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Original poster

Literally why am I a key worker?

174 replies

Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:11

I'm feeling so frustrated today.

I work for a large multi national retailer which is currently classed as an essential shop as we sell predominantly food.
My role is absolutely not key, I dont contribute to feeding the nation, to getting the food on the shelves, to checking the quality or assisting in the logistics of it arriving. However the entire company has been classed as key workers, all 16,000 of us which just seems crazy.
Dh is a key worker and cannot work from home (he works in Fire protection predominantly in care homes).
There's so much pressure coming in rom all angles regarding not sending dc to school if you WFH. I wfh 80%, of the week but work will not allow me to look after / home school my 6yo as they say there is no requirement due to my KW status.

I feel like such a fraud. The worst thing is the school know what job I do at the head office and that I work from home and I feel pathetic.

Work have now told me I am to lie and say I've been moved to one of the teams that feed the nation if my status is queried.

I feel physically sick all the time, like im putting dc and his teachers at risk, at what the school must think of me and at the fact that my company are being so inconsiderate.
They told me if I really want to have him off I can take unpaid leave - what for the next 3 months?! We have a mortgage and bills to pay.

The whole key worker thing needs a massive review. It's just a massive joke the whole thing.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/01/2021 14:14

You are key because a food retailer needs you in their business. That's why they employ you.

It seems really weird, but that's how it works, apparently.

Sofetikal · 09/01/2021 14:16

If you are working from home anyway can’t you just keep your dc at home, work don’t need to know you haven’t used a place surely.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 09/01/2021 14:16

It's so hard but it's not your fault. What choice do you have if they refuse to furlough you? I'm sure your school must understand- if they don't then that's their problem.
I think this is such an awful by-product of the pandemic, though - that so many people feel so threatened and under suspicion through no fault of their own.

HermioneWeasley · 09/01/2021 14:17

I’m not sure how you can work for a food retailer and your job not contribute to there being food on the shelves? I’d stop pointing it out to them if you want to still have a job

Rightly IMO all jobs in the food supply chain have been deemed key workers. I’d rather there wasn’t rioting over food shortages.

Haffiana · 09/01/2021 14:17

This reply has been deleted

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Bargebill19 · 09/01/2021 14:19

Not your fault. But companies who behave this way - when staff could work from home are not helping in getting this virus under control.

WorraLiberty · 09/01/2021 14:19

There's so much pressure coming in rom all angles regarding not sending dc to school if you WFH. I wfh 80%, of the week but work will not allow me to look after / home school my 6yo as they say there is no requirement due to my KW status.

How can they stop you from looking after your own child when you're working from home? Confused

Lockdownbear · 09/01/2021 14:19

I wouldn't say that too loudly. If your company could operate quite happily without you doing your job, then there a target for redundancy!

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:20

@Haffiana whats a gf?

And of course they weren't as stupid to put it in writing Hmm

OP posts:
Haffiana · 09/01/2021 14:21

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moomin11 · 09/01/2021 14:21

They can't make you send your kids to school though?

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:22

@Lockdownbear

I wouldn't say that too loudly. If your company could operate quite happily without you doing your job, then there a target for redundancy!
Im vital to the business but not feeding the nation. The business actually does other things aside from food which are not essential at the moment during the pandemic. Thats the bit I sit in.
OP posts:
Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:23

@moomin11

They can't make you send your kids to school though?
No but I have to take unpaid leave if I choose not to send her Sad
OP posts:
Haffiana · 09/01/2021 14:23

[quote Esmerelda01]@Haffiana whats a gf?

And of course they weren't as stupid to put it in writing Hmm[/quote]
Oh, of course not.
Hmm

WorraLiberty · 09/01/2021 14:24

No but I have to take unpaid leave if I choose not to send her Sad

No you don't Confused

You just keep her home like most of the other people who have to work from home.

moomin11 · 09/01/2021 14:24

That's awful. Are you still managing to work your hours and get your work done with your child at home? If so I cant see they have a leg to stand on.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/01/2021 14:24

If there is a place for your child at school, then why are you thing yourself up in such knots about it?

The school will have capacity limits. Your child is within that. They have decided they can accommodate him, so they have.

itispersonal · 09/01/2021 14:24

How will work know your children are at home, rather than school. When you are working from home? Or are they saying you can't work from work?

Do what you feel comfortable with! If you don't want to send them, don't.

If work finds out on a meeting etc, say the bubble has a case and so they are self isolating.

Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor · 09/01/2021 14:25

I would feel the same as you, but its not your fault.

Original poster
Esmerelda01 · 09/01/2021 14:25

@HermioneWeasley

I’m not sure how you can work for a food retailer and your job not contribute to there being food on the shelves? I’d stop pointing it out to them if you want to still have a job

Rightly IMO all jobs in the food supply chain have been deemed key workers. I’d rather there wasn’t rioting over food shortages.

If we only sold food and essentials that would make sense but we don't. We branch out into other far less essential areas. These make the business money but are in now way KW related jobs.
OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/01/2021 14:26

@HermioneWeasley

I’m not sure how you can work for a food retailer and your job not contribute to there being food on the shelves? I’d stop pointing it out to them if you want to still have a job

Rightly IMO all jobs in the food supply chain have been deemed key workers. I’d rather there wasn’t rioting over food shortages.

I'm guessing something along the lines of Tesco Mobile/Tesco Credit Card or similar.
MirandaWest · 09/01/2021 14:27

What happened in the March lock down?

WorraLiberty · 09/01/2021 14:27

OP are you going to explain how they can legally prevent you from keeping your child at home while you work?

itispersonal · 09/01/2021 14:28

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

If there is a place for your child at school, then why are you thing yourself up in such knots about it?

The school will have capacity limits. Your child is within that. They have decided they can accommodate him, so they have.

Maybe because it is safer for her children to be at home than in schools.

Ask work is children then pass on covid to you and you are work for weeks and months with long covid. What are they going to do?

Op ~ did your 'productivity' drop last lockdown or your work just being difficult.

HarrietSchulenberg · 09/01/2021 14:28

How old is your child? Any chance of juggling working at home AND looking after him/her? Set them off on a piece of school work and sit next to them with your laptop?

Could you alter your working pattern to afternoons and evenings to accommodate childcare?

Could you reduce your days so your dc is only in school on, say 2 days?

If you're WFH already I reckon it's doable with some negotiation with work.