I am over 70 with underlying medical conditions. I am scheduled to come off a 6 week paid Covid leave, what should I do? Come back, quit, call health depart, buy my own personal protective equipment? I have one of the few jobs that pay a living wage at the Home Depot. The store is in the epi center that has contagious virus and customers needing one on one help for their do it yourself project. They allow 200 customers in the store at a time. The chance of someone with the virus are very high. I don't want to quit. They won't lay me off, because they don't want to pay unemployment insurance.
I had to purchase my own protective items, thus that way I could choose what I liked best. I have tried the N95, a cloth mask, and a paper mask. Paper mask hands down the easier of the 3 to breath for me. I also found people can't hear my soft voice when I talk :P
Whatever mask you buy, if you can take some breaks during your shift where you can go outside, where it isn't crowded, to get a breathe of air.... ahhhhh.
I remember back last month, my boss wanted me to come back to the office to work, I was working from home. I dug in my heels and said "no". Glad I did, because my boss became sick with the virus, and if I was in the office, I would have caught it because I am of that age group where we all have underlying medical conditions.
It's a tough choice.
I think you can be able to keep your six ft distance. I have been in Home Depot and asked for help. I didn't need to be real close to see what they were showing me.
Keep sanitizer with you. Wash hands frequently. When you get home strip and get a shower.
I suggest if you want to continue working you obtain at least a couple of washable masks made with 3 layers of material (adjust the straps until the fix is very good) and a face shield. I have found adding a strap through the mask's normal ear straps and tied under my chin improves the fit.
Even with PPE, working with the public is a risk. How much of a risk depends on how well you use the PPE and how infected the public is in your area which you should be able to get an idea about from the publicly shared. Although the risk is reduced with a lower infection rate, there is still a risk because you only need contact with one infected person to get infected yourself.
Providing that information will get you better help.
Reading on the EDD.gov website:
Q. Would I qualify for benefits if I choose to stay home from work due to underlying health conditions and concerns about exposure to the virus?
EDD's Answer:
You can be eligible for benefits if you choose to stay home. Once you file your claim, the EDD will contact you if we need more information.
Sensing hostility from the usual posters, that is all the time I can devote to this thread.
The employee can choose still to file unemployment. And risk not being able to return. I am interested if, when the employer has reopened, and invited you back, but you do not go, what happens in the eyes of UI?
And what a difficult choice for the employee! So hard. I am reminded of the age, Joel is over 70, (male or female) with underlying health conditions.
Seems like there should be some hope, returning to work part-time after receiving retirement?
Are you willing to go to work every day wondering if 'today' is the day you'll become symptomatic? It's not worth it, that's my 2 cents on the subject. That's where I was at with my job...........when an EMT told me he felt sorry for ME, that's when I decided it was time to leave and to keep my health AND my sanity intact! (I worked as a receptionist in an Assisted Living Facility).
Good luck!
It is my understanding that businesses in California were able to reopen based upon requirements of a safe workplace. If they do not comply, that would cause them to be closed again, and have fines. For example, Joel's employer is letting only 200 shoppers in at a time. These rules were instituted by authorities (which include the health department). Not sure if PPE and masks (or what type) are 'required'.
Sorry that you had to leave your job due to being safe from Covid! But that was the best decision you could make at the time, I am sure! I support your decision!
See the EDD website. This solution is not welfare, it is a benefit which you paid into from your paycheck, to protect you when the time comes.
Stay healthy. Act now.
You asked a good question, so I know you already know what's right!
Take your vacation now, or PPTO accumulated. Just days from now, things might be closed up again. imo.
You are in the 'vulnerable group'. Does it occur to anyone, that in March, the government 'experts' closed down everything, the numbers were lower then, because it was too dangerous to be out spreading Covid. And today, the government, in all their infinite wisdom, opened things back up (due to economy) while the numbers are still increasing, and it is life-threatening to be out.
This info is coming from California, Los Angeles County, where we are on a curfew of 6 p.m. It is just my opinion, but a Home Depot store is most likely to be 'looted'. The National Guard has arrived. Over the past few months, huge thefts have been reported from Home Depot due to the economic crisis.
It does not matter where you are. Stay home now. You don't need to have the government's permission or your boss's permission to protect your life. Benefits could be retroactive. It has been declared an emergency by the governor, and that will go a long way to protect any benefits available to you, imo.
You are in charge now, not worth it to risk your life. No one has time left and will not be protesting your death from Covid. You must decide on your own, what is best for you!
Or, call in sick, or say that you have been exposed to someone with Covid (if that is true?). Then re-assess in 14 days after the legally required quarantine. imo.
Do not panic.
You can get a free consult from an attorney online. (Loss of job issues).
Call your local senior center for support. But they cannot give you legal advice, but maybe s o m e o n e can share what others are doing.
Last option, imo. Use a credit card to finance your living expenses over the next 3 months. Stay home. imo.
God bless you in this crisis.
You are not alone, and others are going through the same or similar.
Can you get a letter from your doctor specifying your needs? Do you have access to a face shield? That would boost the protection of a mask.
Is the store requiring customers to wear masks?