Working

[Luigi]

Hi all, new to this site.
I have a question.
I'm a self employed gardener, I work on my own and at present I work in the middle of a field with no one in close proximity.
I'm in good control of my diabetes and I'm fit and healthy with regular exercise every day. I have in the last few months been suffering with anxiety.

My neighbours are making my life hell saying under NO circumstances should I be leaving the house for work, I've looked on several diabetic sites, and they say I can???
Anyone else experiencing this problem and what is the correct advice????
I'm not putting anyone at risk, least of all myself
Tha ks in advance

 

[Robin]

Hi Luigi, and welcome to the forum. Are you neighbours worried because they think nobody should be leaving the house to work if it’s not essential, or because they know you have diabetes?
If it’s the diabetes, then, we are at no more risk if we catch it than the rest of the population, provided we know how to manage illness, with regards to knowing sick day rules for keeping blood glucose under control.
If it’s just the fact that anyone is going out to work at all, then the guidelines have been a bit fuzzy, but they seem to have settled that if you can’t work at home, you can travel to work provided your employer can provide for the 'social distancing' of 2 metres apart. Obviously if you’re in the middle of a field, this isn’t a problem. People are still allowed out to go and tend their allotments, after all.
The more people who can work safely, either at home or in an isolated situation, fewer people will need their businesses shoring up by government support, the more money there will be to go round to people that need it.
I think at the end of the day, it’s your own decision, not your neighbours'.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Luigi

I agree with everything @Robin said - ideally you woikd be able to either work from home, or adapt your work so that you can keep with the social distancing / shielding advice.

These are the .gov links:

Social distancing (people with diabetes are not recommended to fully self-isolate unless they have other contributing factors)

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

Shielding / movement restriction

[Withdrawn] Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)

www.gov.uk

Which businesses must close (gardening and gardeners are not mentioned)

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19

Guidance for living safely with respiratory infections, including coronavirus (COVID-19).

www.gov.uk

Hope these help 🙂

 

[Luigi]

Hi Luigi, and welcome to the forum. Are you neighbours worried because they think nobody should be leaving the house to work if it’s not essential, or because they know you have diabetes?
If it’s the diabetes, then, we are at no more risk if we catch it than the rest of the population, provided we know how to manage illness, with regards to knowing sick day rules for keeping blood glucose under control.
If it’s just the fact that anyone is going out to work at all, then the guidelines have been a bit fuzzy, but they seem to have settled that if you can’t work at home, you can travel to work provided your employer can provide for the 'social distancing' of 2 metres apart. Obviously if you’re in the middle of a field, this isn’t a problem. People are still allowed out to go and tend their allotments, after all.
The more people who can work safely, either at home or in an isolated situation, fewer people will need their businesses shoring up by government support, the more money there will be to go round to people that need it.
I think at the end of the day, it’s your own decision, not your neighbours'.

He says I shouldn't be going to work as he doesn't count it as essential! And according to him I don't need to work!!! And I'm high risk and being a selfish b*****rd putting the NHS under more pressure treating the likes of me!!!
I see no one all day which is great for my anxiety, I have access to washing facilities etc. I told him I stand more risk of catching it going to the supermarket. But he just swears at me and says I shouldn't be going out full stop!!
I just wanted to get a the current situation guidelines, I've been on so many websites and they all come back that I can work as long as I practice social distancingetc

 

[Mickeyminime]

I got a text and on it a link to a letter. At the bottom it said Diabetes HbA1c over 75 are at risk. I was diagnosed in 2018 and my levels back then where 177 if i remember. Its dropped over time and its now in the 70's from the last blood test i had. Diabetics seem to be 50/50. Your fine but still at risk, but if in good health or very well managed, you can work. I was still working as i wasn't able to find any information despite being told "type 1" is at risk due to immunocompression etc. Its difficult to find info as its all different where ever you go. I also work in a super market, so yeah, distance is not an easy thing to do, specially during the panic buying

 

[Luigi]

Welcome to the forum @Luigi

I agree with everything @Robin said - ideally you woikd be able to either work from home, or adapt your work so that you can keep with the social distancing / shielding advice.

These are the .gov links:

Social distancing (people with diabetes are not recommended to fully self-isolate unless they have other contributing factors)

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

Shielding / movement restriction

[Withdrawn] Staying at home and away from others (social distancing)

www.gov.uk

Which businesses must close (gardening and gardeners are not mentioned)

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19

Guidance for living safely with respiratory infections, including coronavirus (COVID-19).

www.gov.uk

Hope these help 🙂

Thanks for the info, can just do without the stress, just got my anxiety under control. I get he's worried as his wife and daughter work at the hospital, but shouting and throwing abuse isn't the way forward in my book. I guess I have to get all the info and just make sure I'm not breaking the law, he's already said the lady who employs me will be prosecuted, and he's the sort who will be reporting me

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the info, can just do without the stress, just got my anxiety under control. I get he's worried as his wife and daughter work at the hospital, but shouting and throwing abuse isn't the way forward in my book. I guess I have to get all the info and just make sure I'm not breaking the law, he's already said the lady who employs me will be prosecuted, and he's the sort who will be reporting me

I’m really sorry you’ve been shouted at @Luigi - it is a stressful time, and some people are struggling to remain calm - but that’s no excuse for being unkind to someone, and as you point out, it’s not likely to be a helpful strategy

I‘m not sure that reporting and prosecutions for unlisted work are likely to go anywhere under the current rules. If you were running a bar or a coffee shop, or even a non-essential retail store I could see you might be threatened with a fine - but that doesn’t seem to be the case with what you are doing (though, obviously I am no expert in the legalities, and that is not ‘official’ advice)

 

[Robin]

Thanks for the info, can just do without the stress, just got my anxiety under control. I get he's worried as his wife and daughter work at the hospital, but shouting and throwing abuse isn't the way forward in my book. I guess I have to get all the info and just make sure I'm not breaking the law, he's already said the lady who employs me will be prosecuted, and he's the sort who will be reporting me

You’re not in Scotland, by any chance, are you? Nicola Sturgeon has specifically said that people such as gardeners and window cleaners can carry on, because they don’t have a problem meeting social distancing rules. Unfortunately nothing specific has been said in England, but the general rule that you can go to work if you can practice social distancing applies.

 

[Drummer]

Perhaps the neighbour should be warned to stay away from you as he is putting you at risk shouting at you if he happens to have picked up the virus from his family - maybe call his bluff and tell him to call the police if he thinks he knows better.
He seems like a real idiot - and we can really do without stupid people at the moment.
If he is being really aggressive, perhaps you should ask for help from the police yourself - get them to put him straight and warn him that his behaviour is not acceptable.

 

[grovesy]

Thanks for the info, can just do without the stress, just got my anxiety under control. I get he's worried as his wife and daughter work at the hospital, but shouting and throwing abuse isn't the way forward in my book. I guess I have to get all the info and just make sure I'm not breaking the law, he's already said the lady who employs me will be prosecuted, and he's the sort who will be reporting me

Sorry to hear this no wonder you have anxiety.
Feel free to come and vent here if you need to.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I'm a self employed gardener, I work on my own and at present I work in the middle of a field with no one in close proximity.
I'm in good control of my diabetes and I'm fit and healthy with regular exercise every day.

That sounds fine to me (presuming getting to and from work doesn't cause you to get too close to people). My mum intends continuing to support someone locally who cuts the hedge in a similar way: they're not going to be physically too close, so I don't see a problem.

Some people (maybe most people) want simple rules to follow rather than wanting to understand why the rules are the way they are. (Now that they're laws, maybe that's an appropriate response, come to think of it.)

 

[Amity Island]

Hi all, new to this site.
I have a question.
I'm a self employed gardener, I work on my own and at present I work in the middle of a field with no one in close proximity.
I'm in good control of my diabetes and I'm fit and healthy with regular exercise every day. I have in the last few months been suffering with anxiety.

My neighbours are making my life hell saying under NO circumstances should I be leaving the house for work, I've looked on several diabetic sites, and they say I can???
Anyone else experiencing this problem and what is the correct advice????
I'm not putting anyone at risk, least of all myself
Tha ks in advance

If I were in that position i'd just say I'm working within official distancing guidelines. You are allowed to work after all. I'd also be telling my neighbours that I will be seeking an injunction against them if they say or do anything else.

 

[KARNAK]

Hello @Luigi welcome to the forum.🙂

Go to work most gardeners around my area are still happily working.

 

[grovesy]

If I were in that position i'd just say I'm working within official distancing guidelines. You are allowed to work after all. I'd also be telling my neighbours that I will be seeking an injunction against them if they say or do anything else.

I would not do that he sounds the type who would ramp it up further.

 

[Amity Island]

I would not do that he sounds the type who would ramp it up further.

If an injunction is served against someone, they won't be ramping up anything after that. How else can you deal with people who threaten you and "make your life hell"?