Employer still wants me in, not WFH

[Letsskidaddle]

So AIBU to say no?
Just after some clarity really. It's a non-essential retail business so is closed. However my boss still wants me to go in with him there also and clean, tidy, sort out/redecorate for when we can open again.

There are things I could WFH on, and have made these suggestions, but these aren't things he wants me to do. He wants me to go in and do the 'getting ready' things.

Cleaning, tidying and sorting/redecorating aren't part of my role normally. I'm more admin focussed.

AIBU to say I'm not doing it? I've said I'm not happy about it (because of the lockdown/mixing with him) and his response was that he'd get someone else who was happy.

I'm self employed, so can't be furloughed and am obviously free to choose what I do (I'd not be in breach of any contract if I refused, I just wouldn't get paid, or probably asked to come back after lockdown!)

But, we're in lockdown aren't we?! First time round he closed totally and didn't employ/pay me. Fortunately the money isn't an issue, it's the principle of abiding by lockdown that is my concern.

@Lougle

How are you self-employed in a shop? It depends what your contract says, really. If you are 'self-employed' but not really, then if there is an 'any reasonable task' clause in your contract, I'd say that covers it. Your employer is asking you to do tasks that can't be done from home, so you can travel to work in both the spirit and letter of the law.

There's a few hair salons near me where the staff are self employed and hire a chair from the business owner, so they don't pick and choose when they work, they take booking during the hours the owner of the hair salon sets.

The beauticians round the corner most of the staff are self employed with their own clients.

There's also a card shop that has a self employed florist there too.

My husband is self employed but works for a company and if they say you have to come on site, he'd be not given any further any further work by that company if he said no.

OP could be self employed subcontractor or something like that.

I'd just refuse on the basis that you do admin / bookkeeping, not tidying and painting!

I think your employer is wrong to think a book keepers role is also to do decorating and cleaning. You would be completely justified in saying no to him.

Fortunately the money isn't an issue, it's the principle of abiding by lockdown that is my concern.

You're confused about what the lockdown rules state.

Lockdown does not mean you cannot go to your normal place of work. It means if you are required to work in the office, because the tasks are office-based, then that is perfectly acceptable. The 'employer' has to ensure the environment they are expecting their staff to work in, has been made Covid19 safe. For example, ensuring social distancing can be maintained, sanitising facilities are available, clear signage is in place as required, good ventilation (for example if the workplace is an unventilated basement room with no windows, then that's definitely not COVID-19 safe).

You may not want to do cleaning and prepping the shop because it isn't your normal work, but it would be ill-advised of you to accuse your boss of breaking lockdown rules and may convince them to part company with you permanently.

It sounds like they are being a responsible business-owner ensuring their premises are clean and ready to receive customers once lockdown restrictions are eased.

He is legal to ask you to do this. You are obviously able to refuse but there are consequences for you. I’m not sure what more there is to say. Go in and keep this work or don’t go in and find other work which is more to your expectations.
I don’t think either of you is being unreasonable. It’s just a difference of opinion.