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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
AIBU to be sad I'm a key worker?
GhettoMatrix · 20/03/2020 09:23
I work in the justice system. I'm based in an international airport and am based in an office with 45 border force officers. The windows don't open and the air conditioning means that one of them is always sick. I know I have to go to work and I am proud to be working to keep our justice system going at this time, but am feeling very anxious... I wish I could work from home! Secretly was hoping I wouldn't be a key worker so I would be forced to stay home for a while 😅
Mayhemmumma · 20/03/2020 11:16
Key worker here and share your pain!
I'm lucky that I can do some home working but home visits to the most vulnerable children and families too.
I want to lock my door and stay home with my babies to be honest.
DioneTheDiabolist · 20/03/2020 11:19
Strength, health and hope to you OP, Mayhemmumma and all our key workers. Thank you.
bluebluezoo · 20/03/2020 11:29
I’m happy to be a key worker.
I’m fit and healthy, as are my family. If we get this virus it should be no worse than flu, so not panicking there- although obvs will work to isolation guidelines if one becomes symptomatic. Children generally are the group with the best outcome following infection.
I am happy to be out there pitching in and working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. I am fairly front and centre so am learning new skills and taking on new challenges.
Mostly as a key worker i am grateful that my income stream is secure. My dh is self employed, and many friends work for leisure centres, in retail etc and face no money for the next 6 months til things get back on their feet.
I am also grateful that my children are teens and can stay home, so I can continue to go to work and make a contribution.
Personally i can’t think of anything worse than holing up at home waiting for other people to sort it out.
I just wish people would leave the toilet roll so i can pop to a shop before or after a shift and pick some essentials up!
itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 20/03/2020 11:32
Or you could be grateful that your still working, still getting paid, unlikely to be made redundant and continue to have childcare to enable you to do your job????......
Alwaystwomagpies · 20/03/2020 11:42
Yes hugely sorry for you
As you still have a job and wages
And aren’t a key worker like DH and I who are in front line medical jobs at huge risk and seeing horrible horrible things
Poor you OP
Look I get it’s an anxious time but really we have to just keep going, do what we can and see what positives we can.
Please
GlitchStitch · 20/03/2020 11:47
I'm a key worker, in MH. All community support has been closed, we are run ragged at the moment trying to cover critical services with huge staff shortages. I'm not sad for me, I'm glad I can do my bit and still get paid. I feel sad for our service users who are already vulnerable and now increasingly isolated and at risk.
ThisTooShallPassHopefully · 20/03/2020 11:49
I too am scared about being a key worker as a nurse. It's highly likely I will be redeployed and expected to nurse in an unfamiliar area without feeling secure in the skills needed.
I'm a lone parent with no local family and the nurse side of me is fighting with the mum side of me.
I have a duty of care to patients, but I also have a duty of care to my children.
I feel its inevitable this virus will enter my home, thankfully my children are generally fit and healthy and so hopefully we will recover easily. But I feel like I'm inviting it into our lives simply by going to work.
I see people on the news and on here saying they will go out if they want to, while I would be quite happy to self isolate till it's all over. That makes me cross. Selfish people putting others at risk.
I see other nhs staff saying they are happy to be on the frontline and fulfilling their duty of care. I feel like a fraud as I don't want to go anywhere near a hospital.
I do recognise and am grateful my income is secure, I'm not worried about keeping the roof over my head or being able to pay for the food that I can find. I recognise and am grateful that my children don't fall into the vulnerable groups.
I am very worried about going to work and not being a good enough nurse for my patients because my skills aren't up to scratch in that area. I'm also very worried that I may never see my mum again. Shes only in her 60's and lives in another country, but currently on chemo and very frail.
I just want to wake up and realise it was all a bad dream. 😪
Pentium85 · 20/03/2020 11:51
Absolutely justified in feeling how you feel.
Husband is a teacher being called back to school, and although he is proud of his job and ready to support the children, he is concerned about not being able to self isolate.
GhettoMatrix · 20/03/2020 12:08
I feel absolutely awful for those who do not have a secure job at the moment. I am grateful that my job is secure, absolutely. I am also nervous to be working in an office with 45 people who search every single person going out of the country. 7 of them have symptoms, and only 3 were in work yesterday. I live with my dad who has had 3 pneumothoraces and I do not feel safe coming home to him in the evening. It's awful. If we were not deemed as key workers, I would've been allowed to work from home (though wouldn't have been able to work as productively). Now I am classed as a key worker, work are not allowing home working as it will reduce productivity. I feel awful for those who are in dire circumstances at the moment. I think however that I am allowed to be concerned that I am not able to self isolate regardless of anyone else's circs.
GhettoMatrix · 20/03/2020 12:12
@alwaystwomagpies it's not key worker top trumps. I see horrific things every single day of my working life. I am continuing to work I am just concerned for my family and not being able to self isolate and work from home.
SauvignonBlanche · 20/03/2020 12:14
I’m fine with being a key worker (NHS nurse) it comes with the territory.
I worry about DH who is a transplant patient but what can I do?
I shall just carry on and take all sensible precautions.
GhettoMatrix · 20/03/2020 12:16
We've had to divide our very small house up so I don't come in to contact with my dad. It's a very steep learning curve for sure.
Tootletum · 20/03/2020 12:17
Urgh I hate all the snipy posts. You can't help how you feel. It's understandable and natural. Yes, people have lost their jobs so be grateful etc. And yet when I said on here a week ago that people in poor countries have to deal with much worse diseases and no health system on a regular basis I got bitched at like you wouldn't believe. Anyway OP, courage to you and thank you for your service.
bluebluezoo · 20/03/2020 12:19
I think however that I am allowed to be concerned that I am not able to self isolate regardless of anyone else's circs
You absolutely can self isolate if necessary.
Being a key worker does not mean you go to work regardless. You should still follow self isolation advice.
Currently we have several staff living with high risk family. They are assessing risk, and either isolating, or colleagues are offering spare rooms to those who want to work but also protect their families.
If you feel you father will be put as risk by yoi going to work, talk to hr and/or your line manager.
GhettoMatrix · 20/03/2020 12:21
I've been informed by HR that if I wish to self isolate I will have to take annual or unpaid leave as we are key workers so expected under guidelines to be in work. We can self isolate for 14 days if we have symptoms.
Thefaceofboe · 20/03/2020 12:37
Right now I’m glad I’m a ‘keyworker’ as I’m garenteed work! That’s all I’m thinking about
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