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Sarah, 39, is a care home worker from Lincolnshire, who has relapsing multiple sclerosis. This week, she’ll return to work in one of the industries most affected by coronavirus.
Despite needing to shield since March, Sarah was refused furlough and has instead been receiving statutory sick pay (SSP), which has left her struggling financially. SSP is set at just £95.85 per week – £600 a month less than Sarah would have received if she was furloughed.
But with the shielding period – and her entitlement to sick pay – ending on August 1, like thousands across the UK, Sarah is being forced back to work. “I have no choice but to return to work as the government stopped the SSP for shielders, so I’m being forced to choose between my health and earning some money,” Sarah, who supports the MS Society, tells HuffPost UK.
She’s heard nothing from her employer, and says the only guidance she can find about working safely is to “keep a two metre distance”, which she can’t do. “I have so many questions and no answers from the government,” she says. “I haven’t been able to sleep for weeks and I’m getting terrible panic attacks.”
The are 2.2 million people in England who are considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” and were advised to shield, according to the Office for National Statistics. Over half a million of those people (595,000) usually work.
Since August 1, shielders in England are now told by the government: “You can go to work, as long as the workplace is Covid-secure – but carry on working from home if you can.”
For those who are unable to work from home, the government states: “Some employers may be able to offer different types of leave. Beyond your statutory leave entitlements, this will be at your employer’s discretion.”
Concerned about the situation, a coalition of 15 charities across the UK have called on the government to protect the jobs of workers who have been shielding. The charities – including Macmillan Cancer Support, Age UK, Asthma UK, Diabetes UK and Parkinson’s UK, to name a few – have written an open letter asking for the furlough scheme to be extended for those shielding.
An online petition echoing the letter has received more than 17,000 signatures.
The charities are concerned employees may be forced to leave their jobs or, as redundancies continue across the country, those shielding may be worst hit.
A survey by Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation found one in seven workers with a lung condition said they will refuse to return to their workplace, even if this means they lose their job.
Mark, 56, from West Sussex, is considering handing in his resignation. He usually works part-time as an activities coordinator in a care home, but has been furloughed, and is worried what will happen when the scheme ends. He has multiple illnesses that cause him to be classified as high-risk, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes breathing difficulties.
“My employer has hassled me since the beginning, suggesting she would stop my pay, as well as constantly asking me when I can go back to work, but I have always pointed her to government guidance and law,” he says.
“I am thinking of resigning because I don’t think any care home environment can every be fully Covid-safe, and social distancing isn’t practical there either.”
Mark doesn’t want to resign, but he sees no other option and wants to protect himself and his family, as well as ensuring residents are given good care.
“I love my work, but I can see no way I can keep my distance from the residents when my work is so close to them,” he says. “I am at a loss what to do now.”
Some employers, though, have been working hard to help their employees feel comfortable returning to the workplace after months of shielding. Another Mark, 49, from Lincolnshire, who has been shielding with severe asthma, is “cautiously happy” to be returning to his job in the operations department for a shipping company this week.
He’s had positive meetings with his employer where they’ve discussed how the workplace has been adapted to make it Covid-secure. Mark hasn’t enjoyed being furloughed and is looking forward to regaining some routine.
“Not knowing what was happening at work and having to shield was tough,” he says. “I had no structure to my days – I couldn’t work, go to the shops or visit family or friends. I felt pretty down and a lack of social interaction, fresh air and exercise saw my asthma suffer as well.”
Mark says he felt worse when he saw people on the news breaking lockdown and going to the beach. “I was jealous and angry,” he adds. “I also felt guilty I couldn’t work while my colleagues and friends were having to battle on as they were classed as key workers.”
“Most people are getting used to this different world – and I’m just about to start.”
- Mark, 49, from Lincolnshire
While he’s excited to be reunited with his team, Mark does have some nerves. “For four months I’ve only been in three buildings: my house, the hospital and a dental surgery. Now virtually overnight I’m straight back to work and suddenly allowed to go shopping and meet friends,” he says.
“I basically have no ‘Covid etiquette’. Most people are getting used to this different world – and I’m just about to start.”
When asked about the support for shielders returning to the workplace, a government spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “We understand how challenging the outbreak pandemic has been for the clinically vulnerable and we have worked tirelessly to support them. Employers must ensure the safety of those with such conditions when considering working arrangements, including whether work can be completed remotely.”
They stated that a package worth £160 billion has been available to date, including the furlough scheme, “which has paid the wages of 9.5 million people at a cost of £31.7bn and will run for 8 months in total”.
“We are also encouraging businesses to retain staff through the job retention bonus,” the spokesperson added. “As the economy re-opens, we must look at how to adjust our support in a way that ensures people can get back to work to support the UK’s economic recovery.”
Even with support from employers, this week feels like a big leap for those preparing to return to work after months of staying home. “I feel like I’m about to start a new job even though I have done it for 30 years,” Mark adds. “It’s right for me, though. I just feel sorry for those who are unable to return to work, because their job is not Covid-secure or they don’t feel ready.”