Coronavirus and work

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Teddy*

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Type 1
Hi - I can’t seem to find any discussions on people’s experiences on working during COVID and any problems with employers and their attitude to home working . My employer has a very ‘business as usual’ attitude and there has been no suggestion of me being able to work from home during this latest lockdown. I know it’s not going to be any easy conversation! I’m 53 T1 since I was 18, well controlled but feeling very anxious and really want to stay at home ! Anyone have a similar experience and have any advice. I also wondered if anyone has had a supporting letter from clinic or gp confirming T1 patient is clinically vulnerable ? Thanks
 
The advice for diabetics is the same as for those without diabetes, if your employer says you can't work from home (because it's not possible etc) then you are fine to go to work, there's no diabetes based reason to not go to work if you aren't shielding.
 
That seems a little of a harsh reply to someone who mentions that they are anxious, @Teddy* speak to your boss and see if they can do anything to help you feel better about coming to work, you never know what can happen if you don’t ask.
I’m an employer and we have worked all through the pandemic and everyone who works for us has had a say in what they like us to do to keep them safe and happy.
 
Teddy* said:
Hi - I can’t seem to find any discussions on people’s experiences on working during COVID and any problems with employers and their attitude to home working . My employer has a very ‘business as usual’ attitude and there has been no suggestion of me being able to work from home during this latest lockdown. I know it’s not going to be any easy conversation! I’m 53 T1 since I was 18, well controlled but feeling very anxious and really want to stay at home ! Anyone have a similar experience and have any advice. I also wondered if anyone has had a supporting letter from clinic or gp confirming T1 patient is clinically vulnerable ? Thanks
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Hi Teddy,
Answering your question about working from home. Working from home isn't related to being diabetic, it applies to all and everyone so there is no need to feel awkward about asking your employer the question. After almost a year of lockdowns etc, most compaines are already geared up to work remotely. I know there are key workers who have to go their place of work, but many workers can and should be working remotely at home and that is the default position.
I take it from your question you are actually able to work remotely and that the nature of your business allows that? It's just your employer stopping you from doing so.
Is there anything stopping you from working from home? Do you need a v.p.n to work directly from the companies server? Or is it simpler than that?
 
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Teddy* said:
Hi - I can’t seem to find any discussions on people’s experiences on working during COVID and any problems with employers and their attitude to home working . My employer has a very ‘business as usual’ attitude and there has been no suggestion of me being able to work from home during this latest lockdown. I know it’s not going to be any easy conversation! I’m 53 T1 since I was 18, well controlled but feeling very anxious and really want to stay at home ! Anyone have a similar experience and have any advice. I also wondered if anyone has had a supporting letter from clinic or gp confirming T1 patient is clinically vulnerable ? Thanks
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Hello @Teddy* ,

Here is some of our information regarding coronavirus and your employer. I hope this helps. Alternatively, you can always call our helpline and speak to one of the team here at Diabetes UK.

www.diabetes.org.uk

Coronavirus and diabetes updates

All the coronavirus information below applies to the whole of the UK, unless specified. We've noted where are some differences in guidance and diabetes services across the UK.
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
Teddy* said:
Hi - I can’t seem to find any discussions on people’s experiences on working during COVID and any problems with employers and their attitude to home working . My employer has a very ‘business as usual’ attitude and there has been no suggestion of me being able to work from home during this latest lockdown. I know it’s not going to be any easy conversation! I’m 53 T1 since I was 18, well controlled but feeling very anxious and really want to stay at home ! Anyone have a similar experience and have any advice. I also wondered if anyone has had a supporting letter from clinic or gp confirming T1 patient is clinically vulnerable ? Thanks
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Teddy -I won't focus on your diabetes in this, but what I would suggest is you consider whether you can work effectively from home, and really try to think hard of any downsides for your employer.

When you have done that, if you believe you would be able to work from home, then think about what would need to be done to facilitate that (whether that might be bringing a laptop home, or getting various login details for sites you routinely access for your work). Write them down and assess how easy/cheap/expensive that would be.

Then consider how you would stay in touch with your workplace; point of cintact, and supervision you might either need, or you should be doing for others.

Then, on the downsides, what you could do to get around them.

On that basis when you talk to your boss, it will show you have thought it through and maybe have a few counter points to make, if your boss has any objections, or misgivings.

Obviously, employers want as little disruption as possible, but working from home is the recommendation for now, where plausible.
 
Lucyr said:
The advice for diabetics is the same as for those without diabetes, if your employer says you can't work from home (because it's not possible etc) then you are fine to go to work, there's no diabetes based reason to not go to work if you aren't shielding.
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Thank you all for your replies. I’ve taken on board your comments that diabetic or not, we should all be working from home if at all possible. This is this is possible in my case - I’m an admin assistant in a school office and can access nearly everything from home. I found it interesting the consensus seems to not use my diabetes as the focus for my request, when actually it has been my total focus! The fact we are all in the clinically vulnerable group Is my reason! So are we saying not to worry about that and if I can’t work from home then I’m perfectly ok to go into work and am at no greater risk than anyone else? Interestingly I spoke to my clinic today who said they would give me a letter supporting a request to work from home, if it was met with objection from my employer, which I’ll use if the conversation doesn’t go well!
 
If you are a key worker and have been identified to shield, then you must shield. I don't know if the NHS/Gov are going to be using the same letter as before. If they do, then the only time a diabetic shields is if there HBA1C levels are above 75. This is how i got made to shield, however, it may have changed. I've not been tested since the beginning of last year, so if they send me another letter, it will be based on my old results. I have no idea if my results have gotten better or worse and to be honest, if i'm asked to shield, i wont because shielding not only made my health worse, but my mental state too. You could try to speak to your employer, but if its a no, then sadly you will have to go to work. I've moved from days to nights at the moment, however, nights doesn't help on the health side either, so its kinda a lose lose on my part.
 
Mickeyminime said:
If you are a key worker and have been identified to shield, then you must shield. I don't know if the NHS/Gov are going to be using the same letter as before. If they do, then the only time a diabetic shields is if there HBA1C levels are above 75. This is how i got made to shield, however, it may have changed. I've not been tested since the beginning of last year, so if they send me another letter, it will be based on my old results. I have no idea if my results have gotten better or worse and to be honest, if i'm asked to shield, i wont because shielding not only made my health worse, but my mental state too. You could try to speak to your employer, but if its a no, then sadly you will have to go to work. I've moved from days to nights at the moment, however, nights doesn't help on the health side either, so its kinda a lose lose on my part.
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They said the shielding would be getting new letters.
 
My daughter's doctors have all said that because she is well controlled she is at no greater risk than anyone else. She is still going to school as a vulnerable child, because she developed all sorts of mental health problems after the last lockdown and they will only get worse if she's stuck at home again. You have to do what's right for you, good luck 🙂
 
I hope the discussions with your employer go well @Teddy*

If you are concerned about being asked to go into work, and worry that it might not be safe as you have diabetes and are therefore classes as 'vulnerable' (though not 'clinically extremely vulnerable' and requiring shielding...) Diabetes UK may be able to offer you a letter of support for you to present to your employer

forum.diabetes.org.uk

Coronavirus / Covid19 Information

New government guidance for England, coming into effect on Thursday https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november 5-level guidance for Scotland (from 1 Nov) http://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/ Firebreak in Wales (from 23 Oct)...
forum.diabetes.org.uk forum.diabetes.org.uk
 
If you can't WFH full-time, would you and your employer consider WFH part-time?
It won't solve your problem completely but may reduce your anxiety a bit.
Can't provide any other info as I retired in 2009, but used to WFH especially on clinic days or BS high.
 
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