If you have an underlying condition, are you working from home?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Due to start a new job next week, and wondering if I should delay starting. Mostly because of the commute.

What are you doing about work if you have a chronic condition?

No as a work for the nhs but I wish I could. Have loads of chronic health stuff already (that wouldn't necessarily make me higher risk but would make me feel extra terrible) and also asthma and a cough/painful lung at present, I just want to hibernate..but am sadly going into work tomorrow via a hospital appt instead. I think any organisations where people can work from home should 100% be facilitating that now though.

I have Crohn's and associated arthritis. On 2 immunosuppressants. I can't work from home unfortunately so I'm having to go into work.

Trying my best to disinfect surfaces etc but deal with a constant flow of the general public so it's not easy.

@hearhooves 😟

V close to it. I have lung disease and started a new job. In second week. We have stress test work from home day tomorrow. I plan to go in Friday and poss leave early.

As of next week I am requesting more work from homes days plus early start early finish on days when I go in to avoid rush hour. Make up hour or two at home. I am trying to minimise exposure until government finally say stay home. To be honest I am watching it daily and reassessing. You need a mental plan to manage the anxiety I think.

Teacher with asthma, plus exhausted with small children who've all been ill for a month already and I have an autoimmune condition.

Have to keep going till the government say not to.

At least I can look after my kids if they close schools though.

Severe asthma and working from home from yesterday (and self-isolating). Have to see occ health to see whether they will let me continue. Will have to take 60% pay cut if so as most of my work can’t be done from home.

I'm waiting for a heart transplant & still at work (large office). Will reassess when gov say vulnerable people should self isolate. Tho have an autistic toddler at nursery & the idea of having to entertain them on my own for weeks on end terrifies me.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and am on immunosuppressants.
I’m also a nurse who works in an emergency department.
I’m going to work.
Be kind of shite if all the nurses with chronic health issues stopped going in to work.

Thanks everyone. I hope we all do ok, working from home or not.

I am going to ask to defer new job or wfh if at all possible. I do not want to go on the subway, and to do the core office hours means rush hour.

Personally if had something like asthma and commuted to work on public transport, especially London Underground, crowded tube trains, I would definitely be working from home

Tricky when your job can't be done from home. I work for the NHS. I have asthma which can be severe and has hospitalised me. I can't work from home. I can't afford not to work.

This is why those of us who can work to from home, should. Not to protect ourselves, but to play our part in reducing the spread.

Yes one of my roles is in healthcare management and I can work from home as have chronic conditions. We are recommending everyone do the same in our organisation even if you don't have chronic conditions.

Not this week (on medical advice), but I've moved my private students to online only, so I've cut my exposure roughly in half. Socially isolating on weekends.

I can't do my main job from home, but will be getting more medical advice on the weekend, and may take unpaid leave depending on the advice.