"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?

And good for you @DazedandConcerned for going back and retraining, that's amazing

@WorriedFatty if it was a few years ago then things may have changed. Especially if you notice yourself putting on weight more easily than before.

Additionally, some food for thought, my thyroid only works when it is in low normal, if it creeps to around 2 (with the range being up to 4.5) I put on weight. My mum's is exactly the same. We both have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. May be worth having another look into it. I know how hard weight can't be to lose, so I really sympathize with you. I wish you and your family all the best in this horrible time, I hope you all remain healthy.

Good luck OP. You’ve done really well so far in losing weight. I don’t have much to lose since having DD but it is not easy.

If you cannot work from home then there are steps that you can take at work to help that you probably know - wash your hands regularly, don’t touch anything you don’t need to (someone else’s pen for example), don’t share your phone or pc, I like to clean everything daily even if only to help me feel better and keep physical distance from people. Also be mindful how you are getting to work as that was worrying DH and I the most when we were travelling to work, being on v crowded trains. Before I started working from home I changed my hours and started later so trains were much quieter.

The government guidance states that you are at ‘increased’ risk of severe illness from Covid 19 and you should work from home ‘where possible’. The last part is the key-if you feel you could work from home, present your case to your manager together with the government guidance. Ultimately, it is up to your manager at this stage to decide whether it is possible.

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support

I'll keep going with my head down and we will get through this!

Good luck to everyone in a similar position, and I wish you all good health

You could ask for a referral to Occupational Health as advised by another OP but they are likely just to reiterate the government guidance. It’s not up to them to decide whether it’s operationally possible for you to work from home - that’s a non-medical decision and they are unlikely to say ‘you must work from home’.

Good luck OP. I do appreciate it’s a worrying time.

This thread has got slightly derailed into a weight loss thread!

The Government website clearly says:

4. Should I stay at home or go to work?
You may travel for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.

Certain jobs require people to travel to their place of work – for instance if they operate machinery, work in construction or manufacturing, or are delivering front line services such as train and bus drivers.

Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working.

OP has stated that she has a laptop and VPN to allow her to work from home in her current role. As long as she's not redeployed then her workplace should allow her to WFH and not contribute to unnecessary travel.

Look there needs to be some basic infection control measures put into place here which clearly isn’t happening. They have a duty to protect all of their staff. This is your first port of call, and if it can’t happen then you should ask to work from home. VPN’s are in desperate need right now so check it actually works first... some older ones have been reassigned and no longer work!

I am NHS and people swanning in and out using phones isn’t happening whatsoever

It needs a full risk assessment as does every office
Locked doors/key codes
One phone per person
Alcohol wipes and gel for all of your equipment
No one doing tea rounds
Staying 2m apart
No clinical staff in non clinical areas where possible - everything should be done via phone or email
You can install Microsoft Teams now to communicate