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AIBU?

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Original poster

To complain to my boss about her decision?

55 replies

thewinenotthelabel · 01/10/2020 13:50

I work for a small family run business.
Including myself there are 10 of us.

Myself and one other staff member are younger than 35 and the rest of the staff are 50+

During lockdown the company stayed open and we all worked from home.
We returned to the office early June.

Since the announcement from the government regarding working from home, I expected our boss to send us home, but she hasn’t.

She sent an email to us all at the beginning of the week advising that the office was Covid secure, we’re all small company, we aren’t in a busy city centre and none of us use public transport to get to work.

She thinks it’s better for team morale for us all to be in the office rather than working from home.

The thing is, we “can” work from home as we did for months during lock down with no issues.

My area of work is on a local lockdown area and I’m starting to feel anxious being there.

Would I be unreasonable to approach her about this and tell her I’d like to work from home?

OP posts:
Mellonsprite · 01/10/2020 13:53

I would do it from a ‘politely asking’ point rather than a complaining one.
Is there a specific reason you would like to work from home that you can use for your rationale, rather than you just prefer it? Thinking how you could try to influence the boss?

ComicePear · 01/10/2020 13:55

I agree with Mellons- fine to speak to your boss about this and share your concerns, but I wouldn't use the word 'complain'.

BritWifeinUSA · 01/10/2020 13:56

Doesn’t hurt to ask. But ultimately it’s her decision. Although you may have enjoyed working from home, she has to think much beyond that and the greater needs of the business. If she believes the company works better with everyone in the office, that’s what she will do.

Spandang · 01/10/2020 13:57

Are you within a local lockdown or are you being asked to work with people in a local lockdown area?

emilyfrost · 01/10/2020 14:00

You can ask, but they don’t have to let you. You may think it’s been okay working from home but your boss clearly doesn’t and that’s what counts; it’s her business.

Waveysnail · 01/10/2020 14:02

Ask if you can work from home say 3 days a week to start

TinkersTailor · 01/10/2020 14:15

She obviously needs you in for a reason. You can mention it to her, but most definitely don't complain.

As others have said, working from home may suit you, but it's not just about you. It's about the business as a whole.

Original poster
thewinenotthelabel · 01/10/2020 14:15

@Spandang

Are you within a local lockdown or are you being asked to work with people in a local lockdown area?
@Spandang

I work in area that’s in local lockdown, but my area where I live is on a watch list so pretty sure we’ll be in lockdown here too very soon.

OP posts:
TinkersTailor · 01/10/2020 14:17

I didn't think lockdown meant anything with regards to working now? I.E even if the area is under tighter restrictions, you're still able to go to work.

Starlight39 · 01/10/2020 14:18

I'd ask. I guess it depends on their perception of how efficient working from home was. It could also work to half the number of people in the office with the other half working from home so that you're in on fixed days and only in with the same 4 others at a time. If covid does get into the company, it makes no sense to have all 10 off work at the same time!

WorraLiberty · 01/10/2020 14:33

My area of work is on a local lockdown area and I’m starting to feel anxious being there.

Why though? Are you not just getting out of your car and going straight into your workplace?

Original poster
thewinenotthelabel · 01/10/2020 14:53

@WorraLiberty

My area of work is on a local lockdown area and I’m starting to feel anxious being there.

Why though? Are you not just getting out of your car and going straight into your workplace?

@WorraLiberty

Yeah but it’s not just the area that worries me, it’s the mixing in an office.

OP posts:
Timeforanotherusername · 01/10/2020 14:56

You can voice your concerns.

But ultimately it was not an instruction from the UK government.

And if your office is Covid Secure then I doubt there is much that you can do.

emilyfrost · 01/10/2020 14:58

It’s irrelevant if your area or where you live is in lockdown; you can still go to work.

loobyloo1234 · 01/10/2020 15:00

If your office is Covid secure, what are you anxious about OP?

ginnybag · 01/10/2020 15:06

Make a business case.

As a previous poster pointed out, there's a strong business case for you being grouped into smaller sets and alternating in the office. In the event of a Covid positive co-worker, its a much smaller group of you that then can't work.

FleshLiabilities · 01/10/2020 15:19

Do you feel the office is Covid secure? What measures has your company taken to mitigate risks?

iklboo · 01/10/2020 15:22

There are 10 of you in total? Is the office space big enough for you all to spread out safely, with Covid safe facilities?

Unsure33 · 01/10/2020 15:28

Could you suggest splitting the staff into bubbles so you are not in all the time ?to minimise risk. Have you seen th company risk assessment?

QueenOllie · 01/10/2020 15:31

See this is the issue I can spot.. the last announcement was "if you can work from home, do so"
But I bet most places are saying no, we need staff in and not WFH again. Until boris actually says like in lockdown, workplaces will carry on

Original poster
thewinenotthelabel · 01/10/2020 17:02

@loobyloo1234

If your office is Covid secure, what are you anxious about OP?

Being around people in general!

I feel like the office is Covid secure. We’re all 2m apart. We have automatic hand sanitisers on several places around the office.

But if Covid is airborne then what difference is all that going to make! Sure the best way to eliminate risk is to not be around people.

OP posts:
lioncitygirl · 01/10/2020 17:14

I’m not sure they won’t just see you as someone who is taking the piss and wanting to stay home.

Do you have kids/someone vulnerable at home that you have to isolate with as they are higher risk?

Corona is also primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes - it’s not airborne (yet) if everyone is sat a distance apart - then any sort of droplets won’t spread etc.

Can see both sides OP. Sorry.

Original poster
thewinenotthelabel · 01/10/2020 17:23

@lioncitygirl

I’m not sure they won’t just see you as someone who is taking the piss and wanting to stay home.

Do you have kids/someone vulnerable at home that you have to isolate with as they are higher risk?

Corona is also primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes - it’s not airborne (yet) if everyone is sat a distance apart - then any sort of droplets won’t spread etc.

Can see both sides OP. Sorry.

@lioncitygirl

I have asthma and I’m also overweight, but that’s besides the point.

The government are advising to work from home if you can, we all can.
It’s not about taking the piss staying home, it’s about doing what’s safe.

OP posts:
thevassal · 01/10/2020 17:38

@BritWifeinUSA

Doesn’t hurt to ask. But ultimately it’s her decision. Although you may have enjoyed working from home, she has to think much beyond that and the greater needs of the business. If she believes the company works better with everyone in the office, that’s what she will do.
Is it fully her (the boss's) decision though? If she is deliberately contravening government advice? I'll be interested to see if any litigation comes out of this current situation, for example if someone in OP's situation goes into work due to their boss's insistence when work could be done from home, catches Covid from a colleague and sadly dies - would family's have a case to sue?

(I do realise this is unlikely and don't want to fuel OP's concerns - just wondering hypothetically where the lines are re: government advice rather than legislation).

I agree with other posters - stress the business case for not having the whole office off at once (quite likely as track and trace improves) versus smaller groups. At least then you would only have to go in every other week or whatever.

Oblomov20 · 01/10/2020 17:47

You come across as completely neurotic. Being at work is totally fine if you keep your distance, which you will because your office has been declared covid safe.

I work in similar office set up and was there today. Totally fine.