When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, your employer sent you home, and you haven’t been back to the workplace since. Whether you’ve been collecting unemployment or working remotely, you’ve been grateful to stay safe at home during this unrest.
However, you’ve recently been called back to work. You’re extremely anxious about this, because you don’t feel ready to return, but you also don’t want to lose your job. Here’s some advice to help you proceed.
5 Actions to Take If You’re Nervous About Returning to Work
Find Out What Precautions Your Employer is Taking
Your company’s steps to keep you and your peers safe from COVID-19 can make the difference between life and death. If protective measures haven’t already been shared with you, reach out to your boss to find out what to expect. Hopefully, the measures in place — i.e., mandatory masks, staggered schedules, increased social distancing — will make you feel more confident about returning to work.
Decide What You Need to Feel Safe
If you’re mostly comfortable with the safety precautions your employer is taking, but still feel like you want to do more, find ways to take it up a notch. For example, you might decide to start bringing a brown bag lunch to work, to avoid shared areas and surfaces as much as possible.
Ask If You Can Stay Home for Awhile
Considering we’re in a global pandemic, it’s understandable if no amount of precautions will make you feel safe going back to work just yet. If this is the case, talk to your boss about your concerns. You might be able to continue working remotely — if you have been already — or delay your return for a bit.
Know Your Rights
You can’t continue collecting unemployment simply because you’re scared to go back to work. However, you might be eligible to do so if you have an underlying health condition or don’t have anyone to watch your kids, because local schools and daycares are closed.
You might also have a case if your employer is not taking necessary safety precautions, compared with other similar businesses in the area. However, proving this could be difficult.
Stay Home If You Feel Sick at All
If you ultimately decide to return to work, carefully monitor your health. Stay home if you feel even slightly ill, and if possible, get tested for COVID-19 immediately. You don’t want to risk inadvertently spreading the virus at your workplace, and you’d expect the same from your colleagues.
Ready for a new opportunity in Boone, Kenton or Campbell County? PrideStaff Northern Kentucky is here to help you find your perfect fit — even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact us today to start your search!
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