Well, events have changed and I may not be returning to work.
My wife has severe COPD, has been identified as highly vulnerable and is therefore isolating for 12 weeks and we're having to observe the 'shielding' guidelines. At home are myself, my wife, my daughter who's 24 and her fiance who's 26.
My daughter is studying for her Masters degree and her uni (Coventry) shut down pretty quickly so she's at home 24/7 anyway. Her fiance works in the banking sector and works from home so he's also home 24/7 and my wife doesn't work.
My boss initially said that after the 14 day isolation period I need to return to work. However, I called NHS 111 to question if that was right and was told emphatically no. We must *all* isolate for 12 weeks and only go out for essentials like shopping and thats it.
My GP was really helpful and just referred me to the NHS website.
So, we're now self isolating until June or we're told otherwise.
My wifes health comes before any job.
My boss isn't happy but I told her we can discuss it when I return to work.
Hi Paul, all I would say is get that advice/instruction in writing if you can because what you have described is not my interpretation of the govt guidelines (although I am no expert). The reason I say this is because your Employer may well be reading those same guidelines as we speak and may be wondering why you are not going into work.
Your wife is shielding (that's straightforward - at home for 12 weeks), the govt advice states that the family (living in the household) of those shielding do NOT have to shield but should follow the guidelines for 'social distancing' (which you would be doing as a diabetic anyway). The social distancing states only go out for certain reasons, such as food shopping/exercise and to 'work from home' IF you are able to. That's where the issue might arise with your work, IF they say you cannot work from home (ie it is impossible for whatever reason) then you are on a sticky wicket by simply saying 'I'm not coming in'. Obviously if you have decided not to go in due to looking after/protecting your wife, that is admirable.
The confusion seems to arise with what you have been told by your Boss about '14 days isolation', THAT is when you or your family are showing Covid symptoms - nothing to do with shielding/social distancing as such. As for the NHS helpline saying you must ALL 'self isolate' for 12 weeks, well that's not what is on the govt website, the website refers to social distancing and the bit about only going out for certain reasons, etc, yes 'shopping' is on the list but so is the 'work from home IF able' bit. Obviously you could argue that you as a diabetic must follow it stringently especially with a wife who is shielding but as I said be very careful about the 'not going to work' aspect because your work may not accept that and it could have a negative impact for you? What work do you do by the way?
These problems arise because none of the Professionals or work Employers or NHS etc, can get it right and keep saying different things and using different terms that mean different things! 'Isolation' means what you do when you have symptoms, 'social distancing' means only going out for certain reasons, 'shielding' means staying in at all times with a letter from your Dr. Hope this helps. x