Battle with employer with extended shielding

Kazza52 · 20. Feb 2021, 12:00

Hi everyone,

I have been working from home since the beginning of January due to shielding and I thought this arrangement was working okay and due to shielding I was very safe in my own home. However, this week I received a further shielding letter dated the 15th February advising that I was to shield again until the 31st March. I duly emailed my HR manager in my office and told him that I had received the letter and saying that I had to shield until the 31st March. His reaction was that "he was expecting me back in the office at the beginning of March" and "what was happening with regards to my second jab". I said I was happy to continue working from home and no news yet on my second jab. Now my firm have gone very quiet and I have not heard a word. I am sending them a copy of the latest letter so that they are aware of the situation. The situation is not helped by the fact that two of the women in my firm who were told to shield (due to both having cancer) took no notice of their letters and decided to come to work as "they would be bored at home". I am not prepared to risk my health or the health of others by going into work. I am now waiting to see what they are going to do.

I have been at my firm for in excess of 25 years and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis and on Methotrexate since 2016. Are there any legal people who are members of Versus Arthritis who could give guidance? We should not have to battle with our employers to keep our jobs or give in to their emotional blackmail.

Stay safe everyone

Kazza xx🐶

Mike1 · 20. Feb 2021, 14:40

Have a look at https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/work/

and

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

frogmorton · 21. Feb 2021, 07:09

Mike always gives good advice @Kazza52

also there is a lady @MoWW who knows her stuff.

I know very little but your employer has had me worried before about their attitude. I hope things don't escalate for you ((()))

Kazza52 · 21. Feb 2021, 11:54

Thanks Mike and Toni for your replies.

Stay safe

Kazza x🐶

glen8a · 23. Feb 2021, 18:19

Hi @Kazza52. I'm new here and I have the same situation with my employer. I have RA and on Methotrexate and also has hypertension on BP meds. I have been told by my Rheum team to practice strict social distancing since March and had a letter from them to show my manager the advice. This has allowed me work from home. Since it wasn't an "official shielding letter" my manager got back to me and saying I was incorrectly shielding this time and it was my Rheum team being overly cautious for giving such advise.

I am now hoping to be added on the new shielding list as without the letter, my manager is being horrible about it. Can I ask what meds you're on (if you don't mind) and was it your GP who put you on the Shielding list of your Rheum team. Many thanks.

Anna · 23. Feb 2021, 18:48

Hi @glen8a,

A warm welcome to the online community. I see you have been advised by your rheumatology team to continue to shield but you have concerns about your manager's attitude and so are hoping to be put on the new shielding list.

I know many members have experienced similar work issues and will no doubt offer you the benefit of their experience. While you're waiting for some member responses, you might like to look at the two website links that Mike recommended above - they deal with all the issues surrounding work while living with arthritis - I've copied them again below.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/work/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Do let us know how you get on,

Anna (mod) : )

glen8a · 23. Feb 2021, 19:07

@Anna Thank you so much for your kind welcome and signposts! They’re very helpful and I really appreciate it!

MoWW · 24. Feb 2021, 12:38

Hello @Kazza and @glen8a

Your posts highlight the lack of understanding within the wider community of shielding. I have put together some links that may help you to explain to your employer and ensure they are aware of their duty to you as an employee with a long term condition. ACAS has useful information, some of which is nation specific.

Coronavirus: shielding and vulnerable people - Acas

By law, employees and workers are protected against unfair treatment and dismissal if it's because of:

pregnancy
age
a health condition that's considered a disability under the Equality Act

It does not matter how long they've worked for the employer.

This means an employer must not:

unreasonably try to pressure someone to go to work
unreasonably discipline someone for not going to work

Link to, Find out about dealing with a problem at work.

The definition of clinically vulnerable also includes some guidance for those who do not have a shielding letter. "other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions" Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In addition when planning to return to the workplace, consider whether Access to work, (AtW) can provide support for travel. If you cannot use public transport or drive safely and are at higher risk while doing so, AtW may consider providing funding for taxis or a driver support worker . Check out the website for more information. Access to Work: factsheet for customers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you would like to discuss any of this information further, my contact details are within this link. Working Well with Arthritis (versusarthritis.org)

I hope this information will help you to communicate with your employer to ensure you are supported to work from home, during this period of lockdown, and plan for a safe return to work when the time is right

@MoWW Maureen

Battle with employer with extended shielding

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