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Covid

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Original poster

I’ll have to hand my notice in won’t I?

124 replies

Trytoomanytimes · 27/09/2020 18:40

Had a week off work.
Just got a text from my colleague to say that out of 24 office staff 6 are currently off after testing positive.
Factory setting of around 100 people so I have no idea of how many of the shopfloor workers are currently off.
There is no way I can work from home.
I’m not at all happy about going back tomorrow. I have not been to a pub or restaurant, only go shopping when I have to and always use a mask etc. I’ve not been to see any friends or family and have been sensible. The biggest risk to me is now obviously my work place.
I have been there a long time, and it would cause them MASSIVE problems if I gave then 4 weeks notice tomorrow.
Money wise, we could manage for a bit, but I would have to find something eventually, but hopefully could find a job home based.
If my current job can’t be done from home, and I’m no longer comfortable going into the office, what choice do I have?

OP posts:

NailsNeedDoing · 27/09/2020 18:43

Yes, if you don’t want to do your job, you have to hand in your notice.

britnay · 27/09/2020 18:43

Presuming you work in the office... wear masks. make sure that communal surfaces are disinfected regularly throughout the day.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/09/2020 18:43

Are you vulnerable?

I can't do my job from home and this wouldn't be an issue for me, I'd still go in to work.

BrieAndChilli · 27/09/2020 18:46

I assume that your workplace has been covid secure. Make sure you wear a mask, disinfect everything you touch, take you own lunch and avoid using things other people have. Lots of hand gel, etc.
Unfortunately if it’s not possible for you to work from home you either (like millions of healthcare workers, shop assistants, teachers, police etc) have to go to work and make yourself as safe as you can or yes, give up your job.

CakeGirl2020 · 27/09/2020 18:50

Madness to quit, and think your going to be finding a job anytime soon in this job market.

Thousands of people will currently be going to working to feed children and pay mortgages, despite being worried. It’s just being an adult and parent isn’t it, working to pay bills.

Wear a mask
Take your own anti bac spray and clean your desk if you have one and so wish to before you use each shift
Keep up the hand washing
Go and Sit in your car or go for a walk each lunch break if you wish
Don’t hug or lick colleagues

Bickles · 27/09/2020 18:52

I’d get signed off with anxiety for a bit.

daytripper28 · 27/09/2020 18:54

@NailsNeedDoing

Very much to the point there.
I've been going into work since March. Not bothered any more!

MJMG2015 · 27/09/2020 18:55

What is the managements plan?

There needs to be a very goid, very deep clean before any of the office staff go in.

Better measures need to be in place. Offices can only operate if the are Covid Secure.

topcat2014 · 27/09/2020 18:57

I have been working in the office since March, I have asthma and on immunosuppression drugs.

You do what you can.

cinammonbuns · 27/09/2020 18:59

I would not be giving up a job in this economic climate.

RandomMess · 27/09/2020 19:02

It doesn't sound like you can afford to hand your notice in.

You need to ask what their Covid H&S procedures are and if they are being followed...

SonjaMorgan · 27/09/2020 19:05

Good luck finding a new job at the moment. Do you have a health condition?

Poppingnostopping · 27/09/2020 19:06

I am amazed everyone is saying go into an environment where 6 out of 24 office staff have tested positive- that's 1/4, and who knows about the rest? Clearly the office itself is a hot bed of spreading despite covid measures, otherwise 1/4 of that area wouldn't all have it (it's not that prevalent in the community I wouldn't think)- unless they are all friends and had a party last week?

If you can manage, I would possibly either ask if you can work from home until they have deep cleaned and some times has passed for isolation purposes.

Who else has honestly gone in when an outbreak like this has happened at their immediate work/office? (excepting people who work in covid wards and who have PPE which presumably the OP doesn't have).

cinammonbuns · 27/09/2020 19:07

@Poppingnostopping did you read the OP? They said they cannot work from home.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/09/2020 19:08

@Poppingnostopping there haven't been any outbreaks at my workplace but I'd go in if there was. I'm not scared of Covid, not everyone is.

ChaChaCha2012 · 27/09/2020 19:09

Offices can only operate if the are Covid Secure.

The whole covid secure thing is nonsense. All it means is that risks are reduced, they're far from eliminated. It was the government's vague attempt at pushing people back into workplaces too soon.

Sorry OP, if you need the money then you'll need to go to work. Do your best to minimise your own risk, and don't be afraid to make suggestions if you see something at work that could be done better.

(And join a union. They can support you in ensuring your workplace is as safe as it can be.)

ChaChaCha2012 · 27/09/2020 19:11

Who else has honestly gone in when an outbreak like this has happened at their immediate work/office?

Many, many people have had no choice.

ekidmxcl · 27/09/2020 19:13

That business needs shutting for 2 weeks.
I wonder who you report unsafe working conditions to.

Devlesko · 27/09/2020 19:16

I think those that don't want to work in this environment have no choice but to hand in their notice, if they can afford to.

vanillandhoney · 27/09/2020 19:16

I don't understand why that means you need to quit, unless you're especially vulnerable or something?

Thousands of people have gone to work throughout the pandemic. Life can't stop forever. We need people to work or the economy is going to crash. If you can't work from home, you need to go to work.

If you want to leave your job, then obviously do so, but this really isn't the right time to be voluntarily leaving paid employment. Unemployment rates are going to skyrocket and if you quit, you won't be eligible for JSA.

JaJaDingDong · 27/09/2020 19:18

IMO people people who day their departure would cause MASSIVE problems vastly over-rate their own importance!

I've lost count of the times we've wondered how we'll manage without Mary, or Jim when they hand in their notice, to find that they're forgotten about within a few days (at best). At worst, we find the world is actually much easier without them pretty quickly!

Palavah · 27/09/2020 19:20

If you give them 4 weeks' notice tomorrow you'll still have to work your notice, won't you? So what difference would it make?

Is your workplace not Covid-secure?

TooManyDogsandChildren · 27/09/2020 19:21

Personally I would have no qualms about phoning in sick for the next week while I waited for more information and yes I'd be investigating who to report the working conditions to. Is there a union onsite?

Nquartz · 27/09/2020 19:22

@ekidmxcl

That business needs shutting for 2 weeks. I wonder who you report unsafe working conditions to.

That's what I was thinking. Surely this counts as an outbreak & should be reported to someone (PHE? Or HSE?) the office clearly isn't 'record's in anyway. I work in an.office which usually holds 2,000 but limited to 50% currently and we haven't heard of any cases so it is possible to be safe at work.

If it was a school there would be uproar. Outbreaks in other workplaces have been reported in the press (admittedly bigger numbers like at Greencore for example), is there a whistle blower policy?

Dementedswan · 27/09/2020 19:23

I was under the impression if a workplace had an outbreak, they needed to close for a deep clean? Is that not the case?

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