Shielding

[Padalak6]

Hi, I was in hospital after my son phoned an ambulance for me because i was having chest pain recently, I was discharged after they changed my isosorbide mononitrate to monomil and increased the dose. I also have Type 1 diabetes. I received a letter yesterday and text to advise me to shield, the first I've had since lockdown. I notified my work who advise I do shield as I work in retail and I will get 100% pay whilst off, which is good as I can just about afford to live on my wage now.

I heard today that my company are now putting shielding down to 90% pay which means I now have to work as i cant afford to live.

I am really upset and furious that they obviously dont care about peoples health and wellbeing, I have worked for this company for nearly 33 years and feel disgusted by them.

[Vonnies_girl]

Padalak, I am so sorry about your situation. Do you know why they changed their mind? Can you appeal?

[Hidden]

I realise that this is very difficult and unfair from your perspective, having given your employer a massive chunk of your life. I’m not defending them, but do feel the need to point out that with the exception of supermarkets, even large, multinational retailers are struggling to make ends meet financially, and 90% full pay is still better than the two alternatives. Your employer would have been well within their rights to furlough you, which in most cases means 80% of your regular, take home pay. There are also many shielders who weren’t able to be furloughed for whatever reason, and as a result were put on statutory sick pay. SSP is only £95.85 a week. Comparatively speaking, it’s a pittance for most people, and although it helps, universal credit doesn’t routinely top it up to a level that matches the wage a person would receive under normal circumstances, particularly not if you work full time.

You may be able to claim universal credit to top things up a little bit more, but that does depend on your circumstances and how much you earn. It’s also not compulsory to shield: if your employer can meet the covid-safe criteria for your workplace, there’s nothing to say that you can’t continue working if that’s what you’d rather do and they’re happy to allow it. The other thing to consider is that as things stand, shielding is likely to come to an end again soon. Long-standing shielders have been told to continue until March 31st, and based on how things have gone previously in the pandemic, and the current picture overall, I suspect shielding will be paused again on or relatively close to this date. I don’t think they’ll be extending it for weeks and months into the future.

[Edgywoman]

Could you put in a grievance? Are there many of others who are affected by this decision or is it only you? And are you a member of a trade union? Perhaps worth having a chat with someone like Citizens Advice or a solicitor (you may have legal cover on your house or car insurance) about the possibility that this is disability discrimination but you would need to do some digging to check this for your circumstances, and be prepared to take the employer to a tribunal. Not being legally qualified I cant tell you much more, but worth checking out your position.