to meet client requirements or risk losing the clients
It is completely different from eg the public sector ,and different again to politicians getting their fat salaries

OP is in Scotland. Guidance in Scotland is very clear:

"Anyone who is able to work from home, must do so."

"It will only be a reasonable excuse to leave your home to go to work, if that work cannot be done from home"

It doesn't matter if her boss or clients prefer face to face meetings.

It doesn't matter if her boss or clients prefer face to face meetings

It does if they simply go elsewhere.

What do you think the OP should do? Report her own clients? Who to?

YANBU OP. We’re supposed to be working from home until at least June. My office aren’t going back until then. Lots of people are talking about missing in person interaction. What they mean is they miss in person ‘banter’, being able to walk up to desks to demand people who are in the middle of doing something stop doing their work, and do the interrupter’s work instead, and the noisy people miss talking all day.

Full disclosure: I’m working at home and am dreading going back. My job requires focus and my office is incredibly noisy and cramped and I am continually interrupted when working. I also commute for hours a day and spend a fortune on travel for no benefit whatsoever. Dreading the office!

@TheKeatingFive face to face meetings can be outside, reduces the risk greatly. Does not mean coming into the office and most of the time there is still wfh.

YABVU.

It isn't steroid inhalers (if your asthma is well controlled). It's if you're on tablets like prednisolone.

I was really hoping I'd have had mine by now though, because my asthma is set off by tree pollen, so this is the worst time of year for it. Sadly not though.

face to face meetings can be outside, reduces the risk greatly.

They can, yes.

They can also be made as safe as possible indoors.

Has the OP suggested any of these alternatives to her boss/clients I wonder?

@TheKeatingFive I agree that making a suggested alternative such as outdoor meetings is better than simply saying no.

As a fellow asthmatic I totally understand your worries. I'm lucky to have been given my first dose of the vaccine but I know many with asthma who haven't been as lucky. I don't feel like you are making excuses, having an underlying health issue is scary in anytime but in a pandemic it is even more worrying.