@UK T1
Thanks for your reply. Yep we are doing all the Zoom stuff, regular phone calls, lessons via zoom and work packs which is all going very well,. Face to face as well which is why they insist on various safeguarding policies like a support assistant as well as a teacher in the call. I don't do phone calls myself as I was on a role transporting a student from their home to college originally so wasn't part of a big tutor group, and in fact I think the idea was to take me out of a tutor group totally after Easter as I was always transporting the student at the times of the group so the tutor was left with little support. I was asked last week to take over a phone call to one parent but the parent didn't want that. They wanted the same person who has done it for the last two years as it was familiarity etc which I must say wasn't a surprise. Why they wanted to change tack now of all times was baffling!
I have been doing online research for teachers and will be supporting zoom lessons from this Monday so it's all done remotely at the moment and I am absolutely fine doing that. I certainly wouldn't have a problem with doing research for other teachers and have offered to do quizzes for the kids and have explained this to my Line Manager. The thing is the Union, not sure which one, but it wasn't the one I'm a member of were the ones that two weeks prior to the school being closed totally were the ones that sent those of us home with health conditions or those with family with health conditions, which ironically included the Assistant Head who is the one promoting this "letter from a GP" so it would be interesting to see if he is included in this attendance at school. Not really sure what letter they require either. Maybe it's just to confirm you have a certain condition because I guess they just have your word for it as you declare it after interview. Just seems a waste of time on a GP who probably has far more important things to do at the moment especially when a school can just open all those links above top see the advice!
Well the GP phone call was pretty much a waste of time. With regard to myself she said - "Whilst Diabetes and high blood pressure places you at greater risk of serious complications if you were to contract Covid19 diabetes or high blood pressure is not currently on the shielding list. However diabetes is on the list of you being at higher risk of serious complications so as per government guidelines this places you in the "be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures." list and are strongly advised to work from home if possible. It is down to your employer if they wish you to return to work to make sure that you are safe".
The irony being we "were" on the original shielding list. I can only imagine it meant there were too many to send a letter to so diabetes was taken off.
So no letter from her but the employer can contact my GP to get clarification on my conditions. So, how much do I love this job?!?!
I have same type 2 and high blood pressure work in hospital, cleaning infected rooms.As ridiculous as this sounds it could well push a few of us into a corner at some point. I see in the news today some idiotic Government minister whose name conveniently doesn't appear in the article, has allegedly suggested that schools could reopen after Easter and that the closure of schools could be more damaging than the virus itself. Clearly someone who doesn't have to work in one!!
I do - and as a type 2 diabetic with high blood pressure, albeit relatively well controlled with meds, I, as many of you are in this group with seemingly very little advice. Not in the top high risk group but certainly not advised to go and plant a kiss on the first person you see!!
So a dilemma, which could be applied to any line of work. If (and I would be very surprised if they did) they did ask schools to reopen after Easter where would you stand as an employee who wouldn't want to take the risk? Schools are petri dishes at the best of times and most of our students come in via taxi, more petri dishes!! I'm not in the top high risk group so how would that go down with my rights to stay away, if indeed I have any? Regarding Universal Credit I believe resigning, in normal times, meant that you didn't qualify and again I'm not sure being sacked even qualifies you to receive such benefit?
Obviously these aren't normal times and one would hope that the school would show a duty of care and certain staff would not be forced back, but what if they were? What would you do?
I have same type 2 and high blood pressure work in hospital, cleaning infected rooms.
At first I got amended duties but then that changed as it was a harder/impossible to distance from the infection and b I was placed on the worst area I my opinions non covid area, which had suspected covid patients all time.
I ended up going home self cert n got a sick note which I'm presuming will count against me. (If u show symptoms or have shielding letter you just go off no questions or detriment pay wise). God knows what im gonna do wen the note ends.
As vulnerable/high risk we should b allowed to furlough, key worker or not. My vulnerability meant I couldn't perform my own job anyway so hardly key
That's a very good point. At the school we have vulnerable children so that is why the school is even being allowed to open. Thing is if I am not comfortable with my own safety how do I do my job properly to keep the children safe? I make a grand a month and with SSP being £380 I'll be £620 down but it's just me at home I don't have dependants so for the sake of £620 and some of that eaten up with fuel to get to and fro is it worth the risk?!
Plus this decision now places another condition on the horizon. Mental health worrying about whether I should risk going back to work or trying to survive on SSP!!
@DCUKMod, Thanks I haven't thought of that. I will tomorrow. I have already left a message with my Union to give me a call. I think the problem is it's a basic fit note, not particularly fit for purpose with regards to a global pandemic!! Shielding letter may well have been different as I said above. Not helped of course by others who are meant to be stringently social distancing deciding to go in.
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