Can I be ask to be furloughed from work to protect my wife?

[dgs]

Hi After listening to Boris tonight and a national lockdown is here. I am 66 and work for a national company 3 days a week now as I get my pension, my wife is 73 and is clinically vulnerable and gets the government shielding letters. As my normal working day involves customers and our own staff and not too much social distancing, would it be within my rights to ask my company to furlough me as my wife is so scared at the moment and things seem to be getting worse, they are normally very understanding.
Any advice appreciated

[ULA]

Given that Boris, I think did say that employers should be sympathetic to considering requests from parent to be put on furlough to be able to juggle child care and home schooling again and he did also announce that like March clinically vulnerable people should go back to shielding, I would say that you can certainly make this request in respect of your wife's situation

[dgs]

Thankyou Ula