A WFH one

[Werk]

I can't tell if I am being harsh or not.
I am in the privileged position of being able to walk to work and I earn a reasonable (ish) salary.
I work in a team of 5 solicitors with 3 support staff. We all do similar jobs and are considered key workers. 3 of my team elected to WFH completely but the nature of the job means some of the work has to be done in the office and they can only WFH if others go in.
The 3 support staff WFH during the first lockdown and I was the only one going in (because I could get there without relying on public transport). This meant I ended up doing a lot of admin work which was fine at the time because I felt it was all about us pulling together etc. I also prefer working in the office too.

Once June rolled around and things got busier I told everyone that I couldn't cope with all of their admin work too. I am PT, they are all FT. So one of the support staff said she would come in one day a week (my day off) but that she wanted to drive. Fair enough. I lived close enough that I could get her a visitor permit to enable her to park close to the office. We agreed that I would get her a permit and she would pay me back - it is £5.50 a day. She would usually give me £5 but the payments have now become sporadic and she hasn't paid for the last 3 weeks.

One of my team also comes in every now and again - he cycles so he came in frequently in August/ September but less so now. Work is building up again.

One of the support staff is CEV and so she is going to remain at home for the foreseeable and the other has just gone on maternity leave (and we have no additional cover but that is another story).

Each time the support staff member came in she did everything for the other 4 and not me - because I could come into the office. This meant I had to do all my own bundles etc. A couple of times I asked her to come in on additional days to help me and I paid for her parking on those days (even though she would also do work for the others on those days too). The other team members have never contributed to parking costs.

However, I moved last week and I am now in a different CPZ - I can still walk to work but it takes about 25 minutes (which is fine for me). I only really knew about moving 2 weeks ago and so I told her that I wouldn't be able to get any more visitor permits, she could park near where I live now (and it would only be £2 a day) but she doesn't want to walk that far.

The car park next to work is £10 a day or we can get permits from work which are £500 a year (it gets deducted from your pay).

She has said she can no longer afford to come to work - she has sent an email to us all and copied in our main boss. She has laid it on that she is a single mother and cannot be expected to lose £500 from her wages (based on the fact it would work out about £10 a week to keep doing what she is doing).

AIBU? She used to get the bus to work 5 days a week which would have been £3 a day/ £15 a week anyway?

Her three kids are in their 20's and all in FT employment (supermarkets so not furloughed) - I do suspect they financially abuse her though (and they very much expect her to do everything for them).

I can see that she may be aggrieved that all the coming into the office out of the support staff has fallen on her (believe me, I get it!) but I don't see how she can refuse, especially on that basis?

She is not being asked to come in every day, just to maintain the one day a week and perhaps one additional day a month.

Our offices are Covid secure - we all work in different rooms and because the rest of the office is closed we have about 15 toilets and 3 kitchens between 3 of us if we all come in. She has not expressed concern about safety - just the parking costs. Her suggestion is that work pays for her parking permit (although I am not sure she realises she would be taxed on it). One of my colleagues (one that has chosen to WFH) has suggested we pay £100 each (I am PT and still do most of my own admin anyway!!)
She earns £32k a year.

AIBU - she should still come in one day a week and pay for parking if she wants to drive? Second AIBU - I do not want to contribute to her permit.

I would certainly not be paying for her parking permit. If she is required to go into the office then she chooses her mode of transport....and pays for it.

She replied that having to pay for her travel when others do not is tantamount to a pay cut (as CEV colleague is paid the same but WFH) and she loses 1.5hrs a day of her time commuting
I'd point her in the direction of her contract and ask where it says the company are responsible for her travel costs to/from work.

If she cannot see the difference between her and someone who is CEV and needs to wfh until vaccinated at least, then she is too thick to hold the job.

She wouldn't win a case of discrimination at an employment tribunal.

@Gazelda

I think this is for the office manager to resolve. I'd email OM to say you've not been receiving admin support which you've tolerated for 6 months, but feel the support resource now needs reviewing. You need x number of admin hours support each week. Can she/he confirm the admin support arrangements going forward. Do not agree to contribute towards anyone's travel or parking costs.

This.

At my work, support staff required to be in the office have paid transportation during the pandemic. If they have private cars that means parking. If they don’t own a car that means a taxi or Uber. No one is expected to travel via shared transit. The company is covering it. It’s only fair while the higher paid workers get to be comfortable and safe at home.

I'd email OM to say you've not been receiving admin support which you've tolerated for 6 months, but feel the support resource now needs reviewing. You need x number of admin hours support each week. Can she/he confirm the admin support arrangements going forward.

I agree with this.
And email the support person separately with a polite reminder that she owes you £x for the parking permits.

The support worker is not being reasonable. Pre COVID she commutes to work as her job is office based. She accepted the salary knowing her commuting costs.

While wfh she has had a bonus not having to pay.

The needs of the business are she has to come to the office. The parking vs bus fares isn't a big difference.

Yes, ultimately her role cannot be done at home when others can. She can't complain if others are lucky enough to be able to WFH. Thems the breaks. Up to the OM to sort support for you.

Her job would be able to be done from home if someone else was in the office to do the office based admin. There is no good reason that it should be on her other than that she volunteered if her expenses were covered. I feel sorry for her because realistically it should be being split between all the support staff.

@GlowingOrb

At my work, support staff required to be in the office have paid transportation during the pandemic. If they have private cars that means parking. If they don’t own a car that means a taxi or Uber. No one is expected to travel via shared transit. The company is covering it. It’s only fair while the higher paid workers get to be comfortable and safe at home.

I think this is unusual. Also are they aware that this is a taxable benefit? The tax on a twice daily taxi could end up being very significant...

In what world is it anyone but her responsibility to cover the cost of getting to work? She must have saved a fortune over months of not travelling to work, she can spend that. I can't believe colleagues have suggested covering it.

However, the bigger issue is that wfh is no longer working for your team. This is what needs to be reviewed.

It's not your problem to sort out how they get to work or where they park.
The fact is that they all managed to do it before.
WFH has only ever been advised 'if it's possible to do so'.
If they cannot do their work from home (including their admin) they need to attend the office to do what they cannot do from home.
OR, if you are PT and they FT, and you don't mind doing their admin, your hours and theirs should be tweaked accordingly. You don't have to do work for free, nor should they be getting paid for work they haven't done.
You sound like a great person to work for, and very supportive, but don't allow them to take the piss, they still need to do the jobs they are being paid for.

TBF to colleague there is currently no guidance that says CEV colleague needs to wfh either, if the workplace is covid secure.