Relatives of shielders living in same household.

Sweetheart66

My son was on full pay from his work to shield with me until 1st July. I'm not sure why his work would not continue to pay until 1st August which the shielding date was extended to. Has anyone else experienced this and were they able to negotiate with their employer? My son has taken unpaid leave for 1 month because he still feels the risk is too high as does the government as they extended the date. I feel a burden to him as a shielder that he has no pay for a month because he lives with me and feels he needs to do this to protect me. Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you in advance. 

yksi

He's in a tiny minority even being able to stay on furlough or full pay when he wasn't the one who was ill. Nearly everyone has gone back to work now, there are many of us with vulnerable family members who had to work the whole time, take sensible precautions as your risk of catching it is considered close to the general flu risk. That's not to say the illness itself is comparable, but unless you live in Leicester, life has to go on and we've just got to sanitise, keep our distance, wear our masks and get on with living. An effective vaccine might not happen for years, if at all. We can't all stay home and shut the country down indefinitely.

The answer to your question on why his work won't continue to pay him to sit at home is that he has work to do (so furlough is not appropriate - it was intended to preserve jobs when there was no work to do, not replace sickness payment for someone who isn't even ill). Your son isn't ill, and his workplace is open, therefore, he needs to work. If he won't do that he can either take paid or unpaid leave (by negotiation) or face disciplinary action and risk his job. Not a great idea with thousands unemployed who are willing to work. He's costing his bosses money and they get nothing out of it. Of course they're not thrilled.

The best thing you can do is to encourage him to go back to work but to be careful. He should remove his clothes as soon as he enters the house and put them straight in the washer, then shower. And the two of you can still limit social interactions with anyone else, and he can do the grocery shopping etc.

mattyprice4004

They’ve probably not continued to pay him because he’s already cost them enough, and he should be back at work as above.

The pot of gold isn’t endless - if he’s needed at work, they’re not going to pay him the same amount to sit on his hands doing nothing. 

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately all the countries that said "We can't stay at home and shut the country down indefinitely" ... Are now shutting down again!!!   Because the virus has come roaring back.

There's little risk in it being carried on clothes.    The risk is more from exhalation.  The WHO have just said it's airborne.  So just being in the same room as someone, having a conversation with them, breathing the same air as them, where there is restricted airflow will put you at risk if they've got it.

Sorry not to be able to reassure you - but for balance I just wanted to come at it from the opposite angle from the other posters and say that I understand your continuing cautiousness!

bradders1983

mattyprice4004 said:

They’ve probably not continued to pay him because he’s already cost them enough, and he should be back at work as above.

The pot of gold isn’t endless - if he’s needed at work, they’re not going to pay him the same amount to sit on his hands doing nothing. 

^^^^^this. It was rather generous he was getting full pay at all. 

Mrsn

Whilst it’s lovely that he feels he needs to continue to protect you it comes with the consequences of no more pay. 

There’s nothing wrong with that and I don’t think you perhaps quiet understand just how generous the employer was to give him full pay in the last few months particularly as it’s not your son who has the condition that makes him vulnerable. Many places have only paid SSP up until this point..... 

Some regular posters on here lives with those whose are shielding and have continued to work over the last few months with strict hygiene routines and other measures in place, they’ve had to do this because there is no other option.

None of this is meant to be unkind but when you use words like negotiate with his employer and you can’t understand why he couldn’t remain on until August it’s a little disheartening that you don’t recognise the generosity given by his employer so far.