Work won’t let me take off despite living with a family member at high risk for COVID-19?

[xXFaiaEmburemXx]

The first case of the Coronavirus has been discovered in my town and lucky me, I work at the grocery store in town. I still live with my folks so I’m with them while all the schools are shit down. My parents want me to take off work so that I don’t kill them. My father has a very weak immune system and I don’t want to kill him. Work refuses to let me have the time off. I feel like I’m putting other peoples’ lives at risk for minimum wage and have no way out. I have the weekend off before I go back. What should I do? My manager makes the schedule ahead of time and we’re not allowed to ask off when its already made. I have never called in sick and have a clean attendance record (never missed a day). My boss said if I take off, they will cut my hours drastically. I feel torn when I probably shouldn’t. This is my first job and there is nowhere else that would hire me in this tiny town. Even though I wash my hands and shower as soon as I come home before doing anything else, I still feel like I’m putting them at risk. What should I do? What can I even do?

 

[1964dodge]

first even though it's a low paying job it is a very important one, especially now. if people didn't work in the stores civilization would collapse because there would be no food or other neccessities. that being said you have to try to protect your parents. i know this is a fine line. i would request that your employer provide protective equipment like gloves and masks. if they won't try to get this equipment. and at home distance yourself as much as possible with your parents and follow guidelines like washing hands, using sanitizer etc.. i am also a high risk person so i know how you feel about your parents. i am being very cautious but i'm still living my life , i will not go to extremes and stay home for 2 or 3 months unless i have no choice. please use all caution with your parents...mike...

 

[xXFaiaEmburemXx]

first even though it's a low paying job it is a very important one, especially now. if people didn't work in the stores civilization would collapse because there would be no food or other neccessities. that being said you have to try to protect your parents. i know this is a fine line. i would request that your employer provide protective equipment like gloves and masks. if they won't try to get this equipment. and at home distance yourself as much as possible with your parents and follow guidelines like washing hands, using sanitizer etc.. i am also a high risk person so i know how you feel about your parents. i am being very cautious but i'm still living my life , i will not go to extremes and stay home for 2 or 3 months unless i have no choice. please use all caution with your parents...mike...

What if even after I do all this, they still die? I’m sick of putting up with all these rude customers when my family could die any day now. I have nowhere to go, as I still live with them. The only education I have is highschool because I’m working towards college. It isn’t fair that I’m putting them at risk for selfish people screaming about toilet paper!

 

[1964dodge]

the choice if you go to work or not is obviously yours. you have to weigh the situation. and you are right there are some horrible people that panic. my wife and i are stocking up a little at a time until we get a 2 month supply of essentials just in case. we aren't grabbing carts full, we get 1 toilet paper pack 1 paper towel etc. every time we go out, and that's 2 or 3 times a week. i still see people hoarding huge amounts of essentials and the young fighting the elderly for essentials

but i am seeing a lot more of the generosity of our fellow man. private individuals offering to do shopping for people, donating essential , and working long hours too maintain the supply chain. i am surprised but pleased that big corporations are starting to do the right thing. a lot of big chain stores like wal-mart and target and others setting aside a couple of hours for elderly and disabled people so they can safely shop. more stores are putting limits. mcdonalds is now offering free lunch for kids monday thu friday and burger king provides 2 free kids lunch with purchase of 1 adult meal. so private people, small businesses, and big corporation are showing empathy and stepping up to the plate. and state and federal government are actually doing the right thing helping people and that hurts me to say it lol. i'm talking about here in the states. look at all the good people are doing , it far outweighs the bad...mike...

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

Are you in a financial position to quit for a while? I'm not sure any job is worth your dad's life.

 

[xXFaiaEmburemXx]

Are you in a financial position to quit for a while? I'm not sure any job is worth your dad's life.

If I quit now, they’d never take me back. I’m working to pay for college so I can get a better job and this is the only place that would hire me in this stupid little town. We’re literally the only grocery store.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

Will you think it was worth it if your dad dies? I mean there are student loans

 

[Walker]

At the end of the day it's your choice. Are your parents staying home all the time? Are you prepared to stay home for the next year? If not then isolating yourself completely may not be the answer if you don't think you'll be able to get another job. This isn't going to end any time soon. We're going to be doing this for a very long time so unless you guys are prepared to lock up in the house for the foreseeable future then you may not be better off quitting.
P.S. I'm battling this exact same scenario actually. Parents are in their 70's and on oxygen already with COPD. I work in a prison and do a lot of the errands / shopping.

 

[kat319]

First of all, so sorry you're in this situation. Is there another place you could stay during this time? Friend? Coworker? I would also suggest washing your clothes (or putting them in a bag until you can wash them.) Good luck!

 

[xXFaiaEmburemXx]

At the end of the day it's your choice. Are your parents staying home all the time? Are you prepared to stay home for the next year? If not then isolating yourself completely may not be the answer if you don't think you'll be able to get another job. This isn't going to end any time soon. We're going to be doing this for a very long time so unless you guys are prepared to lock up in the house for the foreseeable future then you may not be better off quitting.
P.S. I'm battling this exact same scenario actually. Parents are in their 70's and on oxygen already with COPD. I work in a prison and do a lot of the errands / shopping.

Yes, my parents are staying home. Our money situation wouldn’t survive if we didn’t work that long. Its frustrating because its only a matter of time before I catch it if I haven’t already. Heck, I can hear they’re both already coughing in the next room! My older sister (who is married and lives elsewhere) would never forgive me if I killed our parents. My job may be essential, but we are being treated very unfairly in all of this.

First of all, so sorry you're in this situation. Is there another place you could stay during this time? Friend? Coworker? I would also suggest washing your clothes (or putting them in a bag until you can wash them.) Good luck!

No friends and my coworkers aren’t THAT nice. And thank you for the suggestion!

 

[1964dodge]

Yes, my parents are staying home. Our money situation wouldn’t survive if we didn’t work that long. Its frustrating because its only a matter of time before I catch it if I haven’t already. Heck, I can hear they’re both already coughing in the next room! My older sister (who is married and lives elsewhere) would never forgive me if I killed our parents. My job may be essential, but we are being treated very unfairly in all of this.


No friends and my coworkers aren’t THAT nice. And thank you for the suggestion!