Working from home/non essential work?!

[1Pinkfluffyelephant]

Just looking for some clarity on this. DH has continued to work through both lockdowns and we are currently in Tier 4.
The guidance from the start, I believe, was work from home if you can and non essential work/shops shouldn’t be open (correct me if I miss understood this).
If your DH was in a job that wasn’t essential - think building/construction but not for something that is essential, for a friends small family run business... would you think that this company should not be operating and employees should be furloughed or what ever the equivalent is this time round?
What would your feelings be on this also with two young DC’s in the house especially with the currently numbers increasing and likely to get worse after this Xmas/new year period?

I think there was some confusion about this. For example I "wanted" a radiator replacing but the plumber I asked to do it wouldn't do it until the lockdown eased at the end of May. However, he did replace one that "needed" replacing because it was leaking.

But I think he could have lawfully done both.

I don't really understand why someone can come in and mow my lawn or clean my windows but not do personal training in my garden...

Nobody should be furloughed unless their sector is closed/not allowed to open, like events/pubs/gyms etc.

All jobs are essential if they mean people can pay bills, put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Some jobs can just as easily be done from home, others cannot so those people should continue to go to work and employers should do their best to make their business as safe as possible.

@partyatthepalace I could well be hence the reason I said please correct me if I haven’t got it quite right. My DS was born the day before the first lockdown so may not have had time to read in detail or fully understand in a sleep deprived state all the ins and outs of the furlough scheme or wfh advice.

@islockdownoveryet I didn’t post this on AIBU I just wanted to know where we stood on this issue. I don’t think it’s for the purposes of people being paid to stay safe at home but I do know of a few people who’s work places have had them doing their job from home but have also then given them the option to be furloughed which would imply that they did wfh and could continue to as the work was there but could decide to be furloughed if they no long wanted to this...This is why I was confused as to why those people got to make that decision in a non essential job but DH hadn’t. For example with the doing joint trips to collect supplies, they clearly aren’t getting the work they should be which to me means they don’t all need to be there so couldn’t, like in your situation, he be flexi furloughed so he wasn’t doing full time work therefor reducing his days in contact with people? Or am I still completely missing the point?

Another one wanting to get paid (furloughed) for nothing.

@SilverGlitterBaubles yes I completely agree this is important. Maybe if his place was making more of an effort to reduce risks I would be less concerned. I just feel that there are risks being taken (and these are just the ones he has mentioned in passing to me) that not only meant he was increasing the risk but actually questionable as to weather they do really have the work to keep them all going full time if they were finding things to do to keep them busy like group trips to DIY shops 🙄

@Pidgythe2nd there is always one that can’t just have a sensible conversation without feeling the need to become a keyboard warrior and get sarky. I came on here (not the AIBU board to be shot down) and even said right at the start “correct me if I have miss understood this” so if you have nothing helpful to say.... 👋

My husband is in the building trade. He’s worked throughout. It is essential to us as it puts food on the table but regardless anyone who can’t work from home should be going to work.

@Thefeep - thankyou.... I think maybe I need to just accept the you have to weigh up the risk of him bringing something home (despite probably not really having enough work to be there full time but as they are friends and family working together they see it as an opportunity to socialise instead) and the need to bring home an income.

DP is a shop fitter, small family business and has only worked about 2 months max since March. The company are basically contracted by one large fashion retailer to fit their shops across the U.K. but the work just isn’t there for them so to protect the company, they’ve been furloughed. It’s not about keeping people safe it’s about job retention and if the work is there for your husbands company then it’s only right he’s working. I was anxious about DP going back to work but if they’re following covid safe practices, social distancing etc. then the risks are minimised.

[quote 1Pinkfluffyelephant]@partyatthepalace I could well be hence the reason I said please correct me if I haven’t got it quite right. My DS was born the day before the first lockdown so may not have had time to read in detail or fully understand in a sleep deprived state all the ins and outs of the furlough scheme or wfh advice.

@islockdownoveryet I didn’t post this on AIBU I just wanted to know where we stood on this issue. I don’t think it’s for the purposes of people being paid to stay safe at home but I do know of a few people who’s work places have had them doing their job from home but have also then given them the option to be furloughed which would imply that they did wfh and could continue to as the work was there but could decide to be furloughed if they no long wanted to this...This is why I was confused as to why those people got to make that decision in a non essential job but DH hadn’t. For example with the doing joint trips to collect supplies, they clearly aren’t getting the work they should be which to me means they don’t all need to be there so couldn’t, like in your situation, he be flexi furloughed so he wasn’t doing full time work therefor reducing his days in contact with people? Or am I still completely missing the point?[/quote]
Since October/November working out the flexi furlough claims & keeping all the correct records is really time consuming. My workplace has pretty much come to the conclusion it’s not worth the time and effort.

You know some businesses that are closed to the public still have all their staff working? Shops for example are doing click and collect and fulfilling online home delivery orders.

[quote 1Pinkfluffyelephant]@Thefeep - thankyou.... I think maybe I need to just accept the you have to weigh up the risk of him bringing something home (despite probably not really having enough work to be there full time but as they are friends and family working together they see it as an opportunity to socialise instead) and the need to bring home an income.[/quote]
Yes I think you do have to accept it. There's no reason for him to be furloughed as you can go to work if you can't work from home. The choice is he goes to work or he quits his job.

[quote 1Pinkfluffyelephant]@SilverGlitterBaubles yes I completely agree this is important. Maybe if his place was making more of an effort to reduce risks I would be less concerned. I just feel that there are risks being taken (and these are just the ones he has mentioned in passing to me) that not only meant he was increasing the risk but actually questionable as to weather they do really have the work to keep them all going full time if they were finding things to do to keep them busy like group trips to DIY shops 🙄[/quote]
I think your bigger worry then is it appears work is drying up, in which case, if the company is not performing well they may well furlough staff or make them redundant.

How do you feel about your children being at school, this is at least as much, if not more of a Covid risk?

Suggest if you are worried you tell your DH to take all precautions advised and raise any risks with employers.

He should be working.

Construction, engineering, building, warehousing, plumbing, electricians etc should all be open and working as long as the work is there.

Furlough isn't for the purpose you imply. I've worked throughout lockdown from home. My hubby was out of the house at work so I've had to work from home whilst trying to parent, home school etc my 9year old and 6 year old. My job is 'non essential' it hasent been easy but I don't think I should have been furloughed as I can work from home.

[quote 1Pinkfluffyelephant]@Pidgythe2nd there is always one that can’t just have a sensible conversation without feeling the need to become a keyboard warrior and get sarky. I came on here (not the AIBU board to be shot down) and even said right at the start “correct me if I have miss understood this” so if you have nothing helpful to say.... 👋[/quote]
You didn’t want a sensible conversation though did you? You really wanted confirmation that your DH shouldn’t be working to ‘protect’ him. It’s obvious from some of your comments and justifications.

I’m fed up of people tying to exploit what furlough is for and totally misunderstanding it’s intentions. If you’re as worried as you say you are, sounds like your DH needs to take better care and follow the guidelines more closely.

@1Pinkfluffyelephant

I do agree....it’s great he has a job and certainly wants to keep it. For me I think I just worry about him bringing something home to the family. One DC is vulnerable so in the first lockdown schools were obviously closed and I felt like we were all safe in our little bubble and although he was out earning money (I bring in a good income too) he was going to do a non essential job that involves coming into contact with lots of people, although mainly outside but sharing of equipment/driving machines/ lifting things together that means you are not able to social distance, therefor risking catching covid and bringing it home. There have also been several occasions where he has said they haven’t had much to do so a few of them have all shared a vehicle and gone to a diy shop for ‘supplies’ for something to do etc all of which is unnecessary and can be avoided. I think it’s more the little things like that which have made me question is what he is doing is actually essential. Please don’t get me wrong, we’re lucky he is working as I know thousands of people aren’t able to etc but obviously sometimes you have still concerns about things and I have been questioning my self.

But the issue here is that he's choosing to add additional risks. Not that he's being required to.

Even the machine sharing can be safe if cleaning steering wheels etc and opening windows.

It's about he keeps his family safe.

@Pidgythe2nd I don’t know what makes you think your entitled to tell me what I did and didn’t want when I posted this. If that’s the opinion you have formed then you have have miss understood completely.
Like I said in my posts, I was originally of the understanding that people were furloughed when they were unable to work or possibly going to a non essential job where the company either wasn’t allowed to open or wasn’t able to justify continuing to work due to being non essential.
I also then stated if I have had miss understood this please tell me. Nothing to do with intentionally exploiting the system.
Everyone else managed a sensible conversation and explained things I hadn’t understood very well like I asked people to do if I had got it wrong.

Trying to tell me what I was or wasn’t asking for or making sarky comments don’t really help at all. It’s clearly something your wound up about but don’t just assume everyone is out to exploit the system.

@MotherExtraordinaire yes I think that sums it up perfectly. Providing they do still have the work which I’m sure we will find out over the coming weeks... it’s down to him to reduce his risks whilst at work, he is an adult and should be capable of doing this to protect us.

@Helloyouthere thanks for clarifying. I have obviously miss understood the guidelines of the working from home and non essential places not being open. I was thinking that if you worked for non essential places the risk wasn’t worth taking to shouldn’t be opened so they furloughed their staff.

For all the government's faults through all of this, the detailed guidance on the .gov.uk pages is really clear. I wish people would read it.

@1Pinkfluffyelephant I think maybe you got mixed up with non essential retail being close as opposed to all businesses?

It’s been tricky for businesses to work out and respond to the new guidance throughout-needing to work out new safe working practices and notify employees the night before changes come in. With the worry of what the pandemic/ Brexit may mean for business & in a lot of cases increased costs and less income . As I said earlier it’s a stressful time for all!