This paper investigates the challenges domestic violence social workers face when balancing between protecting themselves, their co-workers, and clients from sickness while at the same time providing support. Drawing on interviews with eleven professionals and theories of discretion we analyzed how and why responses to COVID-19 restrictions were formed. Three responses were revealed. First, professionals complied with pandemic restrictions. Second, professionals negotiated practices to counter the negative effects of restrictions. Third, professionals also resisted restrictions altogether – i.e., they claimed to break the rules for a higher moral purpose. Awareness of the three different positions social workers occupy and their need to balance different demands provides insight into the negotiations that the work entails. Managers directives seem to be transformed into negotiations to protect interests of the social workers or of their clients.