Shileding a family member, 37 month old toddler and returning to work in retail/supermarket.

sweetsand

One of the family, she works for a major supermarket, top five. Works part-time, 8 hour contract over 7 days filling shelves stock taking. She has not been to work since the lock-down and employer agreed but now want her back. She did not get paid or claimed and did not and does not expect this.  The question is that the shielding  group advice has now been increased to the end of June ie another couple of weeks on top of the intial 12. Her employer want her back Monday 4 hours and Sunday next week 4 hours and her husband has said forget it but she does not want to lose her job and does not want to return atm becuse of their baby is at risk. They have contact the employer today via email but what advice if any do you have?

We have said wait and hopefully new treatments etc and hopefully vaccine but can't see that being rolled out until December for the majority at risk. We are also hoping for the virus to go away and this will happen if our lame gov told everyone to wear a mask of some type when out, social distancing at 6' 6" and wash those hands and be aware.

Thanks.

JGB1955

What is their 3 year old child at risk of? Have they had a 'shielding' letter? It seems a reasonable request on the part of the employer.

sharpe106

I would not hold any hope on anything changing vaccine wise for the near future. If the employer wants her back unless they agree to not then her options are basically leave or go back to work. Do you really expect them to hold the job open for ever for them when they need staff? 

sweetsand

JGB1955 said:

What is their 3 year old child at risk of? Have they had a 'shielding' letter? It seems a reasonable request on the part of the employer.

Yes, had a shielding letter 

sweetsand

sharpe106 said:

I would not hold any hope on anything changing vaccine wise for the near future. If the employer wants her back unless they agree to not then her options are basically leave or go back to work. Do you really expect them to hold the job open for ever for them when they need staff? 

Forever?

sharpe106

What happens if they never find a vaccine?

sharpe106

I think I got confused somewhere who is shielding the person or the child? If its the child the government has set advice for what to do if another member of the family needs shielding. So if somebody is off because a family member is shielding it is not really the employer problem. If it is the person she is eligible for SSP. 

poppy12345

Lots of people have worked all through the lockdown and they live with an extremely vulnerable person who's also received the shielding letter. There's people on here that have posted. They just have to stick to strict hygiene rules when returning home from work, this will include removing shoes before entering the home. Taking off your clothes and putting them straight into the wash, wiping any surfaces they touch and then showering/bathing straight away. They have continued to do this with no problems at all.

Whether or not she returns to work is her decision but this isn't going to go away over night, it's going to be the new normal for quite some time.

suki1964

poppy12345 said:

Lots of people have worked all through the lockdown and they live with an extremely vulnerable person who's also received the shielding letter. There's people on here that have posted. They just have to stick to strict hygiene rules when returning home from work, this will include removing shoes before entering the home. Taking off your clothes and putting them straight into the wash, wiping any surfaces they touch and then showering/bathing straight away. They have continued to do this with no problems at all.

Whether or not she returns to work is her decision but this isn't going to go away over night, it's going to be the new normal for quite some time.

Im one of those people, well I was until I was put on furlough

OP, following strict hygiene measures when returning to the home will make the risk pretty negligible to anyone she is shielding 

If it is her that has been told to shield she needs to download a sick note and claim SSP

neilmcl

sweetsand said:

sharpe106 said:

What happens if they never find a vaccine?

That is 50/50. Hoepfully with a useful  track and testing in place by Dec and everyone having to wear masks in public this would massively reduce risk and then most people even high risk people that work would return to work.  The young lady I'm on about have a massive mortage and though her 8 hours money is not great it does make a differecne and she is worried about the ignorant parasites that ignore social distancing and not wear masks in public and the hope is this will change when the gov starts to fine people for not following the rules.

Only people being mandated to wear masks in public are those on public transport for the simple reason you can't maintain social distancing. Please don't call people "ignorant parasites" if they choose not to wear a mask outdoors or in other open settings. Social distancing and hand washing is much more effective than simply wearing a mask.

sweetsand

sharpe106 said:

I think I got confused somewhere who is shielding the person or the child? If its the child the government has set advice for what to do if another member of the family needs shielding. So if somebody is off because a family member is shielding it is not really the employer problem. If it is the person she is eligible for SSP. 

Don't worry - its the child that has the letter and the parents are not looking to claim benefits etc just want at least a couple of more months away from the work place in the hope more solutions re this virus are found