To report my office re breach of covid regulations?

[fairynick]

I think I am, and I most probably won’t, but I genuinely don’t know what else to do.
I work in a call centre. Lots off sales/service roles. Inbound, outbound, none are essential whatsoever.
We worked at home from March to June/Julyish time and I it was fine. Management were fairly impressed at how numbers and performance didn’t dip too much, and meetings were easily held via zoom etc.
There was no reason to bring us back to the office, except from loads of the workforce hated working from home as sales roles can be mind numbing it boring, were a young and friendly bunch and enjoy being in the office and the social side of things. Management were also keen because performance was generally better in the office.
Since being back there has been next to no provisions to keep staff safe. We have been spaced about the office in terms of where we sit, so every other desk on a bank is occupied rather than every desk. So there’s about a meter between when we’re working, definitely not two.
There’s a hand sanitiser on the wall when we walk in, which not everyone uses.
Kitchen is open as normal, everyone crowding round the brew making facilities, food kept in the fridge, microwaves used as normal. No wiping down after use etc.
Last week was Halloween so had Halloween games, ping pong table still in use with no sanitising when handling paddles and balls.
No use of masks in or around the office/building.
Now that the new lockdown announcement was made, we were told in our Monday morning meeting that were to remain open through this next lockdown, however if anyone would like to work at home then just let us know. One lad told them he would be working at home again after Thursday, and was drawn into the boardroom with management, until he was convinced not to.
We are in a tier 3 area.

report them, I reported mine and they got inspected and made to improve.

What measures did they implement? Who did you report them to? @pineapplepalmtree

What measures did they implement? Who did you report them to? @pineapplepalmtree

Your local council will likely have a web page where you can file a report for businesses breaching covid rules and they will investigate

@OoohTheStatsDontLie thank you for the info, it’s difficult because work have been really good to me in other aspects, I feel like I’d be backstabbing them.

@OoohTheStatsDontLie thank you for the info, it’s difficult because work have been really good to me in other aspects, I feel like I’d be backstabbing them.

Of they're really good usually, can't you raise your concerns with someone internally?

But your post title is about reporting them!
You can't have it both ways..

It depends on the premises risk assessment as to what risks can be reduced.

There doesn't need to be 2 meters depending on the risk and the situation.it isn't a set distance that can not be reduced. Ask for a copy of the risk assessment first. You don't have to wear masks it depends again on the risk assessment.

Reading with interest. My work is the same. Surely if the guidance is 'if you can work from home, you MUST work from home' and that becomes law tomorrow, then on Thursday it become illegal to make people go into an office when they can WFH?

Would you rather that slight feeling of backstabbing or the guilt of knowing someone brought it home/became incredibly sick themselves from catching it?

Why don't you ask to wfh? I don't think reporting them is a very nice thing to do and you'll upset you colleagues and bosses!

Sounds like Damart where I used to work. Bloody hell hole, report them. Safety first loyalty second.

@mrsmalcolmreynolds a few people are trying to pluck up the courage, but with everything going on atm I think unfortunately we all want to seem easygoing and kind of suck up to management, as awful as it sounds. Just scared about job losses etc.

@cabbageking thanks for reminding me about the risk assessment. We were actually emailed one when going back to the office with the measures taken going forward, barely any of them have actually been carried out.

@StepAwayFromGoogle I thought it would be illegal too! We can and have worked from home, so surely keeping the office open will be illegal?

Just insist on WFH. They might try to get you to change your mind but just say no. If they get arsey then report them. They don't have your best interests at heart.

@PurplePIG1

Why don't you ask to wfh? I don't think reporting them is a very nice thing to do and you'll upset you colleagues and bosses!

Did you see where the op mentioned someone wanting to wfh who got pressurised into not doing so?

@PurplePIG1 yeah I know what you mean, reporting seems a bit drastic but I’m also a bit worried about speaking out about how things have been handled, which I do admit is rather spineless.
The lad who asked to work from home was brought into the boardroom with two managers and made to seem problematic until he agreed to stay. Idk if they would say the same to me, I might speak to more of my colleagues and if they feel the same way maybe a couple of us mentioning it in a friendly manner might come across better. Or may be worth a shot before considering reporting, which just feels quite extreme.

Do you have a union, OP? Unions are usually pretty good at supporting with this kind of thing. Appreciate not everyone has access to one that their employer is obliged to recognise.

Just report them anonymously.

It is not back stabbing, the pressure they put on the other guy makes them not nice!

They won't know it's you but will get inspected. If you are worried about job losses, this is by far the better option than raising it to them.

You need to request to work from home to find out what any argument is.
Because you were fine and did the work does not mean everyone did.

I just did it anonymously online on my local councils sites which has a section for it.
they came in and made sure all desks were appropriately spaced out, presumably chatted about why some people were in the office if they were able to wfh, discussed the cleaning frequency which was suddenly increased etc.