As Omicron spreads across the UK and the government once again asks us all to work from home where possible, your employer has a responsibility to help you to stay safe.

The Aplastic Anaemia Trust has joined around 20 other charities in signing a joint letter to employers. The letter provides advice and guidance on how employers can ensure they are providing a safe workplace for employees with weakened immune systems. You can download it here to share with your employer:

Download the letter here

In particular, the letter highlights the following key points:

• Enable working from home wherever possible
• Risk assessments
• Safety best practice
• Reasonable adjustments
• Mental wellbeing support

Ideally your employer would discuss with you your personal circumstances and risks associated with your aplastic anaemia and any treatment you may have received, and you would work together to draw up a risk assessment and  agree reasonable adjustments where necessary. If we can provide any other information to support you in this conversation, don't hesitate to get in touch with our support team. 

Further reading

If you're feeling pressured to return to work or work under conditions you don't feel comfortable with, The Aplastic Anaemia Trust has some really useful advice here, created in collaboration with employment lawyer Carolyn Miller.

The #safeatwork Coalition

We are grateful to our friends at Kidney Care UK for spearheading this initiative. 

Fiona Loud, Policy Director at Kidney Care UK said: “As Covid concerns are growing again and government advice is changing, we urge all employers to understand how they can continue to protect those that remain vulnerable.”

The full list of charities involved is as follows:

• Anthony Nolan
• Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance
• Blood Cancer UK
• Bowel Cancer UK
• Centre for Ageing Better
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• Diabetes UK
• Immunodeficiency UK
• Kidney Care UK
• Kidney Research UK
• MS Society
• Muscular Dystrophy UK
• National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
• National Kidney Federation
• National Voices
• The PKD Charity
• SarcoidosisUK
• Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK
• The Neurological Alliance
• The Aplastic Anaemia Trust
• Versus Arthritis