Shielding but furloughed

[IsabelCupcake]

Hiya. Sorry if this is addressed elsewhere if so delete/ignore and point me in right direction

I'm looking for advice and input so please help.

I'm interested to know has anyone in a position of being furloughed (with it being reviewed weekly) but just found out they are one of the 1.5million asked to shield (sort of knew it might come)?

Im very good at my job which is activities for a residential unit near Manchester. 25hrs pwk & 18 Residents (all but 3 with dementia).

I have asthma 20years since toddler manageable not issue at work but I did have an attack last sep on holiday.

Until last week I was coming into work but I've been more and more concerned by Staff, residents and visiting families (or trying to visit with me having to be bouncer asking them not come in!) but don't seem to have been taking it seriously. Hygiene isn't perfect by Carers and residents with dementia self toilet and of course do things like drink each others juice, lick magazines and obviously look to hold hands, be hugged, etc.

I'm there 5 afternoons a week & I've been as careful as I can be but with a lot of agency carers (who have said they must work sick or not for money) and things how they are I just know its a matter of time before the whole place gets ill.

I'm not wanting to risk getting the virus and I'd rather not put my sister who I live with (she works from home) through it.

So though I love lots of people living and working there I had to tell work I wanted to know what could be done differently with my role (work from home doing Skype quizzes or karaoke or chair exercise, take annual leave now, etc).

Just for 3 weeks maybe- as then unsure if I'd be shielding or not (I'm really healthy other than asthma).

So my manager thought about Monday and he gave me the furlough option (used business reasons & no reference to my health) which I took reluctantly as like I said would like this to all pass & I get back to my job when it's all a bit more stable.

But now today I've got a letter saying I'm supposed to shield for 12 weeks.

Is my employer (despite having a very Christian/methodist ethos) going to be OK with me being away 12 weeks?

I've gone from being careful out of choice to being trapped by medical advice. What will happen?

Is anyone else in this position?

I don't have symptoms and am not likely to be infected if I stay away sheilding obv.

But can I just stay away 12 weeks expecting support & warm welcome back? Or will my employers think actually we don't need her as carers have muddled on well so far?

Thanks

Well firstly you must be furloughed for at least 3 weeks. Chances are it will be longer.

If your employer doesn't like it and sacks you because of shielding, it's likely that this could be discrimination. Depending on why you're shielding.

Thank you devildeepbluesea. I had to get this off my chest - I miss everyone esp the lovely Residents but I felt I had to do the right thing by isolating iyswim

You are entitled to shield for 12 weeks, after or during that time if there is a genuine business need to reduce the workforce at your site then so long as you went through a fair selection process you could be made redundant. If you could link it to your absence you'd potentially have a disability discrimination claim.

So, no they can't just get rid of you because you've not been there for 12 weeks. Unless they are very crafty. But if you are on good terms with your employer and a good worker, why do you think they would want to do this?

Thanks @cloudscanlooklikesheep. I would say I waswas on good terms . Its just the uncertainty of everything around us - making me all a bit paranoid maybe.