Pay and work whilst socially distancing

[Leotherabbi]

My daughter works in a care home and is 13 weeks pregnant should she be going into. Work as employer has said that they won’t be paying her wages should she socially distance herself per government guidelines?

[Hidden]

I think they have to give her other options so she can work away from people if possible. I don’t know whether she could receive sick pay if they are not being helpful

[Leotherabbi in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply but there is no option to work away from patients it’s a hands on job feeding, cleaning and moving then etc was hoping she would get paid full or part or she will have to go back to work which is a worry sick pay just isn’t enough

[Hidden in reply to Leotherabbi]

I just wondered if temporarily they could offer an admin job to keep her away. She could talk to citizens advice maybe

[Itsalongjourney26]

Hi. If she’s not in work she can claim 80% of her wages through the new government guidelines. She should absolutely not be expected to work.

[Leotherabbi in reply to Itsalongjourney26]

The works have said that she’s chosen to stay off work as the government is only ADVISING them to stay at home!

[SBeanbag in reply to Leotherabbi]

Pregnancy is a protected characteristic they need to be very careful otherwise she can take them to employment tribunal. The rules are all new at the moment so the employer is probably not aware of the correct action. She needs to present them with the information and the solution. ACAS should be able to help

[Florencenightingale]

I've been asking the same question. I work on a ward but its lower risk as its orthopaedic. The guidelines the Gov have sent out say if you arent on the very high risk list (which only includes 3rd trimester pregnancy) then you will be put down as unauthorised absence and not paid.

1st and 2nd trimester is high risk but advised they should be in work

[Cook7786]

Hiya,

I was in this predicament last week after the government guidelines. I work in a residential care home for vulnerable adults with severe physical and learning disabilities.

Since an official report came out on Saturday evening it states that healthcare professionals are still okay to work up until 28weeks. I’m currently 21 weeks now. It was a stressful week last week - but I feel safe with those guidelines and grateful I still have a job.

Care homes should be in isolation, keeping the service users as safe as possible. Fingers crossed all is okay for everyone. Your daughter has every right to self isolate but this would only be covered by SSP. Unfortunately this sector isn’t as generous as most.

Hope this helps.

Here is the link........

rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-r...

[Leotherabbi in reply to Cook7786]

Thanks for that she’s spoken to the midwife who has said it’s upto her but she can return to work conflicting advice indeed from the government

[Leotherabbi in reply to Cook7786]

She’s spoken to the midwife who has said she can return to work so conflicting advice from the government

[LKT1]

I think there has been confusion over the ‘vulnerable category’ and other terminology.

Self isolation is where you or others in your household have symptoms and if you are staying at home because of this you can claim SSP whilst you are off.

Everyone else including pregnant women in the ‘vulnerable’ category are ‘Social Distancing’ and those who are vulnerable have been asked to take extra care whilst doing this. Where possible employers should make adjustments. My understanding is that she won’t be entitled to any financial support if she chooses not to go to work. This is because social distancing rules still permits you to go to work as there have been no evidence of increased risk to pregnancy. the Government have just asked pregnant women to be extra stringent with personal hygiene and unnecessary socialising as a precaution.

Best thing into do is keep an eye on the .Gov official advice pages and also the Royal College of Gynaecology advice. See below links to specific info re pregnancy.

rcog.org.uk/en/news/updated...

Pages 35-37

rcog.org.uk/globalassets/do...

Hope this helps. X

[Hidden]

She could always contact her GP to discuss with them. If she tells them it’s causing her anxiety they might be willing to sign her off sick, thus taking is out of her employer’s hands

[Leotherabbi in reply to Hidden]

I appreciate what your saying there but that means sick pay and she’s a private renter too x

[Andie83]

This is exactly the problem I’m having I a health care assistant in a private care home for the elderly they are taking in people sent from the hospitals to clear beds my midwife said I should be distancing from the face to face I do but my employer is saying it’s not high risk work and very uninterested in the information I passed on to her. I also private rent and can’t live off £94 this is causing me so must stress and anxiety at a time I should be happy but I’m so scared of getting sick and possibly loosing my pregnancy or both our lives because of not been strong enough to fight the infection as well as growing a baby I am 12weeks tomorrow

[Leotherabbi in reply to Andie83]

It’s worrying time at best let alone now

My daughter has returned but gone on nights as there is less contact with residents and any coming from hospital are being relocated to the far end of the home with nurses having to go in and out of there own front door no contact with communal rooms or kitchen so for now it’s ok but if the crisis continues in care Homes as is the case I will be pulling her out whatever the situation and asking for forlough payment they won’t get away with it I can assure you.

Stay safe as can be and maybe suggest nights?

[Lululemon67]

Maternity action are providing some good advice and have a helpline maternityaction.org.uk/covi...

[Loadsoflove]

Hello, I was in a similar position myself as I’m 26 weeks pregnant and I work as a Healthcare Assistant in a nursing home. I actually went off sick before the outbreak of Coronavirus though. You could try and get them to furlough your daughter. Ask them if that is something they would consider. She would then be safe at home yet still receive 80% of her income and once the risk of this pandemic decreases, she still remains an employee.

The government are recommending employers to furlough their members of staff and it will not cost them anything to do so but going by what you have said about your daughters employers, they might not which is incredibly unhelpful and benefits nobody. It’s worth asking though.

Good luck!

[Hidden]

Yes she can get SSP.