Going back to work decision

[QueenPaws]

I can't work out what to do! My work are being very flexible

Cons
Office based, no windows so no ventilation
I was shielding as I'm extremely vulnerable and high risk for complications from Covid (immunocompromised)
Not sure if things will get worse?

Pros
I live alone so I see nobody pretty much at the minute so social side... that's about it
Some aspects of work easier

No windows? That sounds dreadful even without covid

If you’re feeling ok at home I’d stay at home and look for safer ways of seeing people, doesn’t sound great at work.

Could you telephone your GP ask what they think as they will know the full details of your medical history / condition?

Forgot to ask - how do you feel in yourself about going back?

If your boss phoned you tomorrow and said you could work from home forever, would you be glad or sad?

Could you go back to work just one day a week/once a fortnight - the day when it will be least crowded?

Whatever you decide I hear the predicted surge will occur in 2nd half of October so if you back to the office be prepared to reverse your decision quite soon.

@CoronaIsWatching it's hard to describe but imagine a glass box within a building! So we are inside the building, can see around it but no windows to outside if that makes sense

@StarCat2020 sad because I miss my colleagues - my GP doesn't have a clue on my condition. Spoke to my consultant who said it's up to me but he would prefer I stay home (he would also prefer me to do a lot of stuff we disagree on)

@Keepyourginup sadly not - I can go for a day to try it or pop in and see what it's like but we are all FT and all work the same hours so days make no difference

To add I'm not at any more risk of actually getting Covid, it's because I can't fight infection so risk of neutropenic sepsis/pneumonia

Stay home if you can. I know it’s hard, emotionally. But autumn/winter’s going to be rough.

To add I'm not at any more risk of actually getting Covid,
But getting it could do you more harm than the average person.

sad because I miss my colleagues
I knew you were going to say that.

I live alone and have left the house on less than 30 occasions since January (not because of COVID but because I lost my job then the next day I wrote my car off and several other things) and I know exactly how you feel about missing day-to-day life and other people.

I think a lot of people don't get this distinction and think

Sorry don't know why the last line came from in my post above

@StarCat2020 yeah I miss face to face conversations! I mean it's doable to stay home, it's just a bit miserable
My body likes to overreact drastically too, I have hashimotos, I overproduce histamine, I kill off my neutrophils.. basically if something is trying to work my body objects brilliant

What kind of work do you do?

Only YOU can decide what is best for you but it doesn't have to be either go back 100% or stay home 100%

You could go in maybe one day a week maybe a day when there would be fewer people "in the office".

You could ask your employer what measures they have already put in place and see what you think.

How would you travel to work IF you did go back because method of travel will make a difference.

@StarCat2020 lots of talking! Contact centre
Same amount of people in every day as we all work the same hours/shifts
Commute by car

I think in your shoes I would stay WFH but think about strategies for increasing contact with the colleagues you are missing.

My team has regular weekly catch ups where we spent up to an hour talking about our kids/pets/cancelled holidays/ All work talk is banned and this has worked really well for us.

Do you have facility to do video chat rather than phone calls?

Call more often instead of email?

Hopefully other posters will have a wider range of strategies than me

I honestly wouldn't in your position. If you're all talking all day that's increasing the amount of virus being spread around the office. Hopefully if you're very vulnerable you'll be able to get the vaccine soon after it becomes available? If you can just hold off over this winter you might be vaccinated and able to go back in spring.

Sorry for disappearing mid-thread @QueenPaws.

I see that you have got some more replies and hopefully you will get some more this morning.

May I ask, are you leaning towards one of the options more than the other at the moment?

@bluebeck no, we can't communicate in work time so any virtual meet ups would have to be outside of work

@StarCat2020 I think I'm leaning towards staying home and seeing how everything is in 3-4 weeks

@QueenPaws i had a shielding letter and have been wfh ever since however my employer has recently been encouraging everyone back to the office splitting time between office & wfh. I am due to go in for the first time next week but my anxiety is creeping up again as the situation worsens. I don’t really know what to do as it seems we are ‘expected’ to return now on a p/t basis even if we were shielding before. I realise of course that there are many vulnerable people working in schools/healthcare who cannot wfh and have had to return.

Sounds like a plan.

Good luck!!

Our office is shutting down again, as our friends. Some never reopened. At this stage I wouldn't go back in your situation personally. But try and figure out what might help for the very understandable need for human contact!

Hi QueenPaws,

I’m also on the shielding list and immunocompromised and not back in the office yet. My workplace are doing an individual risk assessment, which will be followed up by a phone appointment with occupational health to make sure nothing has been missed.

The government guidance is that if you’re on the shielding list, you should carry on working from home wherever possible. Sorry if this is repetitive but it’s good the govt have been clear on this as it means if you can work from home and want to continue to do so, your employer should support you to do so:

“you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure, but should carry on working from home wherever possible” (www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19)

Also see useful info on www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/emp-law/health-safety/supporting-shielding-employees. This is the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. They make clear here that employers must do an individual risk assessment for staff who are on the shielding list, before they return to the workplace.

I know how difficult it is making this decision but as others have told me, you have to feel safe and confident all has been done that can be done.
Best wishes!

@Pause thanks for that information. I am also immunocompromised and due to start going back in one or two days a week. I suffer with anxiety anyway which settled while wfh but I can feel it rising again now. My employer is very good and has gone to many lengths to make the office ‘covid secure’ & they said it is perfectly safe to be there but my consultant says nothing is 100% covid safe and wfh is better for the community at large right now.
I don’t know what to do. People who are not going back in are being noted as ‘difficult’ & I have always got on so well with my boss & am certainly not difficult. Even trickier as we are HR so meant to be setting the example about a safe return to the office. So sorry for the hijack of your post @QueenPaws but I really don’t know what to do & with all the chaos with rise in cases and testing problems is increasing my anxiety. Any advice would much appreciated.

No worries Littlemiss. It’s really difficult isn’t it. It’s nice to have some advice from your consultant. It certainly is anxiety making especially at the moment with the news reports. Everyone’s situation is different with relationship with employers, practical situation in the workplace, local prevalence of the virus, and personal clinical situation. For myself, I’m inclined to be a bit more cautious given the current news reports, and my health circumstances at the moment. If I do go back to the office I think I will wear a face covering. I think that because most UK workplaces don’t have great ventilation they’re tending to underplay the risk of poor ventilation, as they can’t do much about it, if windows can’t be opened, or masks aren’t mandatory. I feel that people on the shielding list aren’t being addressed by the government as cases are rising. I hope there’ll be some more guidance/information soon.

Can totally relate to the loneliness of working from home, zoom is a real lifesaver for meetings and social chats with colleagues.