Just been told that my employer is stopping my furlough at the end of June. Am on Ritixamab and have been shielding since end of March. My boss says if I stay off work I will have to go on the sick. Anyone know if I will have to get a sick note to do this in the current situation. Have to point out I work in an office of a garden centre, and the owner is stopping the furlough, the manager says he will support me whatever I decide to do, as he would be mortified if I were to get the virus, my husband is 71 and I do not want to put him at risk . I do not feel ready to return to work as I am still anxious about catching the virus as a lot of people are.
Furlough stopped: Just been told that... - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
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Furlough stopped
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Callabag64
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Oh dear, a difficult situation Callabag64. I feel for you, especially with your husband at risk. I think you should ask for a telephone appointment with your GP to see how to proceed in terms of benefits, as I don't think this may not be a completely simple case of claiming sickness benefit. If your GP can't give you guidance, you may be able to find some information at the CAB website (Citizens' Advice) citizensadvice.org.uk
I hope you get this sorted out OK and if you make your way through the process, please let us know how and how easy/difficult it was, as I feel there will be many people in the same situation as yourself.🙏
I thought you could be furloughed till August as I thought it was extended I’m in furlough now and not been told to come back yet.
Also if you go on sick all your payments will change you will have to say why you are off sick which doesn’t make sence for you to say cause your shielding.you should remain in furlough if you come out of furlough you can’t go back in for 3 weeks don’t understand this
SORRELHIPPOReading Rabbits
On the gov.uk site there is info. on this. Your employer has to prove he/she has taken steps to make the work place Covid safer. Have a look at the latest info. on this site, where it is
set out in greater detail, how you are meant to be treated.
There is something in the shielding letter about not needing a sick note, although that may be out if date.
Take a second look at your letter, it might have some info?
I think you should speak to your doctor. So basically your garden centre say you need to go back to work and therefore that means your employer needs to put measures in place to make sure you are safe and protected from Covid but from what you say you don’t want to go back because understandably you are worried about your husband being in a vulnerable age group. I wonder if this comes down to your choice so I’m not sure where you stand with this.
I would call the doctor and voice your concerns and see if he can sign you off. I hope you get this sorted. Would you mind saying how you get on as this would be something that might be helpful advice for others. Good luck x
Ali
Just found this which might help You...
workingfamilies.org.uk/arti...
Thank you for your reply, will post on this site as soon as I have spoken to my GP.
Good luck, but if you have not reieved another letter to contiue shielding you may have to go back to wrok, but they will have to put things in place to make sure you are safe
Do You live in the USA? Here if where going on sick leave you’d need a note from your doctor.
No,I live in the UK
Hi all interesting post. I also am on furlough been told have to go back. Have COPD classed as moderate. Did not get shielding letter, but my husband did qualify and has letter. Am nervous and scared to go out into the world after being home since early March. Have to get a sick note or quit if I want to stay off. Feel it is still not safe for me out there . . . . . anxious not sure what to do ⏱🧼
That is exactly how I feel, My job involves cashing up tills and normally counting money, but my place of work are not taking cash at the moment just card payments, but they do take paper vouchers as payment , so there are certainly risks involved I would think. Just spoke to my gp, who says no need for sick note as I am not sick, and my employer should not be putting me under this pressure. She sent me a link to the government website, and said I should shield till at least the end of July, she also said I should give my employer a copy of my latest letter that says exactly that. I will be staying off work till end of July as letter says, but in the meantime I will contact Citizens advice to see where I stand with this. Had Pneumonitis 2 years ago, do not want to risk anything like that again.
Furloughed till end of Ju e I have been told, and shielding since end of March
It may be that your boss doesn't understand that you would have been shielding even if you hadn't been furloughed, so he should understand this. Perhaps the work environment is safe enough. That's what you need to establish. Good luck.
Have you received a letter about shielding this week? Mine says it acts as evidence that you cannot work outside your home. This means you are entitled to at least SSP.
Yes have received the latest letter, and just spoken to citizens advice, who directed me to ACAS. They have said the latest letter covers me to the end of July, so I should get sick pay just on that letter, but advised I should put it to my boss that sick pay comes out of HIS pocket, whereas, furlough is paid by the government.
I’m glad they have helped you. It makes no sense to me for your boss to put you on ssp rather than furlough but I don’t know his set up. Good luck I hope you sort something out.
Thanks for all your reply’s. I did not get letter am only classed as moderate COPD. Husband has a letter his immune system low because of medication he is on. From what I can gather. I would need a sick note to stay off. Or see if I could have unpaid leave for short period. Am very anxious. Scares the hell out of me as breathing difficult on daily basis. Face masks would be difficult also. ⏱
I see you've had plenty of advice so all I can add is ring up and seek advice from cab good luck
You are ok till the end of July as you have a letter and they have to let you stay home till then. ⏱
MidoriVisually impaired
I would ask the Manager what the safety precautions are, as your husband is in the high risk category if you go back.
You could also be cheeky and ask the Boss what would happen if your husband became sick with Covid after him insisting you come back to work! (play that suggestion by ear though, in case!)
Cheers, Midori
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