Morning my lovelies...i work in year one so going back is scaring me. Despite being on biologics and shielding is now over. My tiny miny kiddos have no concept of hygiene so im worried about going back on 1st. Anyone else in the same boat?
Anyone worried about going back to work especially if... - NRAS
Anyone worried about going back to work especially if working in a school?
Written by
Ms-D
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
87 Replies
•
Now retired but spent 30 years teaching early years and year one so I absolutely understand your doubts and anxiety. Have you spoken to your head teacher about how you will be safeguarded and shared your worries?
Not yet as everyone is on a break. Might consult my rheumy and get some advice. Just wary as under 5s can get the virus and pass it on. Parents assume we are free baby sitters when their kids are sick.
Yes, I remember sending the little dears home when they reveal they have been vomiting all night!!
It may be worth talking to human resources department at the local council, no doubt you aren't the only one in the authority with the same concerns, they might give you advice or refer to occupational health for advice. Similarly your union may give you advice about what you can reasonably expect the school to do to protect you.
There is guidance for schools about what they should be doing, including looking after you.
gov.uk/government/publicati...
And they should be doing a risk assessment with you to check your vulnerability. As more is known about the disease the risk levels have changed and diabetes, heart diseases and being obese create more of a risk than RA.
alama.org.uk/covid-19-medic...
(A neighbour popped round with her approx 4 year child the other day....and I was well impressed as child sneezed i to her elbow, got out a tissue to wipe her nose and gave tissue to her mum to throw away.. she said she’s learnt to do that at school)
My kids arent so bad but after not being in school for so long many will have forgotten basic cleanliness. Thank you for the link. How are you doing?
Yep . I work in infants often in reception and feel like I’ve been thrown to the lions. Expected to shield can’t get a f2f medical appointment no matter the department. Spoke to my nurse who said on in ideal world she would totally be against us going to work but they had a meeting with the consultants and said they have to follow government guidelines so it’s back to work. No PPE no bubbles all children back at the same time. Only change is staggered starting and finishing times to stop parents congregating but if you have more than one one child at the school how does that work ??? Also staggered lunchtime . Children are super-spreaders as we know. Personally for me im not convinced that children can’t get it or they are unlikely to spread it. Of course they can this virus lives on metal post and packaging so why would it bypass children.
Sorry rant over 🥺
I’m on MTX and a biologic and just finished a course of steroids.
wishbone• in reply to
They may know more about the virus now, but there's still much that they don't. Perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know there is no hard evidence that children can't get the virus, and as for them spreading it...if children are super-spreaders of other viruses then why should an apparently very contageous virus like covid be any different. 
You have every right to be sceptical...some of us are some of us ain't, but it can be a healthy habit to have, especially at times like this.
If 97000 kids in america got it whats to say it wont happen here. My daughter is in high school and they cant social distance to save their lives.
• in reply toMs-D
No they are now saying young adults are prolific spreaders
Ms-D• in reply to
Im going mental being at home but not a happy bunny about being at school again. My kids will need a term to just learn the basics they missed out on.
• in reply toMs-D
Yes I know how you feel. I need the mental stimulation and I love the interaction with the children but not at the risk of my health. One hell of a shock to the body when I do go back🙄
AgedCrone• in reply to
Of course they are because they don’t keep their distance ....... they only listen to what they want to hear & think they are not just more resilient to Covid but that they are immortal.
Their parents have no control over them...you can’t let children have all their own way until they are 15...then suddenly expect they to listen to you.
Maybe that is one thing to be learned from this pandemic?
Discipline works!
Totally agree. But as news just said the number has increased to almost 6000 cases per week we are not far from lockdown as last week it was 2000 plus.
It is inevitable there will be a spike when schools open ....but a lot of that will be people imagining they’ve got symptoms - because they expect to have them. But that does not mean we will be infected.
Keep calm & things need not get out of hand.....there will be people running round like headless chickens ....just don’t be one of them... Keep washing your hands, wearing a mask when you’re outside your own home and don’t go to places where all these young people are congregating spreading the germs they might have!
With a bit of common sense & discipline....hopefully this time next year.....this situation will all be a horrible memory.
I believe it's on the increase in French shools.
We have a lot of areas where it is rising but I know lovely Borris will not do anything yet. I am sure he is waiting for October half term then say oopsy lockdown again.
But we are not in France......we must all...wherever we are take all advised precautions & keep- our - cool.
We have come this far...don’t buckle now.
If the virus can infect children and teachers in France with schools having to close again then why is it not possible in this country. I think we made that sort of mistake at the onset of the pandemic by thinking this country was somehow the exception and would manage to get away with what was happening in Italy and other countries.
There's no fear of me losing my cool or buckling either.
Of course it’s possible here...but it’s not inevitable.
We must look on the bright side.
If anyone wants to lock themselves away...they are at perfect liberty to do so....but why be defeatist & miserable?
Let’s get on with our lives & just hope that anybody...in France or wherever .....keeps safe & well.
I drive a car..... I could be wiped off the road tomorrow .........but I’m still going to get in my car and drive.
To paraphrase that politician ....don’t let the rumours get you down!
What makes you think I am being defeatist when I am getting on with my life as I see fit and not how government or anyone else thinks I should. Being retired I'm fortunate to be in that position and don't need to return to work if I feel it's not safe for me to do so. I do miss doing certain things which involves using public transport, something I still don't feel it is safe to do. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of being able to drive. Other than that I am leading my life much as I used to (which was limited by RA anyway) except that I take every precaution when out and about, which I imagine you still do. As for taking everyday risks like say crossing the road, I make sure to look out for oncoming traffic before I cross, and the good thing about cars, unlike the virus, is you can see them coming!.......................
PS....it's not the rumours that get me down... it's the politicians.
I wasn’t addressing you individually WB,I was just expressing an opinion that we should all put a positive face on things and not just look on the downside . We all have a different interpretation of what we want out of life, & as long as we can all achieve what we individually want....we will be fine.
I totally agree and feel our govt doesnt care enough to lockdown again. We arent invisible and will make a mess of this if schools open in England. Scotland are seeing closures since they reopened x
We can’t just abandon education because a few people are having a wobble. If a few Covid cases pop up - as they surely will.....they will be dealt with & life will carry on.
Anyone not wanting to be optimistic can sit in there own little space & worry...but count me out.
Now is the time to be positive.....we will get through this worrisome time, so let’s just get on with it....& not just give in & let life pass us by.
I am being positive but even then theres no need to be ignorant as to what is going on. You are right you could be hit by a bus tomoz or something else and life doesnt stop. But as long as i am careful doesnt mean everyone around me is. Ive seen enough idiots whilst shopping literally so close to me that i want to smack them with common sense.
Unfortunately that is life....we can only control ourselves. All we’ve can do is stay away from the idiots & do what we know we should be doing.
I’m sure if you are going to go back to working in a school all the staff there will be well briefed as to the situation & will obey whatever rules have been put in place.
Hopefully the children will be doing as they are told....but of course having been at home for months .....not having seen their friends ....a great deal of self restraint is going to be called for.
But I’m sure things will settle down if everyone gets behind the systems in place.
You wouldn't deliberately stand in the road in front of the bus either... we all have to make whatever choices we are comfortable with. It must be very difficult to know what's best in your situation Ms D.
Its hard as i love what i do and if i was not immunosuporessed i would be fine and not worried so much. But its life and its a job which i need atm.
You are always super cool, dear Wish😎
Why thank you kindly Nk. 
😁
Kids get it, young people get it, old people get it. But the point is that for many of us we are actually less vulnerable than first thought. We can get it like anyone else, but it won’t kill or disable us. Obviously not all of us as our health conditions vary, but doing the risk assessment I linked might actually make some people feel a lot more confident going out and about - and even back to work. I am on a biologic and MTX and am only 63 with no other serious issues - so my vulnerability is not high at all. I am sensible, but living my life now.
I agree with what you have said, I am however pre-diabetic, asthmatic and suffer from severe migraines. But I guess we just have to get on with life now as can not live in a bubble forever. Roll on Christmas....x
Can’t do much about the asthma unfortunately, but can you work on the pre-diabetes? That would reduce your risk
I am doing everything I can to help the pre-diabetes but for some reason nothing is helping. I have gained so much weight with all the meds that I am actually on a low at the moment.
That’s a #£&*.... must be frustrating. Don’t beat yourself up about it, but have another go one day. That’s what I’m telling myself about my lockdown kg.😟
I appreciate that many people with RA are believed to be less vunerable than previously thought and that the virus won't kill everyone. As you say, our health conditions vary and many people with RA also have serious comorbidities which, as you know, means they have far more chance of becoming seriously ill with dire consequences, and it is "these people I am talking about", hence why I said highly vunerable shielding people in my post below. Part of the problem is that the government appear to have placed all shielding people in one basket and although I appreciate that the assesment you linked might make some people feel more confident going out and about, which I am doing while taking all precautions, and even returning to work. What concerns me is that unless I'm mistaken then it is not compulsory for employers to use the guidelines in the link, nor, as far as I know, has government even taken them on board and are still using their own much less thorough guidelines for returning to work, which I've heard are open to the interpretation of the employer. Indeed many if not most shielding people will be more than happy to go back to work as would I if I wasn't retired and providing I thought my work place was covid secure, but many people will not feel it safe to return, and with my particular health conditions neither would I if someone other than myself reckoned it was safe for me to do so, especially if they are not medically qualified. But that's just me and I am not advising anyone to do likewise, it is entirely up to the individual, but I can well understand how many people are very nervous about returning to work, especially something like teaching.
Entirely agree, especially that trying to lump people together in a single category is detrimental to all. There has been confusion from day 1, and sadly it seems that things aren’t getting better!
(Not just teaching...one that seems highly insecure seems to be working in a factory like meat packing plant. It all has to be tailored to the person and the job.)
Yep, some factories will be more high risk than teaching, especially if there's no union, which is the case with the majority of factories etc these days.
I hope the French government are more clear and decisive than our lot, who I make no bones about having very little confidence in.
Some flaws, but generally I’m happy I’m here not there! I’ve appreciated them prioritising keeping education going over opening up pubs....
I so agree ....... had I been a precocious teenager hh.....I could be your mother, but I am taking as much care as I can & Like you getting on with my life on my trusty Biologic.
More people will get only sick because they are listening to all sorts of horror stories & scaring themselves silly.
Be sensible, don’t take chances & enjoy your life ,,,,,nothing is stopping us doing what we want to do....just be careful where you do it & with whom!🧍♀️🧍
I had a Zoom appointment last week with my rheumatologist. I’m also on mtx and a biologic and I’m 57. She said to be vigilant when out and about but not be too anxious. I am fortunate I don’t have to worry about work as I run a business that my lovely team work in and I don’t always have to. Not sure how I’d feel about working in a crowded environment if I’m honest.
The longer we stay in, the more anxious we become about going out I think. I’m going out for lunch today to meet a friend and her 6 month old baby for the first time 😍😍😍
Enjoy your lunch today. I have been out to lunch this week for first time as where i live north west london its super crazy outside so im just being careful. Its all we can do and not be stupid or careless x
I’m in Norwich which is the lowest risk in the country. So I am fortunate. You’re right, we just need to be a bit more careful than others if we want to do stuff. And what’s life about if we don’t do anything with it 😍🥰
But year one children can be taught the necessary hygiene can’t they, if they haven’t been already? Schools will have put all the procedures in place. The virus isn’t going to go away and we can’t just stay off work indefinitely. We have to go back at some point, well I have to because I’m not getting paid. We have to take care of ourselves and do what is necessary to be able to go back to work.
I don't know much about the furlough scheme, perhaps government could/should have continued it for the highly vunerable shielding people, or provide some other form of financial support. Just a thought.
I will see what my consultant advises going forward. How are you keeping?
Not too bad thanks, rheumy think OA is the mainly responsible for causing my hands to deform, which means there's not much point of increasing my RA meds with all the risks involved. The pain is tolerable anyway providng I don't use my hands too much. I had an interesting phone chat with the occupational therapist and have another phone appointment with rheumy on Sept 8.
It sucks being in pain and nothing seems to help. I was given a local steroid last Friday and the pain has kicked in again. Benepali still isn't working and they want me to give it a few more weeks before switching to adalimumab. Not heard of this one before so don't know if its any good.
It certainly does. That steroid injection didn't last long did it. Might be best to inform rheumy about it if you are in pain again. I've never tried Benepali but its predecessor Enbrel started working within 24 hours. Can't say I've heard of Adalimumbab either, hopefully someone will come along who uses it. If not then it might be worth doing a new post to see if anyone is familiar with it.
I’m not on furlough though and my work has ceased (I’m self employed and not eligible for a grant) I don’t know when I will be going back but I’m looking for other work now as I do need to be earning 😊
As HH said the vulnerability of most of us on this site was completely misunderstood....& over exaggerated.....if we are sensible the majority of us will be fine.
RA as we all know is a miserable painful disease, but if we are sensible we do not need to remain locked in our homes forever.
The furlough scheme has been helpful...but now people have got to bite the bullet....get their work clothes out of retirement & get back earning....or risk losing their homes because they can’t pay their rent/ mortgage. It is still not clear how many of the people who were furloughed will actually have a job to go back to.
So let us be grateful we have come through what was hopefully the worst of Covid, & set about getting things running in the right direction.
So what you are saying is that highly vunerable people with serious underlying health issues should return to work never mind what? These are the people I am referring to, and where have you seen me say anything about people being locked in their homes?
Of course highly vulnerable people will not be expected to go back to work - but then the majority of us with RA are not in that category.
The majority of people who have been furloughed are 100% healthy, they have just been laid off to keep them off the streets, off public transport.....and not to be confined together in offices.
Everybody who has a serious medical condition can get an opinion from their medical team.
Whatever condition they suffer from, if they are concerned whether they should be expected to go back to work or not, they have to be proactive & ask.....their medical team aren’t going to come running after them telling them they’re not to go to work.
The highly vunerable are the people I was talking about and nobody else, I repeat. I have heard people with a serious condition say that they are going to get an opinion from their doctors but have never heard the outcome. I've just had a look at the Welsh guidelines for extremely vunerable people returning to work and can't see any mention of getting an opinion of your medical team if you have any safety concerns. Instead it tells you to raise them with your union, if you have one, the health and safety executive or your local authority.
As I said people have to be Pro Active and speak to their medical team ahead of the time they are expected to go back to work.Employers can’t decide off their own back which conditions are vulnerable and which are not....but on the other hand small employers cannot afford to go on paying people not to attend their place work.
If the doctor says you are fit to work, but you don’t want to go back, I think you would then be entitled to statutory sick pay.So sureLy most people would prefer to be medically certified as fit for work?
I don’t think being nervous about the situation would count as being unfit for work.
If I felt I was in the vulnerable category and was expected to go back to work next month, I would now be contacting my doctors asking their opinion, and asking for a written statement saying whether I should or should not be expected to go back to work.
It’s not an easy decision....but it’s one that has to be made & the person concerned has to be the one to find out in which category they belong.
I agree about getting a written opinion from doctors if someone feels their employer is not taking their health into full account, but am not sure how much weight it will carry with an employer as not all are understanding. Not sure who you would need to see if the employer was being akward other than those previously mentioned in the Welsh guidelines but preferably a trade union.
I'm not sure someone can claim statutory sick pay if their doctor reckons they are fit to work. If however the doctors agrees that someone is not fit to work then they should be able to claim the very generous sum of approx £95 statutory sick pay. I've heard that government guidelines for shielding people returning to work are open to the interpretation of the employer and am not sure if an employer is even legally obliged to carry out an assesment. If an employer demands that the employee returns to work but the employee refuses because they feel it unsafe then the employer is entitled to sack the employee, which could mean the long drawn out process of claiming unfair dismissal if the employee saw fit.
Wish, your hands must be aching 😑
My forefinger has buckled under the strain so I shall bid thee good night, or nos dda as we say in Wales.
Pleasant dreams to you dear Wish and look after your hands.
Some interesting points there about employment. As you know, my team have been back for over two months now. Not all of them were furloughed either.
I’ve just recruited two new people and I’m looking for two more as we are fortunate enough to be one of the winners here. I say fortunate as I’ve worked my socks off since March to make sure we did have a business at the end of this. In March, we lost 90% of our business. Today, our revenue is 50% higher than it was in February.
We’re a remote virtual reception and PA service to private healthcare. Some clinics went under as they treated the lockdown as a holiday and have paid dearly for that. Others are booming.
The sad part that I didn’t envisage is that Clinic’s are laying off their admin and reception staff and outsourcing it to companies like us. The clinic owner has had time to look at their numbers and think about the future. Plus seeing less patients because of the gaps between appointments now. The practice income is less. So whilst we’re recruiting now, the attrition rate of general unemployment is greater.
It’s been tough for everyone. I think next month will be tougher still as furlough ends 31st October and employers will be looking at notice periods etc... but for my team, we’re all grateful that we are still trading and have jobs.
Although the idea of furlough looked attractive it obviously wasn’t thought through.......especially the fact as you say.....some treated furlough as a holiday.....& thought if it as “free money”.
Come 31 October I think there will be many people ..both employers & employees who will really wish they had thought through their situation more seriously.
Hopefully there will be more companies like yours who will be able to offer jobs to those who will not be required to return to work on1 November.But sadly I think a lot of people are going to be struggling.
I spent weeks chivvying my clients along into doing stuff. Keeping in touch with their clients constantly. Perhaps looking at where things could be different. Even set up a different business.
Sitting back and being reactive was a recipe for disaster and they'll never open their doors again and blame someone else. Probably the government. Which doesn't add up when there are plenty in my position that didn't let things happen to us, we made things happen and now we're in a better place than ever before.
I'm not sure hospitality will recover for at least a couple of years. It's very sad.
Its a tough time for everyone and as wishbone was saying we all need to be careful but its others around us and not everyone is showing signs. My friend got tested yday and shes postive without showing signs and shes only went to office once this week so shows how easily people can get it. Im positive about going back and have been crazy busy since lockdown with classes, online training courses gallore and one to one meetings so ive not done nothing. I guess i dont want to get covid 19 and then unwillingly pass it to someone else. This time of year i always get chest infections and just cautious x
It is. It's about being careful. But life does go on and for the large majority of people, it will be all ok.
Bet Zoom has become your friend! I've never used it so much. I do have to remember to at least brush my hair though 🤣
I hate zoom though and forget my hair or forget im wearing something with stains on lol.
Hahahaha. I know!! I cram all mine into Tuesday and Wednesday. Then I don't care what I look like the rest of the time 🤣
But you don’t know your friend picked up the virus in her office do you? She could have been positive for days, even weeks if she had not been tested before.
Not everybody infected appears ill....in fact there must be people who are positive walking the streets right now.
That is a major problem.....& unless tests are rolled out quick & fast, the odd person will pick up the Infection, pass it on unknowingly, & these outbreaks we are seeing will continue.
It just needs someone with a bit of get up & go....rather than sad faced politicians stating Pie in the Sky observations ...but doing nothing positive to get things moving in the right direction.
We have just got to look after ourselves...& get tested!
I agree with you and had a go at a guy in a shop today whobwas standing so close to me i could hear him breathing. He then had a go saying its one meter rule so i replied in anger one meter is fine but you are so close i can smell you bloody odour. People clapped and said it was good that i stood my ground. None of the shop workers were telling people to keep their distance its made me more wary of going on as ive been seeing it alot.
But hey its the weekend so lets have fun. Have a lovely weekend.
Well done you!
My friends tell me I can produce “a look“ than can curdle cream....but with a mask of course that is no good.
The only time I have thought - a woman in fact - was too close...I hissed just that..... through my mask & she fled. You have to be positive & try to look as if you could floor somebody.....at 5’3”...not easy! 🤯
I terrify everyone. 6 foot tall and with a resting bit*h face apparently 🤣🤣🤣
I could well have one of those some days!
I was 5’5”..but appear to have lost 2” after my vertebrae fractures...or so they tell me.....but my clothes don’t appear to be two inches adrift, & my trousers don’t wrinkle over my shoes...maybe my neck has shrunk?
Do necks shrink?
Dunno....never measured mine....so nothing to compare with!
Maybe I’ll stand up straighter next time I’m measured...or measure myself behind the kitchen door?
My school from what I am aware will make all the necessary changes to protects us and the kids. I guess I am over worrying about things. Agree that we have to go back to work as even though I have been paid I can not afford to lose my job especially now.
• in reply toMs-D
I agree going back to work is important just don’t like to be taken for a fool and lied too
Ms-D• in reply to
Hows the decorating getting on?
AgedCrone• in reply to
These are uncharted waters....all possible precautions are being taken and if more are needed I’m sure they will be implemented as time goes on. I don’t think anybody working at the moment has ever had to deal with anything like this before. I don’t think anybody has lied deliberately they just didn’t know the right answer.
It’s no good hoping “They” are,going to pull the rabbit out of the heart and it will all be alright ...if we are still working surely we have all got to make our own contribution to ensure our workplaces are safe for us and our colleagues?
The authorities haven’t covered themselves in glory up until now , so let the workplace get back to work and organise themselves to be safe and get the country running again.
After all.....all the facilities we enjoy provided through government are provided with our money through our taxes...including salaries for a lot of people..... so if nobody is working & paying taxes....we would, all be without a lot of amenities that we have become to rely on.
Good for you....you will probably find your colleagues are equally fearful, but get the first week bedded in & you will hopefully be reassured.
Nothing is cast in stone...if certain measures aren’t working, they can be changed.
I have a family member who has been working all through lockdown as a school teacher and she says the children are far more diligent about observing the new rules than the staff!
How you getting on at school? I work in a special school and was shielding until September. I’m now back full time and it’s scary!! Only the clinically extremely vulnerable are being sent home and apparently I’m only extremely vulnerable so have to stay in school. Special needs students have no boundaries and we have 2 staff off with positive cases.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Worried about going back to work (I work in a school)
Hi everyone,
I have been shielding at home for the past few weeks and have been successfully...
I’m going back to school.
The state is going to be helping integrate me back into going to school as a count of I have no...
Worried about going to appointments.
I am keeping at home now as I am in several high risk groups. Obviously I have RD and I am on Mtx,...
Back to work
I had a phone call from my boss about going back to work, asking lots of questions, have I had...
Meeting for going back to work
So I had a meeting with my manager today, who started the meeting by saying, well shielding has...
Worried about being asked to return to work!
Government letters returning back to work? 
Back to work. 
