I’m outside. I need a push to go in....

[fireflylanegirls]

Today is the day. I’m back at work.

My son has been at nursery for 3 weeks and today I’m back in the office.

I’m currently sat in the car park and my heart has not stopped pounding.

It just all looks so normal. I’ve seen a few of my colleagues walk by and everyone just looks the same, happy.

I don’t know what it’s like in the office in terms of Covid, I have a meeting as soon as I go in to discuss the changes.

I don’t think I have ever felt so nervous.

I’m 19 days post my 1st vaccine so not even at the 21 day mark.

I feel like turning around and going home! 😩

I wasn’t asking, sorry, but was just quoting the OP. I surprised someone who is utterly convinced they are going to get covid when they step outside their house didn’t know what a surgical mask was.

Mindymomo

If a colleague is under 2 metres away, I would tell them that as you have just returned from mat leave, you would be happier if they would stay at least 2 metres away, just until you feel happier about returning.

They should stay 2m away anyway. We all should be whenever possible. The company should have this as policy. Find ways to politely remind people about the 2 m is a better way. It’s hard to stay mindful to keep 2m and must people are fine with a kind reminder. If they are not then that’s a management issue.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I’m starting to get a weird vibe off your posts now OP. Like you are stoking the fire until someone says ‘yeah you’re totally right, you’re probably going to get covid from Shannon who sits across from you and drinks tea in the kitchen, and you’ll end up deathly ill on a ventilator’

What do you want?

That's exactly what she wants. It's not her fault, she's not well. This thread is making it worse though.

Smidgeon.

It's illegal for OP's manager to disregard her concerns about social distancing. It's disrespectful to OP as well.

Meanwhile nearly everyone else still has to stay at home to supposedly keep the number of new cases down. They're probably mostly happening in health care settings and workplaces. It's not as simple as telling OP to get over herself and poor workplace management.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I wasn’t asking, sorry, but was just quoting the OP. I surprised someone who is utterly convinced they are going to get covid when they step outside their house didn’t know what a surgical mask was.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I

@mibbelucieachwell What law do you think the manager has broken!?

Social distancing is guidance, not law.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

If you’re referring to a Fn95 mask then yes I know what you’re talking about!!!!

@mibbelucieachwell I’m not sure you’re really understanding the picture here not the current rates of covid, nor the fact that OP has had a vaccine, nor the fact that she’s clearly quite unwell with severe anxiety, and isn’t capable of rational or critical thought in regards to covid.

Not one single person in my office is vulnerable.
They’re all fine with not distancing!

@fireflylanegirls well, that’s true, and that includes you in the ‘not vulnerable’ now, too. At least physically.

Op remember the risk to you is extremely low. And for that risk to rise at all, someone in your office actually has to have COVID right now.

Sorry I don't know how to link, but the unison site in relation to Covid states that employers must do everything they can to keep their employers safe and make reasonable adjustments to allow work from home wherever possible.

But hopefully, as time goes on and OP hasn't got covid from her workplace she'll start to worry less.

@mibbelucieachwell So not illegal then?

I think it is.

@mibbelucieachwell what is?

@mibbelucieachwell

Sorry I don't know how to link, but the unison site in relation to Covid states that employers must do everything they can to keep their employers safe and make reasonable adjustments to allow work from home wherever possible.

But hopefully, as time goes on and OP hasn't got covid from her workplace she'll start to worry less.

@mibbelucieachwell

I’ve asked to wfh before I returned and was told no.
No one in my company has wfh, even at the start everyone was in!!!

I get it op. The problem is, people get comfortable at work and forget to social distance. They think theyll be fine. I work in Retail theres signs everywhere about masks, social distancing, shopping alone yada yada. But the staff all huddle together. The office area has staff leaning over the computers together. Staff sitting in offices together. Staff sharing phones, devices, pens etc.Happens all day long. Its no use quoting legislation on here, we all know the rules. But in practical it doesn't happen. I've got health anxiety and its been exhausting working throughout this. I'm mentally spent from being on alert all the time. I shouldst have to be but i am. And i suspect most work places with lots of staff that have worked throughout this are the same. That's why covid spreads in the workplace, its so easy to catch it if someone is asymptomatic.

I spend my days avoiding staff and customers coming too close, opening windows in the restaurant Area that people bang shut cos they are cold, same as on trains. I avoid meetings i know are in offices with no ventilation, i carry hand sanitiser Always. I'm always thinking of excuses to avoid being in a situation that others don't seem to care about. I know im too anxious but at this stage others are too lax. Especially management. People would tell me speak to your manager then...well I would if i knew she wouldnt stand almost toe to toe in conversation like she always does. Or speak to another manager then...i would but he's in a small office with 5 others crammed in discussing targets....so i keep myself to myself and keep going. I need the money I've no choice. I just keep alert to situations that make me uncomfortable and act accordingly. You'll learn to do this too

I know, but several people on MN have pointed out that the trials isn’t necessarily a reflection of how the vaccine will act in the real world!!

Though you can take some comfort in the fact that so far, real-world performance seems to be equal to or even better than trial performance.

The white ones you refer to are better than what we have to use at work. These are the blue ones I meant, probably the same as we use.
groceries.asda.com/product/kits-accessories/pro-sfe-disposable-face-coverings-5-pack/1000234567234

I’m a little bit confused about one thing, you’re this anxious about work even though you’ve been vaccinated but you’ve barely said a thing about the risk of your dc catching this in a childcare setting as children really can not social distance, is this really about covid or do you just want to wfh?

Get help with your anxiety as a priority. You've been vaccinated, Covid numbers are very very low, you're of working age so not old, being fat isn't a death sentence, it just ups a very very small risk. So anxiety seems like a far bigger risk than Covid.

I didnt realise youd been vaccinated @fireflylanegirls

Thats brilliant. Just be mindful of others, wear your mask and get used to being at work. It'll be fine.

@ssd

I get it op. The problem is, people get comfortable at work and forget to social distance. They think theyll be fine. I work in Retail theres signs everywhere about masks, social distancing, shopping alone yada yada. But the staff all huddle together. The office area has staff leaning over the computers together. Staff sitting in offices together. Staff sharing phones, devices, pens etc.Happens all day long. Its no use quoting legislation on here, we all know the rules. But in practical it doesn't happen. I've got health anxiety and its been exhausting working throughout this. I'm mentally spent from being on alert all the time. I shouldst have to be but i am. And i suspect most work places with lots of staff that have worked throughout this are the same. That's why covid spreads in the workplace, its so easy to catch it if someone is asymptomatic.

@ssd.

Yep!

@Jazzy1814

I’m a little bit confused about one thing, you’re this anxious about work even though you’ve been vaccinated but you’ve barely said a thing about the risk of your dc catching this in a childcare setting as children really can not social distance, is this really about covid or do you just want to wfh?

@Jazzy1814

My son is in a room with 7 other babies and 3 staff.

Staff test twice weekly. No one in my office does!!
HR said they have registered but we haven’t had anything yet.