Asked to go back to work in call centre wwyd

[portocristo]

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 ?

Our huge multiple call centres are now mostly WFH. Thousands of people. Calls and everything. It was a massive effort, I'm still amazed they have managed it.

Some people are still in the office due to multiple reasons.

But you can go to work, def not illegal. We got a letter for the car before home working was set up.

Many of us are currently working. It sounds like reasonable precautions are being taken. Assuming you need an income I would return to work

Of course you can go to work, and be expected to. Much of the world is. You are not shielding, or vulnerable, or live with anyone who is. Those of us in that position should be working, and keeping the economy ticking over.

Is there some confusion here? It's not illegal for the OP to go for work. It's potentially illegal for her employer to make her go to work if it is reasonable and practical for her to work from home.

People who work for the NHS - massive respect for you. The op doesn't work for the NHS she works for a retailer and probably doesn't want to risk her life just so people can ring up to complain about something trivial.

I work for a call centre and am currently wfh. I literally signed a piece of paper and just brought the entire work computer and headset home because I don’t have a laptop. It was really easy and I’m so grateful to my employer. Offices are really germy places and just before I was told I could work form home it was getting to the point where I was considering just not going in the following Monday out of fear.
OP, if your employer is reasonable and you’re still managing a full days work at home, I’m sure you’ll be fine. If your manager insists you get back on the phones then maybe ask about doing that wfh, but if your manager insists and you need the money I guess you’ll have no choice unfortunately.

It's not illegal FFS, people who have to leave the house for work are permitted to, and not just keyworkers (as long as they aren't working somewhere like a pub which has been instructed to close). If they can't divert the calls for whatever reason to you at home, it is reasonable that they ask you to head back in, but only if they have actually put social distancing measures in place that can be reasonably adhered to. Whether you want to is another matter, personally I would as the job market is going to be up the creek in a few months and it's a bit of security; but it depends on how you feel about it.