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Original poster

Asked to go back to work in call centre wwyd

56 replies

portocristo · 21/04/2020 14:18

Hi WFH at the moment, my boss has asked me to go back as they want to get back on the phones, he advised there will be social distancing and that the place has been deep cleaned, not sure what to do, I live with my family but no one is vulnerable, however my father lives alone and has alzeimers and MIL is 92 and lives alone so we have to help with shopping. The company is a large retail company with stores which are obviously closed and also sells lots online, what do you think ?

OP posts:

Redlocks28 · 21/04/2020 16:03

I decided to wfm which I can still do albeit not take/receive calls.

But you work in a call centre and your boss need to get people back on the phones.

You need to go back to work as asked.

Puddlesplasher · 21/04/2020 16:03

This thread is concerning because it shows how people are misinterpreting /misunderstanding the rules. It is not illegal to go into work.

I contacted my window cleaner today as he is three weeks late. He told me he couldn't work because window cleaning isn't essential! I explained that he was absolutely allowed to still clean windows. I shall have to wait and see if the message has got through!

OP as neither you nor anyone in your household falls into a high risk category and as your employer seems to have taken steps to enable you to work safely then you should go back into work.

SpudsAreLife84 · 21/04/2020 16:04

Bloody hell, MILLIONS of us are working every day in offices, hospitals, supermarkets, prisons, schools, police stations and many, may more and we are coping. You spread out more than you did before and wash your hands frequently and crack on with work. Illegal?! Ridiculous!!!!

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2020 16:45

So you should work from home unless your work can’t be done from home

Can telephone work be done from home, yes

You can get a new job I guess but you can’t get a new life if it goes pear shaped, if you caught the virus and had long term complications, is it worth it? Would work ditch you or support you and stay loyal - doubtful if they could have you working from home anyway

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2020 16:47

Then why not get us all back to work and forget the stay home stay safe?

OddBoots · 21/04/2020 16:52

In some cases telephone work can be done from home but it depends on the technology being in place. There is nothing illegal about it.

Are they asking you to go in full time or to be in a rota to spread the load?

ivykaty44 · 21/04/2020 16:52

www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf

Is the op worker a non essential worker who can’t work from home?

Rebootingagain · 21/04/2020 17:06

People are so stupid.

There is no reason at all for a call centre not to operate assuming social distancing is in place.

Implementing a system where a large call centre could all take calls from home would be a total nightmare.

Undomesticgodde55 · 21/04/2020 17:09

The technology maybe available - however if the company can't afford the technology for everybody to work from home then they will have to ask people to go back to work. It's that or the company will lose money and potentially more people will lose their jobs.

Only you can decide OP.

Thighmageddon · 21/04/2020 17:13

I'm retail, currently furloughed and high risk. When I get asked to return to work I will be going if they've put social distancing measures in place. I want to keep my job.

TheGreatWave · 21/04/2020 17:18

If all suitable social distancing was in place yes I would.
The key for some would be getting there especially if they need to use public transport.

Rebootingagain · 21/04/2020 17:38

The key for some would be getting there especially if they need to use public transport.

This thread is nuts.

Millions of people are using public transport every day to get to and from work, to the dr, to the hospital, to the chemist..........

KillerofMen · 21/04/2020 17:41

Millions of people are using public transport every day

And hundreds of people are dying everyday. You can see the dilemma, can't you?

everythingisginandroses · 21/04/2020 17:41

I work in a large call centre, we are all WFH for the foreseeable, it is perfectly feasible. I have probably had Covid-19 and the likelihood is that I caught it on the train to work or in our open plan office. I don't blame anyone, stuff happens, but it has been v unpleasant and I don't have vulnerable relatives to worry about. A lot of people on this thread seem very keen to side with employers, but I would be asking a few more questions if I was in the OP's shoes.

Rebootingagain · 21/04/2020 17:43

And hundreds of people are dying everyday. You can see the dilemma, can't you?*

It’s about slowing the curve. This isn’t going away

It’s awful that people are dying obviously but we can’t stop that. We are likely all going to get it at some point and there is no reason at all for OP not to go back to work like millions of others are.

TellySavalashairbrush · 21/04/2020 17:45

I’m back working in my office (skeleton staffI much prefer being in the office than working from home. Home is my sanctuary and I hate the two merging.

KillerofMen · 21/04/2020 17:48

Ok, thanks Dom.

Ilovejammies90 · 21/04/2020 17:53

Hi op. My call centre are all working from home. You obviously have technology as you have been wfh is that right? So couldnt your organisation ensure wfh continues for the call centre too?

Ffsnosexallowed · 21/04/2020 17:54

I'd go back to work. There's a real divide where I work between those of us who have rolled up our sleeves and gotten on with things (safely) and those who are "working from home", doing about 50%of their work, picking up a full wage and the rest of us picking up the slack.

TheGreatWave · 21/04/2020 17:55

Some public transport has been cutback. I was speaking to someone who said his 1 hr commute by bus would double as the buses are not as frequent and he would not be able to make connections.

So not nuts at all.

everythingisginandroses · 21/04/2020 18:02

If you work in a call centre environment, the technology is there to monitor what everyone is doing, and that technology gets used, always. None of us are slacking off and doing 50 per cent of our workload. Is your employer hiring, @Ffsnosexallowed?

thequeenandherguurrllls · 21/04/2020 18:08

I work in a call centre for one of the big communication companies and today I have just started working from home, doing my job as normal and taking inbound calls.
In the office though social distancing is very much in place and they're very strict about it.

Patch23042 · 21/04/2020 19:40

My public sector employer (not exactly known for its dynamism) has a large call centre staff, many of whom are now taking calls at home following a concerted effort to set it up by our tech teams at the request of customer operations senior leaders, who finally seem to be caring about staff welfare and morale. It can be done. And it would help stop the spread by keeping staff at home. Which is what matters!

Customers should be guided towards email and social media these days, anyway. Those who are technically able, anyway.

redeyetonowheregood · 21/04/2020 21:05

I work in a hospital and am very pleased to be there. The fear in the rest of the population feels alien to me. Just be sensible regarding handwashing and social distancing

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 21/04/2020 21:11

Ditto redeye

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