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Original poster

I’ve written my notice. Someone tell me I’ve done the right thing...

591 replies

readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:06

I’m due back to work in 4 weeks time after being on maternity leave for 14 months.

I work in a large office and my employer throughout the whole pandemic hasn’t sent anyone to work from home!

I’m 35 have a BMI of 40 and I’m asthmatic, I also have psoriasis for which I am unmedicated.

I’ve been extremely careful, limiting social contact, avoiding supermarkets etc since last year.

I’ve written to my employer as asked if I can wfh but today have received a written response to my request which states that due to business requirements, I will need to be back into the office.

I’m due to work 3 days a week and my son will go to nursery.

I’ve weighed up my risks and I feel like it’s too much of a risk me being in the office and my son being at nursery.

My husband wfh and has done since last March!

I feel like my son would benefit so much from nursery but I just don’t think it’s worth the risk to me, especially if it means I could leave him without a mother.

I was hoping I would be vaccinated by the time I go back to work but I haven’t heard a single thing, I had a Drs appointment last week and they confirmed I am group 6 and need to wait my turn.

I can’t extend my return to work date as I’ve already done this and used all of my annual leave allowance.

Hate what Covid has done to us all :(

OP posts:
JustTeach · 27/02/2021 15:10

You may well be vaccinated in the next week or two. I am group 6 and was vaccinated this week. I can see why you are concerned but I think with vaccines coming it will be a very short term issue now, even one vaccine dramatically reduces your risks.
Can you even afford to just give up your job? Think how it will affect your future employment too.

Incogweeto · 27/02/2021 15:13

If you can afford to give up your job and spend more time with your son then I absolutely would, but for a whole host of reasons above and beyond Covid. Also, your employers don't sound like good employers so they don't deserve to retain staff, and you'll be happier not being stuck with them. If you can afford it!

Muskox · 27/02/2021 15:14

Honestly OP the risk to you at your age is very very low, even with the other conditions. I think you're making a mistake.

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:14

@JustTeach

You may well be vaccinated in the next week or two. I am group 6 and was vaccinated this week. I can see why you are concerned but I think with vaccines coming it will be a very short term issue now, even one vaccine dramatically reduces your risks. Can you even afford to just give up your job? Think how it will affect your future employment too.
@JustTeach

No, I can’t afford it.

I can for probably 6 months, 12 at a push (relying on savings) but I will have to find a new job 6-12 months time.

OP posts:
Equalityumber · 27/02/2021 15:14

Is your office Covid secure? If you’re in the shielding group you could speak to your HR department about needing to stay home.

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:16

@Equalityumber

Is your office Covid secure? If you’re in the shielding group you could speak to your HR department about needing to stay home.
@Equalityumber

I’m not in the shielding group. I’m in the clinically vulnerable.

The letter states the office is Covid secure but I don’t know what procurers are in place as I haven’t been in the office for 14 months.

OP posts:
bunhead34 · 27/02/2021 15:16

I have a couple of friends with asthma who have now been invited for their vaccine, so you could be up soon! (They are in their 30s)

SendMeHome · 27/02/2021 15:17

Can you afford to not work? I wouldn’t want to be job hunting for the foreseeable future...

You might be called in the next four weeks. I got a text last weekend and am being vaccinated today.

Have you been into the office to see what precautions are in place? A previous employer of mine hasn’t had people working from home, but they do have sneeze guards, there is a one way system, people do distance. There’s no meetings in small rooms without windows. They’ve basically taken precautions - your employer may have too? And even if you’re not vaccinated when you go back, you will be imminently after you return...

My instinct is that you need to make the decision based on whether you can afford to be without a job.

NameChange1666 · 27/02/2021 15:18

Do you generally have anxiety or is it just around Covid?
It seems like on maternity leave you’ve been living in a bubble - you didn’t have to isolate but chose to.
Asthma, unless severe, is not it a risk factor neither I believe it untreated psoriasis (it the treatment used that brings the risk factor). A BMI over 40 is a risk factor but it doesn’t mean you’re more likely to get it. Your office should have measures to prevent the spread of Covid as should nursery. Our nursery have not had a single case. We put our child straight in the bath and his clothes straight in the wash. It’s not something I really think about much any more.
I have a risk factor that has been shown to be more of a risk that asthma - I work, go to the supermarket, out for walks, one child goes to nursery and the other will be going back to school. I’m waiting on my vaccination but until that time I’ll be keep in living and just take precautions.
If you can afford to give up your job then it’s up to you though.

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:18

@bunhead34

I have a couple of friends with asthma who have now been invited for their vaccine, so you could be up soon! (They are in their 30s)
@bunhead34

I’ve been hoping I would get it, but then my son would be due to start his settling in sessions in two weeks which can’t be delayed, so the risk would start then and I doubt I will of had my vaccine by then.

Even if I had, I aren’t going to have sufficient protection.

OP posts:
JustTeach · 27/02/2021 15:19

@readyplayer2 in that case then I wouldn’t do it. You need to be financially secure for your DS. Speak to your employer about how they have made your workplace covid secure. I’m sure by the time you go back you will have been vaccinated, you could always ask for an extra week or two of unpaid leave if you are concerned. Good luck I hope you get the vaccs soon and it all works out well.

slidingdrawers · 27/02/2021 15:20

Could you ask to extend your maternity leave using, for example, carers leave (often unpaid) to tide you over til you are post 3 weeks vaccinated? If this was possible, do you think you'd feel less at risk?

Equalityumber · 27/02/2021 15:20

Maybe you could try and go in for one day and see if it feels safe rather than throw in the towel? Hopefully you’ll be vaccinated soon as they are doing asthmatics now.

Squeejit · 27/02/2021 15:20

Can you take some unpaid parental leave?

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:21

@SendMeHome

Can you afford to not work? I wouldn’t want to be job hunting for the foreseeable future...

You might be called in the next four weeks. I got a text last weekend and am being vaccinated today.

Have you been into the office to see what precautions are in place? A previous employer of mine hasn’t had people working from home, but they do have sneeze guards, there is a one way system, people do distance. There’s no meetings in small rooms without windows. They’ve basically taken precautions - your employer may have too? And even if you’re not vaccinated when you go back, you will be imminently after you return...

My instinct is that you need to make the decision based on whether you can afford to be without a job.

@SendMeHome

No. I can’t. Not long term.

I haven’t been into the office so I’m not sure exactly what is in place, but the letter says it’s Covid secure.

OP posts:
Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:23

@NameChange1666

Do you generally have anxiety or is it just around Covid? It seems like on maternity leave you’ve been living in a bubble - you didn’t have to isolate but chose to. Asthma, unless severe, is not it a risk factor neither I believe it untreated psoriasis (it the treatment used that brings the risk factor). A BMI over 40 is a risk factor but it doesn’t mean you’re more likely to get it. Your office should have measures to prevent the spread of Covid as should nursery. Our nursery have not had a single case. We put our child straight in the bath and his clothes straight in the wash. It’s not something I really think about much any more. I have a risk factor that has been shown to be more of a risk that asthma - I work, go to the supermarket, out for walks, one child goes to nursery and the other will be going back to school. I’m waiting on my vaccination but until that time I’ll be keep in living and just take precautions. If you can afford to give up your job then it’s up to you though.
@NameChange1666

I think I’ve always been a “bit of a worrier” but Covid has definitely made me more of one.

If I wasn’t vulnerable I wouldn’t think much about it.

OP posts:
NoParticularPattern · 27/02/2021 15:25

You need to speak to your employer. No one on here is going to advise that you leave yourself financially vulnerable because you won’t ask them how the office is covid secure. Ask to see their risk assessment and get them to tell you what they’ve put in place as a result of that.

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 15:25

@slidingdrawers

Could you ask to extend your maternity leave using, for example, carers leave (often unpaid) to tide you over til you are post 3 weeks vaccinated? If this was possible, do you think you'd feel less at risk?
@slidingdrawers

I put in the letter that I wanted to extend my leave and use unpaid leave, which they have declined.

I think it’s because they know I have a nursery place and the only resin I don’t want to return
Is because it’s office based and I’m not vaccinated.
They mentioned in the letter they have CEV members of staff in the office....

If that’s the case they will have been vaccinated.

OP posts:
NameChange1666 · 27/02/2021 15:26

I think you need to find out about the office end the measures they have out in place. To me you have blown the risk out of proportion due to anxiety.

CheeseJalapenoBread · 27/02/2021 15:26

Do you want me to be honest? It sounds like a mistake, but that’s just my view and you have to make your own decision based on how you feel. Key factors for me would be:

  • In the longer term, you can’t afford to give up your job.
  • The economy is going to tank, badly. Unless you work in a particularly in demand role I wouldn’t bank on it being easy to get another job.
  • Even though you have some risk factors, the risk to you personally from getting covid is very low.
  • You’ll probably get vaccinated in the not too distant future.
doubleleopardy · 27/02/2021 15:26

Do you have a job that can't be done from home? Isn't the advice still to WFH if we can so I wonder what your employers reason is?

whataballbag · 27/02/2021 15:27

@readyplayer2 I really really feel for you here.

I was absolutely terrified going back to work after furlough. I do have severe health anxiety though. Once I actually went and got back into the swing of things I wasn't as scared (still probably more so than most other people though).

I had the vaccine last week and I'm still worried. You should be called for yours soon. Are you eligible to book online?

SandysMam · 27/02/2021 15:27

OP, Covid is scary but so is being unemployed when you need a job. You are young and your risk is low, your odds of getting killed in a car crash on the way in are probably as high. Speak with your GP about how you are feeling and that you are thinking of quitting your job, they may be able to advise.

2020fuckoff · 27/02/2021 15:27

Personally (& I expect to be told in being harsh) I think you are being ridiculous!

I am severely asthmatic and currently shielding as I am ECV however, if my work would allow me, I would be straight back. I also worked up to January without a vaccination, as did every other person 'at risk'.

At the end of the day, we will have to learn to live with Covid as we have had to learn to live with the flu.
The vaccination will not eradicate the virus, it will just mean that it will be hopefully milder and lead to less hospital admissions, however it will still be around.

In 6 months/12 months you say you will need to work...Covid will still be around, what will you do then?

LIZS · 27/02/2021 15:27

Did you post this the other day? Should you not enquire regarding their procedures and risk assessments before you jump ship. Keeping a job now is important as there will be so many unemployed competing for any available. You may struggle in even 6 or 12 months. Group 6 are already being called for vaccinations. When will you deem it safe? Is this more about your mh than real fears?