Being told to continue non-essential manufacture job

7Phil

Joshuaclay said:

Also only a few of us are full employees, others are self-employed contractors so are happy to continue working rather than face the alternative of universal credit inadequate wages.

Yours is still a tricky situation at this exact time and day:
I think social attitudes will change rapidly, soon. At this exact moment the advice is "crystal clear" (Matt Hancock - Health Secretary): You can leave home only for four reasons, and one of those reasons is "to go to work if you cannot work from home."
I think the sticking issue for you is whether you work in an essential job. It might not be an essential job but your industry is not (yet) closed down. Strictly you should be remaining 2m apart and also consider shared tools etc too. Therefore, whether it is essential for you to leave home to go to work depends on your opinion on whether it is essential for you personally. If you would lose your job or lose your pay then you might consider that essential.
This sounds like a catch 22, and it sort of is. I think in the next couple of days things will be more clear and your employer will decide they need to close or the govt will produce clear guidance for your job type.
In the meantime I would stay on the good side of your employer if you can as you might need their support if this gets worse.
Oh, and do it safely.

7Phil

Undervalued said:

So if say half your electrics fail is it "essential" for an electrician to come and repair or is it only "essential" if all the electrics fail? 

And so on....

We are still playing the "use common sense" approach, that is: Stay right for yourself and your community and decide if what you are doing is essential.
It may not be essential to lay the new patio. However, the patio layer may have no other source of income, three kids and one with special needs. It may be essential for that person. I am not sure whether anyone else is in a position to judge that person for keeping their income going in this crisis, as long as they can do it within the hygiene guidelines.
I realise this is wide open to abuse but if the rules are understood and followed strictly then it could be doing enough to break the chain of transmission, and then people can safely maintain their livelihoods as well as getting rid of this thing. I think this is the message the govt is aiming at just now, today.

If we can't then stricter measures will come in -- and people will be without a job or money for food.