Work help!

[Rachel12551]

Hi I am currently back from furlough working in retail at 22 weeks. I do not feel safe in a customer facing role and have asked to be re-furloughed however my employer refused. Is there anything else I can do in this situation?

They have done a risk assessment and provided me with all PPE but I am still talking to and serving customers 9 hours a day! No option to work in the office or work from home.

Thanks

Hello,

Sorry you feel that way - it is still a worrying time. I'm not much help but I also work in retail. Colleagues who have been Self Isoltaing have also returned back to work and have asked to have more time off, like yourself our company have said that wasn't an option.
The only option was that the colleague can 'go sick' but would have to claim Sick Pay from the government.
So maybe that could be an option.

In 6 weeks time you're classed in the vulnerable category (although this might change by then) if you can afford to be signed off for anxiety etc then live off of sick pay then I think that's the only route?

I am in the exact same boat! I have been furloughed since I was about 11 weeks pregnant. I am 27 weeks today and my work have asked me to go back on Monday and I am dreading every minute of it! I am starting my maternity leave in 6 weeks time so had really hoped to still be furloughed or use holidays but Iv been told I’m needed back and that can’t happen 😩. Please let me know if you get anywhere!

@Ek3009 that's stupid as you have to be furloughed from 28 weeks at the moment as vulnerable in the third trimester? Do they know this?

Unfortunately I don’t think they have to furlough me after 28 weeks. I’m not in the shielding category only the vulnerable and have no letter from a GP to say I need to shield. As long as they do a risk assessment and have the right guidance in place then I think legally they can ask me to come back.

I’m in the same situation except they gave me the option to be furloughed but I wanted to come back . I’m a store manager and furlough pay wasn’t making the cut ( plus I wanted my life to return to “normal”). I’m currently 22 weeks pregnant .

At the moment your employer has every right to bring you back . Even those who are shielding in the most vulnerable group can go back in August .

For reassurance, here is a link that will tell you if it’s safe for you to return:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus-employee-risk-assessment

I know it’s not easy and I don’t even know if I trust the government myself 😔. But at the end of the day Covid-19 is not going away and might be something we live with for a while .

That link is for England only . I just realised you could live anywhere 🤦‍♀️

Thanks everyone for your responses!

I completely understand what everyone is going through and it's so stressful when we don't know completely how this virus affects us and the baby.

I have also been told by my midwife not to work past 28 weeks unless you can work from home. I don't know whether my work will accept this or if I need some kind of letter to prove it?

I’m 31 weeks also work in retail and have been told I’m expected back just waiting on a start date. Definitely not ideal but I don’t think I have any choice due to guidelines changing all the time.

I’m 28 weeks and work in a patient facing role. I’m still at work, it’s just the way it is unfortunately.

@Rachel12551 I’m 24 weeks now and returned to work at 22 weeks. Assistant manager in a retail store. Seen a midwife for the first time the day before I returned and she told me there was no issue with being back at work while pregnant at all provided there was an appropriate risk assessment in place.
I’m 100% useless at work. My pregnancy risk assessment prevents me from dealing with any deliveries etc, changing displays, or doing anything strenuous. I then have a pregnancy during Coronavirus risk assessment which prevents me from doing around 95% of my other duties 🙄 I’m only allowed to deal with customers as a last resort if absolutely nobody else is available, not allowed to handle cash transactions or deal with returned goods, can’t do banking, not allowed to visit other places such as post office or bank when necessary. My job is literally to greet customers on arrival and make sure the staff are getting on ok 🙄 Definitely finding the days incredibly long being on my feel for 9 hours and having nothing to do but there’s not much that can be done 🤷🏻‍♀️ There’s been no mention of refurlough in the 3rd trimester. My understanding was that it’s only necessary to shield in the 3rd trimester if you have serious underlying health conditions too.

[quote Ritchie30]@Rachel12551 I’m 24 weeks now and returned to work at 22 weeks. Assistant manager in a retail store. Seen a midwife for the first time the day before I returned and she told me there was no issue with being back at work while pregnant at all provided there was an appropriate risk assessment in place.
I’m 100% useless at work. My pregnancy risk assessment prevents me from dealing with any deliveries etc, changing displays, or doing anything strenuous. I then have a pregnancy during Coronavirus risk assessment which prevents me from doing around 95% of my other duties 🙄 I’m only allowed to deal with customers as a last resort if absolutely nobody else is available, not allowed to handle cash transactions or deal with returned goods, can’t do banking, not allowed to visit other places such as post office or bank when necessary. My job is literally to greet customers on arrival and make sure the staff are getting on ok 🙄 Definitely finding the days incredibly long being on my feel for 9 hours and having nothing to do but there’s not much that can be done 🤷🏻‍♀️ There’s been no mention of refurlough in the 3rd trimester. My understanding was that it’s only necessary to shield in the 3rd trimester if you have serious underlying health conditions too.[/quote]
That's good of them to do to keep you safe. I feel completely on edge all the time. About 700-1000 customers come into store every day and I just don't understand how the risk assessment allows for me to work in that. I've offered to do office or stockroom work but as they are understaffed I'm needed on the floor. Bearing in mind that half the staff are still being furloughed but I have to be back as I'm the only manager to cover that role. Having a nightmare!!

I’m in a completely different type of job (visiting kids in their homes and working in an office) but had same concerns as you working in people facing role in my upcoming 3rd trimester.

I saw my midwife this morning and explained and she said I should 100% be working from home and would write me a letter to say so for work. I know working from home isn’t an option for you but I would discuss with midwife anyway never know what they might be able to offer in terms of back up??

I completely understand how ya feeling!
I felt the same when this all started. I'm a support worker so no option to work home.
To make you feel better, there's no evidence to suggest pregnant women are more prone to catching coronavirus. The government just wants to be cautious.
My advice is take your pregnancy vitamins and research boosting the immune system whilst pregnant.
Things are better than it use to be.
You will be fine