Working from home

[MR2088]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new on here so please be kind!

I am an office manager and have asked to work from home due to me having asthma and my work have declined. I have worked from home in the past so it is possible but they have said no! The thing that isnt fair is that someone who I work with who's son has asthma has been allowed to work from home but I haven't even though I am actually asthmatic my self. With all of this going on my asthma has plaged up and have been given steroids by GP to help and have been signed of work for 1 week. I have tried contacting a solicitors but they want £180 plus VAT to help which isnt something I have at the moment.

Any help would be fantastic.

I think unless you have the severe asthma described in the guidelines you don't HAVE to work from home. But I would push for a risk assessment for the work place and go from there.
General advice is work from home if you can, what is your management reason for declining?

Hi, yes I do have servere asthma. I take a steroid inhaler daily and regular courses of steroids and currently under the care of a respiratory dr at the hospital. Asthma is that bad within my family by grandad passed away at 32 with it! They have told me they cant transfer the phone lines and do not have a home working policy in place. As mentioned previously they have allowed someone else when its not actually them with the medical condition. Thanks

That sounds really stressful. did you receive a letter that put you in the vulnerable group? Those things can't be 100% so perhaps contact your gp or consultant to see if they can write you a letter?

Your colleagues son may have received a letter putting them in vulnerable group and in that case it's right that the parent carers fit the child.

Hi, no not yet I am speaking to GP tomorrow so will ask them about the letter but my friends mum has COPD and still hasnt received it yet either. Regarding my work colleague, no she did not she just wanted to to be safe.

OP - my work allowed me to WFH before the lockdown due to my asthma, which is not as severe as yours. Our work policy is that if anyone is in the vulnerable group (over 70, pregnant or eligible for flu jab) or extremely vulnerable group (need to shield for 12 weeks) they can WFH. If their role cannot be done from home they get paid special leave.

If you have severe asthma then you absolutely can't be going into the office!! Fuck me, what's wrong with them?!

Ask your GP for a shielding letter. You sound like you meet the criteria. Failing that, they can sign you off as unfit for work, unless working from home.

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

I have been signed off for another 7 days today. I am currently seeking legal advice as it's totally unfair x

Have you received a shielded letter?
Contact your GP and ask- apparently a lot are delayed.

Hi, yes today. The doctor told me she is not issuing them the goverment is.

My understanding is that the shielding letters are being sent by GP surgeries, on the basis of info from government.

There's a few threads on asthma and Covid-19 in the Covid-19 section that are worth looking at OP. I'm sure someone on one of those said their Consultant wrote them a letter for work.

So maybe that would help while you wait for a letter? Also, have a look at the advice from Asthma UK.

Hi, she definitely said it was the goverment sending them. She wasn't very helpful regards to the letter. Yes I regularly check the Asthma uk website and Twitter page for advice. I have today instructed an employment solicitor to deal with my case. So fingers crossed. I feel as a long standing member of staff I shouldn't even be having this discussion with them it's actually upsetting

Not sure what good a solicitor can do in this case? Are you looking for a payout?

No, it's unfair treatment