AIBU to think big companies should create a special flexible working policy for partners of NHS workers dealing with the Coronavirus

[WhereIsTheLove1234]

I'd love to see some of the big companies offer special flexible working options to their employees if their partner is an NHS worker. Given the pressure and long hours the NHS workers will face over the coming weeks or months I'd love to see companies support the partner to support the NHS worker. The last thing we want is tired doctors and nurses coming home from the most stressful days at work having to worry about whether they will be home in time before the nursery closes or whether their partner will be working long hours too. If businesses allow partners flexibility that's one pressure we can relieve. AIBU? Would be really interested to hear from healthcare workers as to what support and flexibility they would want.

I would go as far as the government issuing guidance to big companies and compel them.

Ok we can't offer martyrdom like Iran but we can at least acknowledge HCP and essential workers.

This is why im thankful that my wife is currently on maternity leave, she is a nurse practitioner, uts one less worry

I think there would need to be some form of regulatory action- I don’t know how you’d do it well though. If we get to the point of schools closing, you ideally don’t want your health care professionals being the ones at home with the children if there are alternatives. It’s going to be tricky though as there are going to be millions of individual circumstances and you couldn’t legislate very fairly. Also in many families the health care worker may be the lower paid partner. There are just so many complicating factors. It may also be that delivery drivers as an example end up playing more of a critical a role in keeping elderly people well (ie by supporting self isolation)than an occupational therapist. There will be lots of critical infrastructure roles that you wouldn’t automatically highlight.

I am very lucky that my DP is able to take leave/WFH at short notice. I currently work 3 days a week and suspect that that may need to be increased. If nursery closes then is would be down to DP to care for DS.

My DH works for a large financial company. He is the lead person in dealing with the CV and all the plans for the staff around the globe. He has been working flat out for two weeks just to get plans in place to keep staff safe and well informed and ensuring the business keep running. I think his head would explode if he also had to factor in plans for staff partners who work are NHS workers! You might say who cares about the financial business but if you have a pension with them you may very much care.

Dh is a Dr, luckily I work part time in a school, and tbh I’m pretty sure schools will close at some point, and our school breaks up soon for Easter anyway.

So dh doesn’t need to worry about childcare. I will be worrying about him though

I would just be grateful for the PPE that the government is telling the media we have - we don’t! Nothing to protect ourselves or our patients with, and an outraged look when the managers ask “do you KNOW how much the proper masks cost”

OH, myself and dd1s dad are all NHS workers, so if we end up self isolating or dds school closes that will have a huge impact on the hours we can then give to the hospital.

Hi everyone - we've moved this over to the Coronavirus topic now.

This is a great idea