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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:
ChasingRainbows19 · 27/02/2021 16:08

Don’t hand your notice in, at least go back and try. It’s not the t e to be unemployed. I’ve worked in a hospital throughout and haven’t caught it. Good hygiene and social distancing, windows open etc. You’ve been in a bubble of security but it won’t be so bad once you are in the swing and you will be vaccinated shortly.

Lots of nursery children hold have been going and have been fine even if they’ve caught covid. It’s not all certainty that everyone vulnerable is very sick. Plenty of healthy people have become sick.

Asthmatic nurses I work with shielded at first but haven’t since the first lockdown. Lots of vulnerable people have been working throughout cos they have too.

MsHedgehog · 27/02/2021 16:08

I think you need to appreciate that with the way the economy is heading, you may struggle to find another job and even then, it may not be a wfh role.

soresore · 27/02/2021 16:08

I done the same thing OP. I was due back to work at a college after my maternity leave last July. I was too nervous to go back, despite being 30 and healthy. I quit. I'm so glad I did, biggest weight off my mind.

BearEastie · 27/02/2021 16:09

An employer seeing that you have a history of going on maternity leave and then refusing to come back

It doesn't have to be that though - she's not refusing to come back to work, she's intending to resign, as many women do after maternity leave for many different reasons.

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 16:10

@balloonsintrees

Totally this...are you actually vulnerable or just self diagnosed?

I find this really patronising!!

I’ve been asthmatic for as long as I can remember, daily steroid inhaler.

OP posts:
BlueThistles · 27/02/2021 16:11

you want to leave... so leave 🌺

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 16:12

@ilovemydogandmrobama2

Some contracts, although not all, will stipulate that an employee must return back to work for at least 3 months after maternity leave or will need to pay back a portion.

I have it in writing that I don’t need to repay any mat pay. It was statutory pay.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 27/02/2021 16:12

@BearEastie

An employer seeing that you have a history of going on maternity leave and then refusing to come back

It doesn't have to be that though - she's not refusing to come back to work, she's intending to resign, as many women do after maternity leave for many different reasons.

did you read the OPs updates? She is refusing to return to work due to Covid. She asked them to wfh and if not, for unpaid leave until vaccinated, and they said no. They need her back in office right away at end of maternity leave. She is only now thinking of resigning because her refusal to go back to work has been denied.
Souther · 27/02/2021 16:13

Do you GP surgery know what your BMI is? Are your records up to date?
Maybe if not they might bring your injection forwards

sunflowersandbuttercups · 27/02/2021 16:14

If you can't afford to live on one salary, you can't afford to quit your job.

I'm sorry you're anxious, but how are you going to pay the bills if you quit?

Porridgeoat · 27/02/2021 16:15

Wear PPE, mask and visor. Remove clothes and shower one home. DH and baby do the same

Lockandtees · 27/02/2021 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Porridgeoat · 27/02/2021 16:16

Your baby will be in a small bubble I expect

category12 · 27/02/2021 16:16

No, you're not doing the right thing unless you're independently wealthy and never needed to be working in the first place.

If you haven't even been in to the office to see what measures they have been place, you're being crazy, tbh.

I've been involved in setting up the Covid-safe measures at my office, and we've done a bloody good job - there are one way systems, everyone wears masks when moving around the office, there's santisers and wipes everywhere, everyone's spaced out massively.

Go in, have a look round, see if you feel you can keep yourself safe in that environment.

Undisclosedlocation · 27/02/2021 16:16

It sounds like you are making excuses to leave because that’s what you want to do. Well fair enough that’s your right of course but be honest about it

Your risks are moderate at the very most and your vaccine slot will be in the next week or so. Plus you can’t afford to quit and not work, so no other employer will be any ‘safer’

I don’t see you have a choice OP and judging by the 5 pages of posts so far, neither does anyone else

Notabove25 · 27/02/2021 16:17

What does your husband think and what would you think if he just decided to resign without another plan?

LimitIsUp · 27/02/2021 16:17

You've said that you are group 6 - in which case you are absolutely, definitely going to be vaccinated imminently. I am aged 52 and in group 9 - the lowest priority of the vulnerable groups before they hit the rest of the adult population, and the Government's revised timetable states that all in group 9 will have been offered first vaccine by 15 April. That's only 6.5 weeks away (at most) for me in group 9 - and yet you are group 6. Given that they have to fit in groups 7 and 8 before my group, and they are currently working through group 6, I am virtually certain that you will be invited within the next fortnight

Anna12345678910 · 27/02/2021 16:17

It's up to you but it sounds like anxiety has taken over your decision making. Your age alone puts you at much lower risk. Vaccine on the way.
You haven't even check what covid safe office means first just assumed risky.
It's seems a shame but your not the only one that appears to have lost all sense of perspective.

Good luck with whatever you decide

OutOfTheDoorNow · 27/02/2021 16:18

You need to check your contract as to whether you will pay back your maternity pay if you do not return. Mine for the local authority was you had to return 12 weeks full time or 24 weeks part time or pay it all back. That might really eat into those savings you have.

Quite simply with the current job market and not being able to live on one salary you would be absolutely crazy not to at least return to work and see what the covid secure office conditions are.

How many people in your office have caught covid? My friend who is incredibly over-weight into the obese category caught covid, as did all her family and she came out completely unscathed. No long term effects at all. I know this is anecdotal but it is a fact for her.

You are catastrophising. Look at the numbers, look at the population numbers. You are coming at this like it is a foregone conclusion. It isnt'.

Mask wearing, hand washing and opening all windows. All these reduce risk. You don't even know what the office is like at the minute. Find out.

Uzer · 27/02/2021 16:18

Sometimes we seek advice on MN to validate our decisions.

Fallulah · 27/02/2021 16:18

I really think you need to do a KIT day - it will either put your mind at rest or you will be able to raise concrete concerns rather than sitting in your vacuum saying you don’t think it’s safe without actually knowing.

My BMI is 40 - I got the link last night to book my vaccine. If you’re definitely group 6 yours won’t be long.

You could consider a childminder instead of nursery if you’re worried about your child mixing with lots of children.

Also as you’ve taken so long off won’t you have to pay something back if you don’t go back? Can you afford that?

luckylavender · 27/02/2021 16:18

@Equalityumber - I do wish people would stop using this stupid expression - 'Covid Secure'. An operating theatre or ICU may be able to be infection free, but with the best will in the world and with the risk being small, there really is no such thing.

Tiredmum100 · 27/02/2021 16:18

I'm in the clinically vulnerable group too. I had to Sheild to start with, but I have been back in work since July last year. I have had a risk assessment carried out by occ health and measures put in place to reduce my risk. I'm a nurse, on the front line. I am scared at times. But personally, no I wouldn't give up my job if I couldn't afford it and just have to get another one in 6 months time. Do you have a occ health/HR department you could speak to?

Original poster
readyplayer2 · 27/02/2021 16:19

@PlanDeRaccordement

did you read the OPs updates? She is refusing to return

No I’m not Hmm

I wrote a letter asking to work from home, I didn’t say anything in my letter refusing to go into the office.

I asked if I could work from home and explained why.

They have said no (i’ve received the letter today)

OP posts:
grapewine · 27/02/2021 16:19

Seems a bit of an overreaction, if I'm honest, especially since you say you can't afford it.

It's not exactly easy finding jobs out there.