Confessions of a UK essential worker
There’s lots of different views and info going around at the moment so I thought I’d pitch in with my experience so far as an essential worker in the U.K., and maybe see if this has anything in common with your own experience so far.
My partner Dan is furloughed and is at home receiving 80% of his pay from the government which suits me fine because he’s safe and cooking awesome meals for me when I get home from work.
I fall into the essential worker category because I work on a family law team at a court for the Ministry Of Justice. What we usually do is work with child care applications, non molestation applications and child arrangement orders.
In mid March when the COVID situation started to get serious in the U.K. we sent home with full pay all staff who had preexisting health conditions that made them fall in the vulnerable category, which was tough because that came to be about a fifth of our staff. Next we closed public access to the court, holding hearings by Skype snd conference call. As our building is only for the above application hearing and not criminal sentencing it was a sensible option. Staff reorganise themselves so we sit 2 meters apart and we are rota’d to work alternate days to each other to reduce contact.
So for example I am predominantly working child care applications. Carly who does the same thing works the days I don’t work. We leave little messages for each other to keep informed or just well wish. We left Easter eggs and other treats for each other and certainly we have a better relationship than we maybe did before.
Moral is generally good. Our role is to deal with vulnerable people in at risk situations, our work is important and so we put ourselves in harms way to keep that protective system running. We have a WhatsApp group with staff at home so we can keep in contact and maintain banter, always important! People have brought in flags or decorated the windows, we talk a lot and plan how best to tackle work on reduced staff. The cleaning staff are deep cleaning all office space and equipment daily and we include them in anything fun we do to show our appreciation.
So, I think we have had 3 weeks of lock down, and I think I’m feeling fine about the next 3 weeks. Now shopping for food and supplies is back to normal and I know we are financially okay I’m good to keep getting things done until the emergency passes.
It might be different where you live. Maybe it’s tougher, maybe it’s better. You’ll have to pop me a comment and let me know. I’m sure the challenge is different everywhere not just depending on your country but your personal circumstances.
But whoever you are, stay safe.
My partner Dan is furloughed and is at home receiving 80% of his pay from the government which suits me fine because he’s safe and cooking awesome meals for me when I get home from work.
I fall into the essential worker category because I work on a family law team at a court for the Ministry Of Justice. What we usually do is work with child care applications, non molestation applications and child arrangement orders.
In mid March when the COVID situation started to get serious in the U.K. we sent home with full pay all staff who had preexisting health conditions that made them fall in the vulnerable category, which was tough because that came to be about a fifth of our staff. Next we closed public access to the court, holding hearings by Skype snd conference call. As our building is only for the above application hearing and not criminal sentencing it was a sensible option. Staff reorganise themselves so we sit 2 meters apart and we are rota’d to work alternate days to each other to reduce contact.
So for example I am predominantly working child care applications. Carly who does the same thing works the days I don’t work. We leave little messages for each other to keep informed or just well wish. We left Easter eggs and other treats for each other and certainly we have a better relationship than we maybe did before.
Moral is generally good. Our role is to deal with vulnerable people in at risk situations, our work is important and so we put ourselves in harms way to keep that protective system running. We have a WhatsApp group with staff at home so we can keep in contact and maintain banter, always important! People have brought in flags or decorated the windows, we talk a lot and plan how best to tackle work on reduced staff. The cleaning staff are deep cleaning all office space and equipment daily and we include them in anything fun we do to show our appreciation.
So, I think we have had 3 weeks of lock down, and I think I’m feeling fine about the next 3 weeks. Now shopping for food and supplies is back to normal and I know we are financially okay I’m good to keep getting things done until the emergency passes.
It might be different where you live. Maybe it’s tougher, maybe it’s better. You’ll have to pop me a comment and let me know. I’m sure the challenge is different everywhere not just depending on your country but your personal circumstances.
But whoever you are, stay safe.
