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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to go back to the office

395 replies

tillytalks · 09/01/2021 10:46

I’m currently on mat leave and due back to work on the 15th March.

I work in an office with 12 other people.
At present everyone is in the office.

There is no reason why people can’t work from
home, and I’m pretty sure the reason is that management are the type that wouldn’t trust staff to work at home.
It’s a family run business and the owners are quite precious.

I’m really careful, I don’t mix, I follow the rules to the letter.

I’m 34, have mild asthma and I also have a high BMI (more than 30 but less than 40)
I’m working out and eating well so I’m hoping this will reduce.

Even still, I just don’t feel comfortable sitting in an office all day with 12 other people.
The office isn’t big. It’s a long room, and although we can distance, I feel like it would still be crowded.

I know that I wouldn’t be given any preferential treatment to work from home, but I haven’t asked so can’t be too sure.

I’ll be working 3 days per week and my son (who will be 13m) will be in a nursery.

I’m also aware that my son being in nursery puts me at risk which is something else I’ve been thinking over.

AIBU to not want to return?

OP posts:
peak2021 · 09/01/2021 10:53

YANBU. Do you need to approach them now? Vaccine rollout and its progress will be clearer by then. Do you have any idea how the others who have been forced unnecessarily into the office feel?

MaskingForIt · 09/01/2021 10:56

You either need to go back to work or resign. Plenty of us have vulnerabilities and have worked throughout the last year.

Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 10:57

@peak2021

YANBU. Do you need to approach them now? Vaccine rollout and its progress will be clearer by then. Do you have any idea how the others who have been forced unnecessarily into the office feel?
@peak2021

I haven’t discussed it with any one else at the offence. I’m assuming they’re all fine with is since they are all still in.

OP posts:
Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 10:57

@MaskingForIt

You either need to go back to work or resign. Plenty of us have vulnerabilities and have worked throughout the last year.
@MaskingForIt

I’m not refusing to work; I’m more than happy to work; I just don’t feel comfortable in an office with 12 other people.

OP posts:
Lemmeout · 09/01/2021 10:58

Things are changing all the time re covid. Start making plans. But they don’t have to fit in with you so Yabu to refuse.

2020quelhorreur · 09/01/2021 10:58

You can ask, but it’s up to them, I’m afraid.

Lemmeout · 09/01/2021 10:58

Your preference is not the guiding principle.

Giggorata · 09/01/2021 10:58

Aren't we currently being told to work from home, if we can?

peak2021 · 09/01/2021 11:00

Do you know if all 12 are in every day you will be? Could measures be taken such as a screen to protect you? Your BMI and asthma are facts not opinions, could a letter from your doctor nearer the time help (not sure if an option?).

Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/01/2021 11:00

I thought the rules were that you must work from home if you can?

LittlefairyMum · 09/01/2021 11:01

I can understand why you are concerned but we're all concerned. Is your life more important that your 12 colleagues?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/01/2021 11:02

I work in a factory with about 100 other people so I don't really get the whole not wanting to work with 12 people. But we obviously can't work from home and I'm pretty sure you are supposed to work at home if you can.

Belladonna12 · 09/01/2021 11:02

It's awful that some workplaces are doing this. No way would I resign in your position though. If you can take the risk of being sacked , I would state that you can't go in because you are high risk. The rules are that you should only work if you can't work from home so whatever people say, they are breaking them.

united4ever · 09/01/2021 11:02

I know it's been promised before and failed to arrive but by 15th March we should be in a much better place so if that materialises then your request will hold less weight than if you were returning now.

Doubt you will be able to get an NHS vaccine before then even as an asthmatic. Could you pay privately? Dunno if that is an option.

Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 11:02

@peak2021

Your BMI and asthma are facts not opinions,

What do you mean?

OP posts:
Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 11:04

@LittlefairyMum

I can understand why you are concerned but we're all concerned. Is your life more important that your 12 colleagues?
@LittlefairyMum

Hmm no... I’m not suggesting it is.

But we all take our own risks. Perhaps others are lower risk than I am abs are happy to be in an office.

I’m not.

OP posts:
peak2021 · 09/01/2021 11:04

@tillytalks some people have made claims to avoid things during the pandemic that are not able to be verified independently. Medical conditions and weight can be.

Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 11:04

@Waxonwaxoff0

I thought the rules were that you must work from home if you can?
@Waxonwaxoff0

They are, but the owner of the company obviously doesn’t want to follow this.

OP posts:
Original poster
tillytalks · 09/01/2021 11:06

@peak2021

I think I read your post wrong. Makes complete sense, but the first time I didn’t quite get it... 🙈😂

OP posts:
SadderThanEeyore · 09/01/2021 11:06

I think they mean that they can't disagree that you have asthma and high bmi.
I would write to them stating high risk - you don't need to be specific if you don't want to; request to work from home until you are vaccinated. Due to higher risk you should be sooner than most others in your office.
See what they say and go from there.

emmathedilemma · 09/01/2021 11:07

YANBU government advice is to work from home if you can.

XelaM · 09/01/2021 11:08

That's bad management and you should ask to work from home. The whole world is working from home. Very outdated policy not to allow employees to do that

peak2021 · 09/01/2021 11:09

Incidentally I think the 'work from home' requirement should be strengthened, such as listing professions that must be wfh or only in an office for a limited number of days per week. Not that I am hopeful of such a change.

NailsNeedDoing · 09/01/2021 11:13

Yanbu right now because we’re supposed to be in lockdown, but there’s no reason to assume that we will still be under exactly the same rules by the middle of March. Wfh isn’t perfect and it doesn’t work for every company, and that’s fair enough.

If by the time you go back working in the office is permitted, then you’d be unreasonable to say you don’t want to go in and still expect to keep your job.

LividLoving · 09/01/2021 11:14

The fact that people think being in the office unnecessarily is okay is why we’re on in this mess.

If you can work from home, you should. Every workplace seems to think they are the exception. They should be managing their staff to ensure productivity, not forcing them in.