Covid risks during round 2

[LauraShe10]

My husband and I are starting round 2 next week. My work are being amazing, saying I can work from home for the next 4 weeks to make sure we avoid covid exposure. However my husbands work are being difficult. They insist he needs to come into his office (based in central London) despite rising covid numbers and he has had several exposure alerts on the app over the last few weeks (thankfully negative, no covid). My husband has been working from home the last year so he is perfectly able to do this. As the government says we we should all be back in the office, we don’t have a leg to stand on. Our clinic can’t even write a letter to his work advising we should be careful. I’m so worried as if my husband gets exposed and passes it to me, that’s the end of the round. But there seems to be nothing we can legally do.

[Purpledoggy]

Has he actually told his work you are doing IVF? If they are aware they should be more likely to let him be at home just during your treatment. Not sure if you’re private and what your clinic’s rules are but some will cancel cycles with no refund, so it would be worth having that info as leverage if relevant. In any case, having to put yourself through IVF only to cancel due to COVID because of his work isn’t fair and if possible he should communicate that to them. Xx

[LauraShe10 in reply to Purpledoggy]

Yes he told his boss everything! They still don’t care. It’s really upsetting as this is our last round on the NHS and we don’t want anything to mess it up. It’s just not fair at all.

[Purpledoggy in reply to LauraShe10]

Oh gosh I’m so sorry. That is really poor of them. It might be worth a chat to citizens advice to see where you stand legally, or even as the GP if they could sign him off xx

[Lovemylion]

Hey love. I understand your worries completely. I am extremely worried about the rapid rising number of covid cases and all restrictions being lifted in a couple of weeks....yet clinics are still being very strict with their covid testing policy (rightly so) it just not fair. And is a complete waste of energy, drugs, money and time and it is stressing me out that my cycle will be cancelled if I test positive. That's great your work has been so understanding. Such a shame that your husband's work isn't! Could your hubby wear a mask and just make sure he's on top of sanitising? That would limit the risk? Xxxx

[Lkc2015]

He could ask his GP for a may be fit for work note which states amended duties work from home to cover the cycle period that may more legal sway. He could also check with HR to see if the company have an IVF policy they are not following. I’m sorry they are being so awkward when he can easily work from home.

[LRed]

It is probably too late now or totally unrealistic but would he be able to arrange annual leaves or unpaid leaves for a couple of weeks? I am very anxious too as my stimulation is due to start around the 19th. I'm horrified at the idea of surrounded by unmasked passengers on the underground going into central London (which is already happening more or less since the government sent out the message). Of course I'll wear a mask, but the protection efficiency of a mask is something like 50% ~ 80%. It is not iron cast. It really stresses me out.

[Nic_o_la_la]

Hey there. This is such a tough situation and really unhelpful of his work when he’s been working at home for so long when it’s been completely possible through lockdown! I think because most places have no fertility policy it comes down to individual managers decisions and etc and disappointing some are so unsupportive. My partner also had to go to work through our last round (not lack of support but his job) To be fair he wasn’t having to use public transport but he was just really strict on social distancing, hand washing, masks etc. It was super tough but we tried to isolate where we could at home too just so if he did get exposed it might mean I would be OK. He did my jabs etc and I needed some hugs (!) but tried to sleep separately, not sit together on the sofa etc. It’s so crap when you are going through the worst thing together to be like that but like you’ve said, the risk around losing the round is so massive too. Our NHS funding didn’t allow for trying again if it gets cancelled either. Wishing you lots of luck however you manage things 🍀 xx

[LauraShe10]

Thanks everyone for your support and suggestions. We decided over the weekend that the IVF round is the most important thing at the moment so my husband resigned from his job, and told his boss he will work his notice from home - non negotiable. So not the best solution, but hopefully he'll pick up another job soon and a condition will be he gets to work from home. But when it comes down to it, making sure we have the best chance possible with this IVF cycle is the most important thing.