Coronavirus and Work

[Amethystjade]

I work for a big chain of opticians as an optical and I don’t feel safe working as normal now that this new and more contagious variant of Covid is in circulation. My store is based at the checkouts end of a supermarket too. I raised my concerns with my employer and asked if I could take two months unpaid leave so I can stay at home until maybe we are offered the vaccine as we are supposed to be getting in as key workers. I have today been told that I cannot take unpaid leave as the business needs me to work my hours to cover their needs and that if I have been safe since retuning to work after furlough in July last year then I am safe now. I don’t agree with that as this new Covid variant changes things.
Can they do this? Does anyone have any legal experience who can advise?

Have they taken Covid safety measures?

Is there a reason you are particularly worried about getting it? It’s not dangerous for under 60s without a serious underlying health condition.

Do you have children?

What safety measures are in place? Do you wear PPE?

There is PPE which we wear and I don’t accept that it’s not dangerous to people under 60. There are people of all ages in hospital with Covid

What PPE do you wear?
If it's a surgical mask and visor or goggles that is the same PPE that I wear as an NHS nurse along with some disposable gloves and a plastic apron. For every patient whether they have covid or not.

@Amethystjade

There is PPE which we wear and I don’t accept that it’s not dangerous to people under 60. There are people of all ages in hospital with Covid

Yes but the chances of it being fatal in someone under 60 is minuscule

Lots of people have continued to work in public facing roles - I agree with your Companies stance sorry

I think if you are akey worker in a covid secure location then unpaid leave is unlikely to be approved. I'd say you work or you resign.

I guess another alternative is to go off sick with anxiety etc if that is a thing that you think is right.

HSE would be interested if their precautions are inadequate. However, if you have proper PPE and other precautions are in place (sanitiser, etc.), you are safe. Whilst the new variant is more infectious, the protection measures are the same. The fact that it is more contagious is because it is more likely to enter your cells if you come into contact with it, NOT because it has any greater ability to get past protection measures.

Your employer is entitled to insist that you carry on working. You have no right to unpaid leave. As the previous poster says, you work or you resign.

Masks and an apron

Not young. Two over 18

OP you should be in line for a vaccination in the next could of weeks.
Do you meant that you're an optical assistant - it wasn't clear.
What are you doing that you're worried about?

What is it about your job that makes you feel unsafe?

I don't think you can just refuse to work and expect to have a job to come back to in two months time.