"High Risk" but not being allowed to work from home

[WorriedFatty]

According to the Government and NHS websites, I am classed as "High Risk" because my BMI is over 40.

I work for the NHS as a PA. My work is absolutley not essential, and there is potential for me to work from home, but my manager is not supportive of me at all.

I work in a fairly high risk area as we have clinicians and other colleages from wards/main areas coming into our building, into our office and even using my phone! Yet my manager just kind of shrugs off my suggestions that I should be working from home because I am high risk.

I get the feeling she isn't taking it seriously because I'm "just fat", but surely a high BMI wouldn't be listed if it wasn't a factor?

AIBU to think I should be allowed to work from home?

It depends on the reasons given.

Has she given you solid reasons? If not, you need to ask her outright why she thinks it's not possible.

In my case, I work for local government and there are currently not enough laptops available. I can't use my own due to GDPR.

Yet my manager just kind of shrugs off my suggestions
This makes it sound as though you haven’t met seriously to discuss it. Is this the case?

If you have had a proper discussion about it and she’s officially said no without good reason then I would take it to HR.

No we haven't discussed it properly, just in general terms with regards to me and my colleagues and how we will work going forwards with everything that is going on. Staff who are non-frontline are going to be redeployed to support other departments, meaning we could be drafted in as porters or domestics.

My manager is very unapproachable, so I dread having a discussion about it.

I have a laptop and i know there is a spare VPN so I could definitley work from home.

My manager has worked for the NHS for over 30 years and is a proper martyr when it comes to things like this.

But surely my health matters as much as anyone elses? Just because I work for the NHS doesn't mean I have to be put in harms way?

You need a risk assessment. We have them available on our trusts intranet so you can look into the policy etc we have a full flow chart.

In your role I would expect to stay in the office but adhering to social distancing and not allowing others to use your phone/ensure it's wiped down with alcohol wipes.

I'm type one diabetic in a non clinical role and getting ready to be re-deployed to wherever I am needed as our service has been mainly shut down.

I've just looked at our form and obesity isn't on it. Ignoring that the advice for those with underlying health conditions in non clinical roles is just to be provided with advice on universal precautions and infection control procedures.

Clerical staff should be redeployed into clerical positions and that's something I'm sure you couldn't request given your risk factor.

Are you sure high BMI is at risk for Covid 19?

I don't know, but my friend who has asthma, been hospitalised, is not on at risk category as has been explained as immune compromised.

It's all well and good filling out the risk assessment, but the forms have been designed by the Trust and as such are designed to make sure they have as many staff in work as possible.

Regardless of what my Trust thinks I should be doing, the Gov.uk website AND the NHS website both say I'm high risk and I should be working from home.

But I'm not being supported to work from home.

What's the point of the Government and the NHS issuing advice if they themselves choose not to follow it to suit their own agenda?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

both clearly list a BMI of 40 or over as being high risk

As far as I can see, being overweight “may” be at increased risk rather than immediately placing you on the high risk list...
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

www.gov.uk/government/news/major-new-measures-to-protect-people-at-highest-risk-from-coronavirus

Working from home if possible. If you're needed elsewhere, or can't fulfil your role from home, then that's just not possible.

Ring and discuss with employee health and well being. They can do your risk assessment or HR. They may be able to mitigate the risks and keep you in work, or they may have to send you home.
If they won't facilitate working at home, and can't mitigate the risks/redeploy you, they have to pay you to be off sick. Know your rights and go above your manager if you have to! HR, employee health and well being. You need a risk assessment doing if nothing else!

Hope that helps,

But surely my health matters as much as anyone elses?

Yes but you're telling the wrong people here.

If you feel your manager is unapproachable, perhaps try emailing?

Bullet point why and how you think you can work from home and see what she replies with.

Can you ring occupational health? They can do a risk assessment surely? Then you'll know it's been done properly too

Surely in this case you can assist in managing the risk by attempting to lose weight unless there is a medical reason why you are unable to? I am in the clinically vulnerable group and to be honest I would love to be able to have some influence over my own health in the way you can.

How is attempting to lose weight going to help her situation right now SiousieSoo?

It will reduce her BMI Worra

What immediately?

Yes of course even a few pounds weight loss can trigger a reduction in weight and the associated BMI. Are you seriously unaware of this? Over a week or a month this will make a difference. Do you think that people should not try and exert some control over their health where they can as this is what you seem to be implying?

@SiousieSoo believe me I am trying. I lost 3.5 stone last year but I'm really struggling at the moment and it's creeping back on

Losing weight isn't going to happen overnight though.

There's High Risk and an Extremley High Risk, those in the latter are being sent letters telling them to stay home for 12 weeks. A few colleagues in my building come into that category because they have Lupus or other conditions that make them immunocompromised.

But the websites clearly list a BMI of over 40 (mine is 42.7) as putting you at increased risk from Covid19 and therefore you should work from home if you can

I'm not implying that at all.

Every single one of us has a responsibility to keep ourselves as fit and healthy as possible, and to take the pressure off the NHS even without this pandemic.

But the OP's problem is now and she's not going to be able to solve her problem right now, is she?

I personally feel you should try to reduce your weight to improve your health. I am in the high risk vulnerable group and have to stay in for 12 weeks. I have no say over my health whatsoever. It also says you should work from home where possible. Perhaps with the reduction in staff they feel they need you at the office?

Worra as I have stated even a few pounds can help in reducing BMI and given that's something in her control, I don't understand why you would not at least attempt it. Her work may deem it necessary to attend in person and hence that is something out of her control.

Obesity doesn’t put you in the high risk group. Yes you are at increased risk but not automatically high risk.

That's not how I read it cinammonbuns

From the combination of the two sources you have provided links for, I read it that you are or could be at increased risk compared to the wider population. The NHS website uses the word "may" which suggests it's a qualified position and not absolute.