Looking for advice please, what does everyone think

[Froggie70]

Hi all,

Have a dilemma and wondered what you all thought.

Due back at work on Monday but obviously can’t go in because of self isolation. Boss has been mucking about for weeks trying to get a laptop and has come back to say that he can get me a ‘communal’ iPad, I asked how many people had used it and it looks like it’s been doing the rounds. I’m a bit uncomfortable with this coming into the house and also the fact that my wrists are always playing up so all day on an iPad is not ideal. My work is offering a scheme where you can forego holidays for 12 weeks paid leave but he is not keen for me to do this. I could leave the iPad in the porch for 72 hours and then wipe down with disinfectant wipes but we’ve been isolating for 5 weeks now and the last thing I want to do is bring this blooming virus into the house. Am I being stupid?

I’d really appreciate your opinions on this.

Thanks.

[heda123]

So if your isolating can they not put you on furlough?

[Froggie70 in reply to heda123]

Hi heda thanks for coming back to me. My work aren’t doing furlough, instead they are doing the 2 weeks holiday for 12 weeks paid leave which seems fair but my boss is now telling me to get another line. I have been signed off until now because my Mum was ill at the start of the year and passed away in February so only just going back now. Don’t know why he needs to be so awkward.

[heda123 in reply to Froggie70]

There's not many understanding bosses out there!

[Froggie70 in reply to heda123]

He always makes out he wants to help but then makes you jump through hoops.

[PMRpro]

There are ways of disinfecting them - the local town had an article on the news last night: they are collecting laptops etc and distributing them to the elderly (who here in Italy are not allowed visitors) and teaching them how to Skype/Zoom etc. They gave no details but a local doctor is doing the cleaning.

support.apple.com/en-us/HT2...

zdnet.com/article/apple-thi...

are just two links.

I imagine a good clean with you wearing gloves, leaving it in the porch for a day or two and then another clean would cover most eventualities? Though as you say - ipads aren't ideal ergnomically ...

[Froggie70 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. Will have a read at this.

[Forgot2mention]

Wow, sounds like a nice chap, not. I am still going into work and out of 300+ staff there are about 40 of us in work, the rest are on furlough or working from home. Do you have a hr dept you could talk too. When this first started we had a questionnaire at work and they furloughed people with any underlying health conditions first. Try ringing acas , they should be able to help.

[Froggie70 in reply to Forgot2mention]

Thank you, he has actually sent a text saying he wants to chat so just waiting on a call. I will let you know what happens.

[Froggie70 in reply to Forgot2mention]

Hello wee update. I’m allowed to officially isolate but if a laptop becomes available it will be delivered to the house, it won’t be sanitised so will sit in the porch for 72 hours and then I can clean it. Seems fair enough but a lot of unnecessary stress for no reason. Thanks for your support. Take care.

[Forgot2mention in reply to Froggie70]

Yay, obviously seen the light ha ha. Think this virus is showing just how many Nasty bosses there are out there. Worked for a few in my time Glad you have got sorted at least for now.

[Froggie70 in reply to Forgot2mention]

Thanks🤗

[Forgot2mention in reply to Froggie70]

Your welcome, and meant to say sorry to hear about your mum. ,lost mine 8 years ago , i miss her everyday. Stay safe😍😍

[Froggie70 in reply to Forgot2mention]

Thank you and sorry about your Mum. It doesn’t feel real sometimes. Take care 🤗🙂

[Roarah]

I picked up school communal chromebooks for school age kids to do their online schooling. I live where there are tons of infection in my own neighborhood, lots of doctors and nurses live near me. I was not worried but did follow the advice on how to safely disinfect the pcs .

Ours came in vanilla envolopes which I sprayed with disinfectant and left in the sun for a few hours. Then I took out the pc and cleaned with alcohol wipes like the ones used before shots. I let it dry then repeated. I did the chargers too. Then I used another wipe on my hands, went inside and properly washed my hands and gave the pc to my daughter. None of us got sick it was two weeks ago. Take the ipad. It is no more dangerous than getting groceries delivered if you clean it and your hands before use.

I do clean my phone and my ipad this way regularly and have been doing so for years without issue.

[Froggie70 in reply to Roarah]

Hi Roarah, thanks for your advice, it’s good to know you had no issues. Take care.

[miccika1]

I would not leave the ipad on the porch more that a couple of hours. The risk is really super minimal, almost just theoretical. I would spray it, open in and throw away the box immidiately, then desinfect the ipad itself, then wash hands property. If you are still worried you could wear a mask of some sort while doing that.

[Froggie70 in reply to miccika1]

Thanks miccika, I know I’m being overly cautious but can’t help worrying. Thank you for getting back to me. The key is making sure it’s thoroughly cleaned. 🤗

[Jumper99]

I think they recommend washing iPad etc with soap and water, just like hand washing. If it works on hands why not on iPads? Doesn’t take long. You need to be careful with disinfectant because it can damage the screens or so I’ve read. But if Roarah has been doing it for years, that must be ok too. Sunshine does not kill the virus, so no point in leaving it outside.

[Froggie70]

Thanks Jumper, I’m now apparently getting a laptop at some point. Just need to give it a good clean. Stay safe.