Im new to this forum and wanted get some advice from people that understand and are going through similar things.
I’ve got Brittle Asthma and was shielding most of the year due to government advice . I work as a residential childcare worker and my GP and consultant have told me I cannot return to work as our area are in local lockdown and it would be to risky doing a job I can’t maintain social distancing in. I spoke to my work and asked for alternative temporary role or alternative adjustments to ensure I could do my job safely, they said none of these things were possible to put in place.
I have been getting 80% furlough thankfully from March till now but the furlough ends on 31st October and I can’t afford to live on sick pay and am not entitled to any universal credit ect.
I’m so worried about what I should do and what will happen. I have my wedding next year to save for and I can’t help but feel deflated, stressed and my mind always in overdrive especially after spending most of the year indoors. I’ve started to feel my asthma controls everything I do.
I’m really keen to get back to work as I love my job but I’m so scared and worried at the same time because we can’t maintain the social distancing.
Does anyone have any advice or support please! Thank you in advance xxxx
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Wheezy26
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I’m sorry to hear of your difficult situation - it’s very worrying for you. Could you ask for an Occupational Health referral? They might be able to suggest adjustments that would keep you safe.
How would I go about doing that do you know? I read your post earlier and sorry to hear you are going through it all aswell.
It’s so hard isn’t It and I feel like there isn’t enough guidance and support, like we are just forgotten about and they don’t think about the vulnerable people that still can’t work and maintain the distance!
Just feels like a terrible year, I am trying to stay positive but feel work and some friends can’t understand why I worry so much! It’s so easy to feel low when on your own so much, that’s why I joined this because I wanted to see if speaking to people that get it helps! Thank you so much for getting back to me xx
Hi wheezy. I am preparing to go back to work in the next few weeks I think. I’m getting redeployed to a safer area. I work in nhs. Your line manager will refer you to occ health. Just say you would like a referral. They can put adjustments in place to keep you safe.
Thank you for your good wishes - this forum is a great support. As Denae says, your line manager should refer you - you have the right to an OH referral. If you are in a union, they can support if your employers are reluctant. Keep us posted!
Some smaller employers don't have HR or access to occupational health services to ensure that the employer follows employment laws. I would recommend that you discuss your case with Access to Work. It's a free government scheme that provides employees with occupational health services and reasonable adjustments in the workplace. gov.uk/access-to-work
For help on wider employment matters, if you're not in an union, then ACAS can help with advice if your employer appears to be behaving unreasonably acas.org.uk
At the end of the day it's about what is reasonable under the law.
As an assessor for Residential Childcare qualifications I do understand the situation you are in and for your employer there is little they can do in terms of the role.
Could the employer look at PPE and other precautions - i.e. get advice on this?
Alternatively, the only thing I can think of is going part time but I am not sure this is financially viable for you.?
Thinking here is that going part time would only help in terms of reducing the time of exposure.
Do you know if you are not eligible for Universal Credit if you went part-time because you have tried applying?
- i.e. people can work on Universal Credit so long as you declare what you earn and are aware benefit is adjusted dependent on what you earn
Universal Credit has not just replaced JSA but also other benefits like -
It replaces six benefits with a single monthly payment. The benefits that Universal Credit replace are:
Income-Based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) GOV.UK.
Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) GOV.UK.
Income Support GOV.UK.
Working Tax Credit GOV.UK.
Child Tax Credit GOV.UK.
Housing Benefit.
I am freelance and a couple of years ago I was not earning enough so signed up for UC and what they do is every month I say what earned and what my expenses are and the remainder is seen as take home pay.
Say after expenses I earn £100 they take 63p in a pound = they take £63 off of the benefit. So it might be something to consider if working part time.
ALSO
The extra support available depending on your monthly income
If your take-home pay per month is up to
£435
(or up to £935 if you are responsible for a child or have limited capability for work)
Health costs
Including free NHS prescriptions, free NHS wigs and fabric supports, free NHS dental treatment, free sight tests in England (NHS eye examinations are already free in Scotland), vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses and help with the cost of travel to receive NHS treatment on referral.
Up to £1,250
Energy-saving home improvements
The ECO Affordable Warmth scheme may be able to help you with energy-saving measures like a new boiler or insulation.
Thank you so much! That’s very useful! It is so difficult as I understand it’s such a hard environment to put additional adjustments in. I asked if I could carry a mask and gloves in my pocket or bag incase of a physical intervention that o could put it on if I seen the young person getting heightened but they said this couldn’t be put in place. I said I understood it can’t always happen like that and I may not be able to put it on but if we can try minimise the risk rather than eliminate it. I also asked if I could limit going out shopping, activities ect but they said no. It’s so hard as I feel they aren't willing to help me at all!
I phoned citizens advice the other day and they put me through the help to claim line which we did working out and I am not entitled to anything because they take into consideration my partners wage. They said if I am on sick pay o don’t qualify to get anything and if I’m not on sick pay and have no income then I can get £12 a week.
I’m just worrying and feeling like I am going to need to go back regardless of feeling safe or not because I have to earn a full time wage to be able to pay everything and there is very little help isn’t there.
Thank you I will definitely have a look into that! I really appreciate it as it’s good to hear from someone who understands how hard it is! I feel like people who were shielding that can’t go back yet because can’t be covid secure haven’t been thought about xx
Employers should monitor any changes in government guidance and consider the implications. For example, an employer should give priority to those required to shield when deciding who remains on furlough. If the furlough scheme ends but the employee is still required to shield, then employers should consider:
making reasonable adjustments, such as working from home or changing a role
placing the employee on disability leave
whether sick leave and company or statutory sick pay are applicable
Please see our full guidance on reasonable adjustments for more ideas and detail on the law and your duties as an employer.
We are interested in hearing from employers and employees about good practice in managing non-discriminatory decision making processes during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please contact workingforward@equalityhumanrights.com to share your stories.
Thank you all for your kind words! It’s not gone great so at the moment I am using my holidays to get me through another month due to not being able to afford to live of sick pay. I live in an area that’s very high and tier 3 so I’m not sure if we are waiting on shielding letters about that.
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Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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