Want to know more about staying safe and healthy at work? Ask GMB Union’s experts - £100 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

Coronavirus has changed work in ways we could never have anticipated. If you’ve been furloughed or you’re working from home, recent encouragement for some employers to get their employees back to work may have left you feeling confused about how this can be managed safely. So, for part 2 of GMB Union’s Work Clinic, their experts would like to help answer your questions about your right to return to work safely.

Here’s what GMB Union has to say: “GMB is the trade union for everyone. Our job is simple: protecting, defending and extending your rights in the workplace and beyond.

That means being there to fight your corner if you have a problem, big or small – and working to get you a better deal. Whatever the issue, we have thousands of highly trained staff and expert activists to support you. From securing proper sick pay in workplaces and ensuring wage support, to leading demands for proper protective equipment at the Government top table – we make sure our members’ voices are heard locally and nationally.

That’s the power of getting a union on your side. With GMB that’s what you get: a family that stands up for you.”

Want to know who will be answering your questions? Find some information on GMB’s experts below:

Lynsey Mann, National Health & Safety Officer at GMB

“Lynsey is GMB's National Health, Safety and Environment Officer. She has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Masters degree in Environmental Health. Before joining GMB she worked at London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) for 9 years, in various Environmental Protection and Public Health roles. During her time at LBBD, Lynsey was also a GMB equality activist and a founding member of GMB Sisters women’s self-organised group. In her spare time, Lynsey is a long distance runner who runs half marathons most weekends and is training for her second London Marathon. She also enjoys baking cakes and knitting clothes for her family and friends' children.”

Susan Harris, Director of Legal Services at GMB

“Sue is a solicitor and has been Director of Legal Services at GMB since March 2018, particularly dealing with collective issues. Previously employed at Thompsons Solicitors for 28 years as an employment law specialist, Sue acted for unions and their members on an individual and collective basis. She was appointed as a salaried partner with Thompsons when pregnant with 1st child (1993) and full equity partner when pregnant with 3rd child (1996). She is now a mother of 3 daughters, 3 cats, 4 tortoises and numerous fish. She has an abhorrence of exercise; was a regular theatre goer in pre-lock down world, so is now reading more!”

Rehana Azam, National Secretary, Public Services at GMB

“With over two decades’ experience of fighting for workers' rights with GMB, Rehana is one of the trade union movement’s most senior BAME women. She leads national negotiations with employers to improve workers’ pay, terms and conditions and is a fierce campaigner. Rehana is a proud mum of one boy safely brought into the world thanks to the NHS, as well as a gorgeous King Charles Cavalier named Archie. She's a couch to 5K type of runner, but has marched hundreds of miles for the NHS and will dust off her marching boots again after lockdown.”

Would you like to understand what your employer should be doing to enable safe and protective physical distancing? Perhaps you’d like more information on what your employer should now be providing so that you can do your job safely? Do you want to know what your rights are if you don’t believe your workplace to be safe?

Whatever your questions surrounding health and safety in the workplace at this time, please ask them below by midday on the 26th May. GMB Union’s experts will be back between 3 and 4pm on Thursday 28th May to answer your questions.

All who post a question (regardless of whether it is answered or not) will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[Rae1000]

What is the level of risk hot desking and sharing phones and keyboards amongst other items please?

[SylvanianFrenemies]

I am currently working from home as I have multiple high risk conditions. My employer has supported this but I'm concerned that this could change as time goes on, especially as I can't do everything from home. What are my rights if my employer wants me to return to work? My job and working environment would be near impossible to practice social distancing in at all times, plus there would be a need to share equipment.

[Reastie]

The guidance reads that if an activity is required for the business to continue, and if social distancing is not possible then there are mitigating measures to lessen the risk. If a self employed person can work on their own for the business to continue but would usually have an employee with them and enough work for them to continue, but getting them back to work means they have to share a van for journeys throughout the day between jobs, should they be considering bringing them back from furlough with mitigating action or continue as a lone worker indefinitely?

[sjonlegs]

I employ PA's as additional carers for my son, my son's safety is my priority, but I also need to ensure that my PA's are safe. Am I right to insist that PPE is worn constantly (which I can provide) - and if I expect her to wear it, does this mean that we should all wear it too? My eldest son has special needs (the one that she cares for) and I have two teenagers! Please advise. Thanks

[Sam1904]

Will workplaces be inspected to ensure compliance with guidelines?

[peoplepleaser1]

My husband is director of a retail store (I don't want to be too specific and risk outing him and risking his job). His employers have planned various safety measures but have NOT implemented a guideline for sales staff to maintain a 2m distance from customers. Typically a sale can take 2-3 hours to complete and occurs over a table where the customer is about 80cm from the sales staff member and both may be leaning on over the table.

The employers haven't included a 2m rule, we assume they fee it's not practical and will affect the sales experience.

The guidelines do seem to give some flexibility on this 2m rule but we feel in this case it can and should be observed. Is there anything my husband can show his employers to show that ideally sales staff should be allowed to keep a 2m distance when selling?

[arktis]

I think we all have to try to return to normal, otherwise this country goes bankrupt. I can work from home pretty much indefinitely, but my husband mixes with lots of people at his workplace, and my daughter will hopefully go back to school soon. What's your advice on using shared facilities at work i.e. toilets and kitchens? Cleaning regimes aside, what can I do to keep safe?

[Sid98]

How can people who work in offices ensure things are getting cleaned more often than usual

[flowersanam]

How will companies ensure social distancing is maintained

[Coffeemummy123]

During the day how often, if at all should our cabinet handles, baskets and trolleys be cleaned/disinfected and with what?

[JulesJules]

The government has not said anything new regarding those of us who are shielded, or our partners, is there any clarity on this?

[CatterySlave1]

I too want to know about the rights of those workers with conditions such as diabetes and asthma, now recognised as the top 2 underlying health conditions for morbidity risk in CV19, who are asked to go back to customer facing retail roles? Can they stay furloughed if their workplace is open? Can they refuse?

[Rachel1806]

In my team, most are furloughed and only a couple are not. We are working from home, however are asked to take up the work of furloughed employees. If their work was business critical, why were they furloughed? Is this legal to ask non-furloughed employees to take on additional workload?

[sharond101]

Iam a key worker. Social distancing is impossible in our workplace. We have gloves, masks, aprons but how do I protect my family on my return home?

[JustineBMumsnet]

Hi @MIIRSM - GMB's experts will be answering Mumsnet users' questions - you'll be able to find details on their backgrounds within the OP. Answers will be posted on Thursday 28th May.

[HannahLI]

What do you do when your workplace has all the rules in place however other employees aren't sticking to them? How do we encourage them to keep their distance?

[wink1970]

If an employee is made redundant during furlough, what is the redundancy payment based on, is it their normal salary or the 80%/£2500 version?
many thanks,

[chickpeachicky]

I have been furloughed, from the beginning of lockdown. I am also 7 months pregnant.
The workplace is opening back up, with some workers returning which the view that we will all return.
How can I keep myself safe at work for the last month that I will be there until I go on maternity leave?

[CatandKitten]

I work at a HE institution. We are working from home at the moment, but I have calculated that I will hit 28 weeks pregnancy shortly before term starts, and face to face classes will still be happening with groups of 20 or fewer students, though lectures will be taking place online. Will I be able to work face to face with suitable PPE, or can my duties be adjusted so that I can continue to work from home? How much notice should I give my employer to make these changes
(they are not aware of my pregnancy yet)?

[IWasThere4Aug12]

DH had a letter from doctors saying he needs to shield for 12 weeks. I’m currently wfh but if I’m asked to go in can I refuse and insist on wfh

[HeartGirls]

I work in an office that is barely 2m x 2m and up to 7 other staff come in frequently to get keys from the safe secured to the wall. I or the safe cannot be re-sited so the 2m rule will be broken multiple times a day. These other staff members serve members of the public as part of their jobs and although as much precaution is being put in place I'm really concerned for my safety as I'm the oldest most at risk member of staff with underlying conditions like asthma and obesity. I haven't worked there yet for two years so I'm worried I'll be made redundant if I object but I don't want to put my life at risk. Can I object to these working conditions and if I'm made redundant because of this is there anything I can do. It's tough when you have to balance your life vs your job 😐

[EuphieKat]

I teach singing, woodwind and piano, both as a private teacher and at a school. Private pupils are fine, as we use zoom, but when schools are back I’m worried that teaching one to one (especially singing and woodwind!) in a very small practice room just won’t be able to happen.
Even though I’ve been doing it for 6 years, I’m still on a zero hours contract. Do you think it’s possible that they could just terminate my ‘contract’ or do I have any ‘rights’.I’m seriously worried about my long term financial position. (NB in 6 years I’ve never had holiday pay or sick pay).

[MIIRSM]

All these questions....I can't see any answers....Am I missing something??

[JustineBMumsnet]

Hi @MIIRSM as mentioned in the OP and in our last message to you, GMB's experts will be back on the 28th May to answer questions.

[Sleepybumble]

I have been advised to shield, how long will my job be safe if I cannot work from home?