{"id":22954,"date":"2020-07-29T17:28:13","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T16:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=22954"},"modified":"2020-07-30T13:21:11","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T12:21:11","slug":"unite-fears-for-vulnerable-as-shielding-ends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=22954","title":{"rendered":"Unite fears for vulnerable as shielding ends"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no doubt that life in full lockdown was tough even for the most resolutely optimistic of us. Maybe you were a parent trying also to be both an employee and a teacher as well, or someone on furlough who although might seem happy not to work and get paid, worried constantly about the future of your job. You might have been separated from those you love for months. You might have been cooped up in a small flat without a garden completely alone and isolated \u00e2\u20ac\u201c or trapped in an abusive and possibly even violent relationship. You might have had to self-isolate, had Covid-19 yourself, or worse still even be related to one of the 45,000 plus people that tragically died from this virus \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and you couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be there to say goodbye.<\/p>\n

Whichever way you look at it, lockdown was certainly no picnic. And then there was the two million \u00e2\u20ac\u0098extremely vulnerable\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 people with serious underlying health conditions that put them at particular risk from contracting Covid-19 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with possible fatal implications.<\/p>\n

While some were bemoaning that their lives were hard because the pub was shut, extremely vulnerable people did not leave their front doors \u00e2\u20ac\u201c nor did anyone else in their household \u00e2\u20ac\u201c for any reason whatsoever, for 12 very long weeks. It was like being stuck in the shadows, living a half-life, imprisoned \u00e2\u20ac\u201c albeit with box sets, reliant on the kindest of neighbours and the bravery of complete strangers, supermarkets deigning to find you some sort of slot usually around 6 am, and council boxes with tins of unusual and rare foodstuffs not seen since the 70s.<\/p>\n

I can say all of this because I was one of these people \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and am very grateful for all those incredible volunteers who generously helped me. One day towards the end of June I think, they let us out \u00e2\u20ac\u201c for exercise only. A momentous day, I remember feeling like I had forgotten how to walk \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with my legs taking overlarge steps, or feeling shaky after just walking down the road.<\/p>\n

At first being outside was terrifying. Masked and gloved up what would happen if I encountered another human being? Passers-by must have seen the fear in my eyes and gave me a wide berth. Others though took no notice and encroached well into my two \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even one metre of safe space.<\/p>\n

Now in the dog days of shielding, the end \u00e2\u20ac\u201c August 1 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c fast approaches and many of the extremely vulnerable \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who until now may not even have ventured into a supermarket, are now expected to return to work, to get there by public transport and be hurled, masked but otherwise defenceless, into the alien hullabaloo that is the outside world.<\/p>\n

Desperately worried and highly anxious <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to have been on the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098extremely vulnerable\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 list to feel like that. I know many people who are desperately worried and highly anxious about the thought of not just returning to work, but having to travel there and back on public transport.<\/p>\n

Metropolitan commuters in particular \u00e2\u20ac\u201c whether they use a bus, train, tram or tube \u00e2\u20ac\u201c are rightly concerned for their safety \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and for that of their families.<\/p>\n

And as the deadline approaches Unite is speaking out on behalf of the vulnerable \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but also for all workers, raising some very serious concerns about the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s plans \u00e2\u20ac\u0098to pause\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 its shielding policy and the challenges that will then face millions in returning to the workplace.<\/p>\n

With the news today that Covid-19 cases are up 28 per cent on two weeks\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 ago in England, Unite is most concerned that it just might not be the right time to do this.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe world of work has fundamentally changed since March and as we ease back into the workplace, we need to pay special attention to the concerns of those who have been \u00e2\u20ac\u0098shielding\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 these last five months,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 commented Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, today, July 29.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere is an arbitrary ring to the August 1 date and we question whether ministers have thought through all the implications as thousands of \u00e2\u20ac\u0098shielding\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 workers gingerly return to their place of employment.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe pandemic has shown that trade unions are the last line of defence when it comes to protecting employment rights and maintaining health and safety standards,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she added.<\/p>\n

Cartmail continued, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere has been insufficient time allowed by this announcement for many individuals to mentally adjust to the proposed physical return to work, often on possibly crowded public transport; let alone sorting out with their employer risks associated with travel and workplace assessment.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIn union organised workplaces, Unite reps will be on hand to manage the expected spike in members experiencing extreme workplace anxiety \u00e2\u20ac\u201c from mental health issues to maintaining the two metre social distancing rule for this group, rather than the more relaxed \u00e2\u20ac\u0098one metre plus\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 favoured by the prime minister.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Cliff edge date\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bYet, as we have seen with the outbreak of pandemic clusters, unscrupulous employers have brushed aside safety measures. This cliff edge date takes no account of bad bosses and risks plunging extremely vulnerable people into the Hobson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s choice of no income or being put at risk by what is a deadly virus that has already claimed more than 45,000 lives in the UK.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

There is advice available on how employers can make the return to work as safe and reassuring as possible. You can check for yourself on the Unite website<\/a>; or there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s information from the TUC. <\/a><\/p>\n

The<\/a> CIPD<\/a> \u00e2\u20ac\u0098the professional body for HR and people development\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is urging businesses to ensure they can meet three key tests before bringing their employees back to the workplace. These tests \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in the CIPD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own words ask:<\/p>\n

Is it essential?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If people can continue to work from home employers should at least consider continuing to do that for the foreseeable future. If they cannot work from home, is their work deemed essential to your business operation or could the business continue to use the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Job Retention Scheme for longer, giving them the time needed to put safety measures and clear employee guidance and consultation in place?<\/p>\n

Is it sufficiently safe?\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Employers have a duty of care to identify and manage risks to ensure that the workplace is sufficiently safe to return to. Employers should take their time with gradual returns to work to test health and safety measures in practice and ensure they can work with larger numbers before encouraging more of their workforce back.<\/p>\n

Is it mutually agreed?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s vital that there is a clear dialogue between employers and their people so concerns, such as commuting by public transport, can be raised and individuals\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 needs and worries taken into account. There will need to be flexibility on both sides to accommodate different working times or schedules as ways of managing some of these issues.<\/p>\n

But back to this news feature \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not just those extremely vulnerable returning to work that Unite is worried about. The union is also deeply concerned about the impact on those who may not be in employment and remain at home. They face losing the support from the national shielding service which provided free food parcels, medicine deliveries and care.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAs the government was too slow to react at the onset of coronavirus, it now appears it could be moving too fast in pausing the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098shielding\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 barrier and removing much valued support for this vulnerable group,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 added Gail Cartmail.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt should not be forgotten that Covid-19 is still prevalent throughout the UK.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

She concluded, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe shall be watching the situation very closely in the nation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s workplaces to see how this rolls out during August and will intervene with management where we feel improvements could be made for the safety and welfare of all employees.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re worried about returning to work speak to your Unite rep urgently or visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By Amanda Campbell @amanda_unite <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At first being outside was terrifying. Masked and gloved up what would happen if I encountered another human being? Passers-by must have seen the fear in my eyes and gave me a wide berth. Others though took no notice and encroached well into my two \u00e2\u20ac\u201c even one metre of safe space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21915,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1308,17],"tags":[1295,1321,1330,1381],"wps_subtitle":"Worried about returning to work? You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not alone. Amanda Campbell investigates","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22954"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22954"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22958,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22954\/revisions\/22958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}