My wife (also a key worker) and I have grave concerns about taking my 9 year old to school. We are observing the restrictions and only making essential outings in going to work and shopping. If I Don’t take her to school my manager has told me I won’t get paid as It is my choice. Wife and me work for same govt dept but different directorates.
I don't know the answer to your problem but some employers are realy starting to show their true colours
No we can’t work from home, Although Wife is Part time, the changed office hours 8-5,doesn’t afford enough flexibility to accommodate both our shift patterns. It just peeves me off that the govt are advocating as little movement as possible but a govt. dept are telling me to go out and take my daughter to school and significantly increase our exposure to the virus
True, it’s just my employers happen to be the people who are telling everyone to stay at home as much as possible
I don’t want any of us to get the symptoms. I could fake them of course, but don’t want to do that. Although, desperate times could call for desperate measures
Ask your daughter's school what they've done to reduce risk. My mother works in a local primary school and they're basically spending all day outside and going to great lengths to reduce the risk of infection.
We’re still awaiting details as her school had closed before the official shutdown due to staff shortages. I’m sure that whatever they’ve arranged It’ll be in keeping the risks to a minimum, but compared to being at home it’s still a big risk. Then the travelling to and from school, wife doesn’t drive
Its difficult for families of key workers , all you can do is do your job to the best of your ability knowing that as a key worker you are stepping up to save lives or keep life going .
Work itself is a bit manic due to staff shortages but it is manageable, like other places I suppose, there has to be an over- zealous type to unnecessarily over complicate things , lol.
WTAF Lets get some perspective and remember why we're 'key workers' Thanks Durkar Benefit claims are through the roof - millions of people who are furloughed require HMRC to sort out their money to keep them alive, nurses, doctors, health care professionals... people emptying our bins, keeping fuel in the pumps, food on the shelves. It's time to keep perspective - if all the key workers decide to pull a sickie this forum will be full of people complaining that there's no food, money, healthcare etc. Give it a month or two and how many more people do you think will be phoning up for a funeral payment as they have no money to bury their grandads.
This is true and thanks to all those out there who are still physically going to work. I’m as usual working from home. It’s a double edged sword though. The risk that key workers take needs recognising by employers as well as the public. Where possible employers need to be flexible. So are more flexible hours possible here? The employer should recognise the valid concern raised and see what can be done to help.
I can only guess that the OP is in a frontline role, as all govt workers who can work from home are doing so. it’s not that I have no sympathy, I’m grateful for all our frontline workers putting themselves out there. Including the teachers looking after our kids and grandkids so we can carry on working.
I’m afraid you don’t have any choice. You are a key worker so you need to be working. As harsh as your employer’s answer sounds, at least they are giving you the option of time off unpaid, they could say no full stop as free childcare (school) is being provided to you. Your 9 year old will almost certainly be fine except for maybe being a carrier, as you don’t mention your age or if you have underlying health conditions then it’s not clear if you or your wife are especially high risk. I have to go to work with all key workers’ children, I don’t love the idea either but someone has to do it and I can’t see a reason why that person shouldn’t be me just because I’m a bit scared.
Genius - all the key workers should enjoy the 'holiday' too eh! I'm fairly sure the country will carry on functioning without 'key workers' - who needs nurses, benefits, gas, leccy, food etc The clue is in the name
He’s a healthy key worker who’s trying to stay at home on full pay. I get he’s scared but his attitude makes me quite angry to be honest. The very definition of key worker is that they are essential to the running of the country, if he doesn’t think he should be at risk then who does he think should be in his place? The work still needs doing.
Not necessarily the case, I am classed as a key worker and my role is far from essential to running the country. I am simply classed as this because I work for the NHS. I work in IT and my role is far from frontline or crucial to this country running. I have been allowed to work from home a few days a week which seems odd as either keep me in full time or keep me at home full time, a mix of both seems to defeat the point of it imo. Some of my friends that work in our service desk who could work from home if needed, have been told they are not allowed to work at home at all when the rest of us are allowed which again seems unfair.