Where do we stand with work saying I have to go in?

[pushymeas]

I work closely with others in a factory. (Making/ selling non essential items, think home improvements). I told work I wasn't going in today (feeling like I am doing my bit) and they have been really shitty with me and said I'll not be paid at all and can take disciplinary action against me. Is this correct? Do you think 'essential work' should have been better defined?

@BarrytheFatcat
I'm self isolating this week but I'm due back in next tuesday, my boss has said we're open as usual but it means il have to take a train that's down to 1 carriage, and my mum will have to take 2 buses to come and look after my daughter while I'm at work.
Why do you think your Mum is allowed to come and look after your daughter? Is this flouting the new rules? We are not allowed to socialise with families in other households now.

Meanwhile I got a text from the government telling me to stay at home!? So what do I do?
You stay home due to the Government's text. They couldn't be much clearer with you. Are you considered to be vulnerable?

Tell your employer you have a text from the government telling you to stay at home.

Op I think you should talk to your union rep

Dh and ds in this position , work at a place that makes products for carpet factories. Involves public transport to get there and back . Should they be closed now ? I don’t know and I’m feeling very very scared .

Dh hasn’t received a text about being vulnerable but he ends up on a nebuliser and steroids every time he gets a cold .

He’s asthmatic I should have said .

@noteverythingisblackandwhite

Exactly this is why I'm confused as to what to do, my mum normally looks after my daughter when I'm at work, I don't have any other childcare sorted.

As for the government text I thought everyone received that text, I'm not classed as vulnerable.

There was another text from nhs with guidelines asking the most vulnerable to completely isolate for 12 weeks

Pretty disturbed at how many people on here seem to think it’s “allowed” to go to and from work whatever you do! It is only for essential work. Ie key workers. Yes clearly the government needs to define it better because a lot of people/employers seem to be interpreting it as essential to their business, rather than essential to the nation.

OP is absolutely right and a lockdown is not a vacation

And no @Wingedharpy home and hardware stores are not open, or at least they are not supposed to be. Pharmacies, grocery shops, post offices and pet shops are the only exceptions to the closure.

And this is precisely what the government paying 80 percent of the pay of employees is supposed to be for - so that they can stay at home - business aren’t supposed to get paid for employees who are still working!

DP is in the same boat. His company website/Facebook and Twitter pages assure their customers that social distancing is being enforced. They are lying bastards. Lying bastards who're working from home while their minions are expected to take risks making a non essential product.

I wonder if it’s worth writing to local MPs with your concerns and questions- so the fact that businesses aren’t protecting their employees is known. A lot of businesses seem much more focused on finances than health. We need to focus on both.

You're wrong, mum. Although I do think this should be the case. Shops don't stock themselves though.

Even at 'normal' times your employer has a duty to make your work place safe. If your work place isn't safe you can not be disciplined.

Now I'm not a legal expert but I think the argument would be whether your work place is safe.

You can start be asking them for a revised risk assessment for the new 'hazard' of corona virus. If they have not done one they cannot say your work place is safe.

I agree that it needs to be more clearly defined. Other countries basically have only supermarkets & pharmacies open. I work at The Range & at the moment we’re staying open as an essential store for the food ( although there isn’t a very wide variety), basic medicines, pet food & hardware etc. I have said I’m not going in but if the store doesn’t close, I earn nothing.

It is only for essential work. Ie key workers

Many many people have interpreted it to say this, but it’s factually incorrect, the government has said that you can work if you can’t do it from home. They did not say it was only if essential or if you were a key worker.

Last night on insta they posted an image saying only key workers, the 8mage everyone is sharing on here, it’s been updated to say if you can’t work from home. They have also updated the government website to state specifically its if you cannot work from home. NOT just if you’re a key worker or your role is essential.

Many companies not on the list, are shutting down, but they don’t have to, the government has only shut the retail and hospitality outlets they outline. Not factories, shops, online retailers etc.

Sorry not factories or online shops.

mumofababylion, no, it's not just for 'essential work'. People are instructed to work from home - if they can't do their work from home then they have to go to their work premises.

The government wants everybody to work.

You're still expected to go to work OP, even if you're not a key worker. This is in line with other countries on lock down.

Absolutely nothing in last night's speech referred to key workers or essential work.

I think the confusion is between "essential" and "necessary". "Necessary" still means everyone who can't work from home.

I think it's crystal clear, personally.

I also think it’s the essential thing. Lots of people seem to think he said go to work if essential or in some way mentioned key workers, he didn’t. He said only if absolutely necessary and you can’t work from home.

Clearly it’s them up to the employer to decide if it’s necessary or not. I’m not sure why so many folks think he said essential or key workers only.

It's the wooly interpretation of 'absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home' that is causing the problems.

Is it necessary for people to be able to buy haberdashery supplies? No, so that shop can close. Is it necessary to buy clothes and shoes? No, so that's a few more. Is it necessary for my neighbour to have a new kitchen fitted at the moment? No (I get they might have ripped the old kitchen out before the annoucements about social distancing were made so I've cut them a small amount of slack). So that's a self-employed kitchen fitter who can stay home. It isn't necessary for my other neighbours to have their gardens tended to by the gardener at the moment. Nice, but not necessary. So that's someone who is going in and out of many people's gardens and homes who can stay home and reduce the risk of transmission.

Yes, self-employed people need to make a living to keep a roof over their heads. But the government announced plans to make sure they weren't put too much into hardship that no one seems to be looking into before bleating that it is absolutely necessary that they are to be in work.

It's why muppets like Mike Ashley tried to say they were a necessary public service. They are not. Very few things are absolutely necessary beyond food and utilities, NHS, Law (and I'd argue there are some aspects which could be postponed) and care services. Things like vehicle maintenance for essential workers can be done on an appointment rather than drop in basis.

Here is the actual guidance published by the government:

"You should only leave the house for one of four reasons.
● Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as
possible.
● One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your
household.
● Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
● Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home"

It doesn't say anything about "essential work". Everyone should be going into work if it's still open and you can't do your job from home.

And then you get people posting pictures all over Facebook saying the people on public transport are selfish and stupid.
So which is it?