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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JRT" data-source="post: 2285295" data-attributes="member: 520947">There are some interesting articles in Guardian about working from home including how for some it is definitely not advantageous. I know when my daughters were young the hour it took me to get home was excellent preparation and down time! Even though the phrase is over used this is an unprecedented situation, a lot of the "old " rules no longer are useful. So many people are affected in so many ways. Some relish working from home, some are struggling, some dont even get the opportunity. Things will have to change as long as the virus is around. I suppose the key question is how long will that be,which of course no one knows. I have no faith in the government regarding my own situation but even if they were on the ball it must be challenging to say the least. During lockdown I had hope that the very least to come out of this would be changes to social care. After working for the council and Citizens Advice in Research and Campaigns and caring for my dad full time who had dementia I needed a job that would pay the bills. I didnt want to manage people or organise rotas I wanted to work with people. A 12 hr shift doing hands on care didnt appeal,not that I mind being a care giver but when you are in your late 50s you dont have quite the same physical stamina for non stop hoisting,rolling,etc. I found a job as a support worker,quite a rare role in that no care but spend time talking to residents, 1.1s etc. Bliss. I must stress that my employer is one of the better ones but boy can you see the gap between public and private sector! The residents in the main well cared for and needs met,but it was areas like OT where you had a ridiculous struggle to get a chair raised when a resident was increasingly struggling. Staff rights are non existent. SSP only.Unions not encouraged. A deputy manager who genuinely cant see the problem with pushing a 20 stone resident up a hill in a large difficult to control wheelchair without a lap belt in a heatwave! I had past experience and knowledge to keep myself and residents safe and shared that knowledge with team. Still the system was struggling before the pandemic. My employers ideally would have permenant staff,and have improved the situation but few people are tempted into care when you can earn more just about anywhere else. I havent been at work since mid March because my gut instinct told me that even though they would do their best to follow government guidelines it just wouldnt be safe for me. My gut instinct was right and I shudder to think what would have happened if I had been there. After losing nearly a third of their residents things seemed to be in control. Now the virus is back in the building,staff I leaving who have been there for several years.We can only act on our own situation. Those of you that are in education they may be planning training days and refusing PPE but it doesn't mean that will be the case when the day arrives,advice changes daily. Financial situations vary greatly. If you dont have to be in that situation dont be. If you do try and buy yourself time. I know I'm incredibly lucky as I can keep the wolf from the door until next Spring. My union recommended I apply for Universal Credit,which I have done. Not sure quite how that is going to work but I've nothing to lose! I'm in No Mans land I am employed but without pay. Currently my GP has signed me off with stress. My employers through incompetence or in the hope of starving me back to work are refusing to pay SSP so I view the certificate as justification as to why I'm not there. GPs vary mine is moderately sympathetic and is calling this Friday and I will find out if she will renew it. One thing is for certain is the stress and anxiety are real,and I'm better placed than most.Sorry for the long post but I can hear the pain and uncertainty in some posters and feel the need to acknowledge they are not alone. The risk is real but the means of dealing with it havent caught up. I suppose my time at CAB was valuable as well. I remember one caller who was an accountant and in a very well paid job until she became ill. She was on the road to recovery but had been told she was not entitled to benefits(she was) and it had got to the stage she was foraging for firewood and berries. Having no prior knowledge of the system she was stunned that the safety net she was assuming was there had to be fought for. She thought if DWP said no it was final. In reality decisions overturned on appeal. I think we are at the beginning of this. I've stepped away from the news apart from short bursts but the virus seems to be spiking and economic recovery grim. Changes may be made but they may take a very long time. Meanwhile all you can do is your best not to be collateral damage.</blockquote>

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