Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be uncomfortable with this?

27 replies

melodypondisasuperhero · 10/10/2020 19:37

DH's workplace are planning to do Health and Safety assessments of everyone's work from home setups which of course is a very reasonable thing to do. The plan is apparently that the head of HR will go to everyone's house and physically inspect the workspace. AIBU to feel uncomfortable with this person coming into our home right now? I mainly feel like it's not a good idea given that they will be going into so many different households to perform these inspections. I know there's probably not a lot we can do about it but it just doesn't sit quite right?

My workplace are doing these assessments too, but will be doing them virtually via photos of the workspace which feels sensible to me.

OP posts:
UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 10/10/2020 19:38

Virtual sounds like a much better idea

ShalomToYouJackie · 10/10/2020 19:39

Having the same person going in and out of lots of people's houses is a ridiculous idea. YANBU

LakieLady · 10/10/2020 19:39

Blimey, I'd need 6 months' notice so I had time to tidy up if someone from HR was coming round!

I'd find it intrusive, so imo YANBU. We did self-assessments, using a template from our H&S bods.

Rainb0wDrops · 10/10/2020 19:40

Not sensible at all to be going from household to household.
Must be a fairly small company with people locally based to make that even possible.

AdoptAdaptImprove · 10/10/2020 19:40

I’m a permanent homeworker and we all have to have this at the outset of homeworking. Under current conditions I would share your hesitancy about having someone coming into the house, though there may not be a way around it.

Has your DH suggested that this could be done through photos or even a WhatsApp video call? That way he could walk around and focus on anything the manager needs to see. It’s worth trying before getting too wound up about it.

PoetaDeLosSandwiches · 10/10/2020 19:41

YANBU

Does he feel able to say no? What if he requested to do it virtually instead?

Madvixen · 10/10/2020 19:55

Does the HR manager have the necessary competencies to undertake a risk assessment?

Original poster
melodypondisasuperhero · 10/10/2020 20:05

I will suggest he brings up the virtual option, just wanted to see if I was being totally out of line before suggesting as they can apparently get rather sensitive about any pushback...

@Madvixen No idea!

OP posts:
User0ne · 10/10/2020 20:08

If ask to see the risk assessment for a member of staff visiting everyone's home in the current situation. I'd also also what precautions they're taking to reduce possible contamination between houses.

Original poster
melodypondisasuperhero · 10/10/2020 20:21

@user0ne that’s a great idea I will suggest it!

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 10/10/2020 20:28

If they say they need to come, insist on them wearing full PPE and only allow them into the room they need to see. Close all other doors.
You will be complying with their requirements, whilst keeping your privacy. I can't imagine it will take long to look.

SharpLily · 10/10/2020 20:29

And what happens if they decide your home fails their H&S check?

Will you be expected to replace your crumbling front steps / draughty windows / dodgy electrics / broken toilet seat or other elements not meeting approval? Will you be required to install fire alarms or other equipment?

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with your home, btw, but for example we are mid-renovation and H&S for work from home is not something high on the priorities list just now. Exactly how far could this situation go?

I think it’s intrusive and unnecessary and bang out of order.

Original poster
melodypondisasuperhero · 10/10/2020 20:55

@SharpLily I’m not sure to be honest, though DH thinks it’s an excuse to make people go back to the office (can’t really judge the accuracy of that since he does have a tendency to expect the worst). I assume it’s a tick box exercise essentially?

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 10/10/2020 21:02

SharpLily I can only assume that the company would then pay for all remedial work to be done on the house to bring the work space in line with the requisite safety standard....

Original poster
melodypondisasuperhero · 10/10/2020 21:34

@SheSaidHummingbird In that case, bring it on, I’ll even point some things out while they’re here Grin

OP posts:
SheSaidHummingbird · 11/10/2020 23:15

melodypondisasuperhero I read somewhere that en suites, walk in wardrobes and under-floor heating are all hightly effective measures - boosting the immune system and killing 99.9% of bateria.

Scientists also advise hot tubs.

corythatwas · 12/10/2020 00:17

melodypondisasuperhero I read somewhere that en suites, walk in wardrobes and under-floor heating are all hightly effective measures - boosting the immune system and killing 99.9% of bateria. Grin Grin Grin

corythatwas · 12/10/2020 00:18

But yes, would definitely ask to see the risk assessment for home visits and would want to know how they conform to government guidance.

PanamaPattie · 12/10/2020 00:26

Ask why the head of HR has the time to go to every homeworkers home and also ask to see a copy of their Health and Safety certificate that shows they are an accredited DSE assessment officer. You should not have any other member of staff in your house as you probably don't have Public Liability insurance.

Original poster
melodypondisasuperhero · 12/10/2020 18:20

@SheSaidHummingbird All very reasonable, I will pass it on!

OP posts:
123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 13/10/2020 10:18

As you said sounds like a tickbox exercise however all my business did to cover this (a massive national company) put a video online with a mini quiz at the end just to cover themselves and have asked if we need anything to improve our environment to let them know and see if they can accommodate however our offices are still open if you need to be in. I would definitely not be happy with a member of HR coming to my home even without going to others it just feels like an invasion of privacy to me.

MirandaGoshawk · 13/10/2020 10:22

Goodness no, Yanbu. DH has WFH for donkeys years and no one's ever been round. What on earth for? To make sure his computer's plugged in? They should allow adults to make their own decisions, unless you have clients visiting you.

Cantbreathe2020 · 13/10/2020 10:26

Only read the OP but seriously? Inspections of home workspaces??? I have genuinely heard it all now - wow

wannabebetter · 13/10/2020 10:31

From the other side, I'm an HR business partner & would be horrified if my employer asked me to visit all our employees to check their home working arrangements!! Definitely not being unreasonable!!!

5foot5 · 13/10/2020 10:32

DH thinks it’s an excuse to make people go back to the office (can’t really judge the accuracy of that since he does have a tendency to expect the worst).

This wouldn't surprise me.
A few weeks ago (before things got bad again) DH's work were making noises about getting people back. One of DH's colleagues raised the possibility with their boss about continuing to do WFH for at least some days every week and there were mutterings about how there would have to be H&S assessments to see if it is suitable. Which is nuts when she has already been WFH for 6 months when it suited the company for her to do so.

Several years ago I worked for an organisation that had a few employees who WFH at least part time and there was never any mention then about H&S

Swipe left for the next trending thread