Retuning to work after 2nd December

only_me_123

Hi there,

I am classed as vulnerable and have been previously shielding in the first lockdown and have not bee going to work for the past few weeks due to being vulnerable in the second lockdow. I was placed on authorised leave until 2nd December as outlined by the government letter I received. I was not furloughed in this lockdown.

I am wondering if I will have to return to work after 2nd December with the new tiered system and who decides this. Will it still be the same "don't go to work if you can't work from home"? Or will it be up to my employer? I am still very concerned about going to work as it is not only me, but 2 other people in my house that are over 60 therefore being at risk.

If I am required to go to work, would it be worth talking to my GP and getting an exemption? I am not concerned about the pay, I would just rather be safe and keeping my family safe.

Any ideas would be great, thanks.

bradders1983

If your boss wants you in, your boss wants you in. Either persuade him to refurlough you again, go onto SSP, or resign. To be blunt, those will be your options if he wants you back.

You wouldnt be going to your GP to get an "exemption", no such thing exists. You would be going to your GP to get a sicknote in order to get SSP.

adamp87

I don’t believe there was any direct shielding from the government was there just advice?

Either way it’s up to your employer, if they want you to return or not I’d expect. 

KxMx

Guessing you are clinically extremely vulnerable if you had shielding letters? 

Not much advice we can give at the moment, too many unknowns.
The lockdown may be extended. 
The new tier regulations and areas they apply to haven't been announced yet.

Shielding wasn't part of Tier 3 restrictions before, no one knows yet if that will change. 
It actually wasn't added to the second national level lockdown until the last minute, this time the emphasis was on choice wheras last time it was all "you must stay indoors 24/7 don't go into garden" at first. 

There should be some information tomorrow about the new tiers and area classification Thursday. 

Preface12

I am in exactly the same situation. We'll just have to wait for guidance from the government. Like you I can't work from home, so I've had to shield again as per the recent letter from the government. Let's wait and hear what the government says. Good luck! 

unforeseen

I'm in the extremely vulnerable category, I will be back in work on the 3rd. The only reason I worked from home during this lockdown is because I have been self-isolating since the beginning of October for hospital treatment. 

Dr_Crypto

There is no "exemption". You can go off sick if you're in the extremely vulnerable group but that doesn't apply to people you live with. If they want you back in work your options are to go, to resign, to go off sick, to WFH, or to ask for furlough. 

only_me_123

It looks like with the lockdown ending that we will be expected to go back to work, unless they are to announce anything regarding work.

Thrugelmir

Lockdowns may still be imposed. Far from over and a return to normality. That's still some months away. 
There's no accounting for those that hold alternative views either. Covid isn't going away entirely anytime soon. 

KxMx

We will be publishing guidance for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable on how to manage the risks in each tier, as well as over Christmas

Also

In particular, in tier 1 people should work from home wherever possible.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-covid-19-winter-plan-23-november-2020

elsien

Being over 60 doesn’t make your family members at significantly higher risk unless they have other health conditions that put them in the extremely vulnerable category.
Parent is over 80 with asthma and was told by her GP there was no need to shield in the first lockdown. If it’s just their age then the normal precautions we are all taking should suffice. 
They’re no more risk from you going to work than they are from shopping and normal daily activities.