Employer says I must return to office

[Dishmatic]

I’m currently wfh. A lot of people at my company are in the office and have always been.

Last year I wrote to HR and requested to wfh due to a health condition which makes me vulnerable to Covid.
This was approved and i’ve been wfh since.

I have my Covid vaccine this week. I told my work colleague that I’d booked it and yesterday I had an email from work asking for a catch up about retuning to the office.

I spoke to them this morning and they’ve said that now I’m being vaccinated I will be expected to return to the “Covid secure” office.

I didn’t say anything on the phone but I’m really not happy to go back in.

There’s over 70 people in my office building.
14 in the room I work in!!

AIBU to not go back in due to risks?

Absolute rubbish. How long are some die hard want to stay locked down people going to throw that argument out?

It’s here, we have to live with it. I like millions of others have had to work throughout it, those who need protection are being vaccinated. I genuinely think some people want to exist like this forever.

@Mamanyt

Guidelines are two weeks after the second vaccination. I would certainly remind HR of that fact.

Yes quite.

@achainisonlyasstrong

I don't think people think they have some right to work at home. But people think why on earth waste hours trekking to the office, when they can just as easily work from home and be even more productive!

Absolutely yes.

@Jamboree01

Absolute rubbish. How long are some die hard want to stay locked down people going to throw that argument out?

It’s here, we have to live with it. I like millions of others have had to work throughout it, those who need protection are being vaccinated. I genuinely think some people want to exist like this forever.

Yes they do And ultimately if your employer wants you back in you have to go

Of course people do. So many people have lost their jobs and businesses because of this and would love a secure job right now.

I don’t know the ins and outs but the employer sounds very reasonable. I feel for employers because there will be people who take advantage of all of this (not saying OP).

When you look at all the measure small businesses put in place to meet requirements and then to be locked down again. Horrendous for them

@Jamboree01

Absolute rubbish. How long are some die hard want to stay locked down people going to throw that argument out?

It’s here, we have to live with it. I like millions of others have had to work throughout it, those who need protection are being vaccinated. I genuinely think some people want to exist like this forever.

Yip.

They want to make international travel illegal for the next five years; they want to stay locked down in their homes complaining that the neighbour had their 99 year old mother over for Easter Sunday

but...

They also want teachers in school to look after their kids.
Hospital staff available to take care of healthcare needs.
They want 65 year old out on the checkouts in supermarkets.
They want delivery people bringing them their Amazon orders.

They basically want to keep themselves holed up safe, whilst telling everyone else that ‘they are a key worker’ and that makes their risk acceptable.

And the hysterics! Fooking eck. @rulerbirds
“Stay at home, stay at home”. Guess what - I’m going to hang out with 90 other people tomorrow. Wanna call the police?
Send them to my high school.

100% all of this.

Or @rulerbirds can send them to my secondary

"I don't think people think they have some right to work at home. But people think why on earth waste hours trekking to the office, when they can just as easily work from home and be even more productive!"

They don't have the same overview of the whole business that their employer does.

It is not just about them, working away productively for eight hours each day at home and doing their own job.

It is also about how the team are working and interacting together, resentful employees in the office getting increasingly agitated that they've been refused permission to wfh, concerns about reintegrating wfh staff back into the office after so long out of it. OP doesn't know if her employer wants to review her responsibilities or restructure the dept, or train her in something new, and feel it would be easier in person.

It is the employer's decision about whether wfh can be accommodated. They have allowed op to do it for a year, and are not unreasonable to want to review it and open a conversation imo.

Besides, op has said that her mental health is suffering at home and that she would be happier returning to work - except for fear of covid. It would therefore be more helpful to her, I think, if posters helped her to see how low any risk actually is, rather than suggesting she continue wfh for several more months as her mental health worsens.

It will be a staff morale issue. And the fact that you were contacted after you mentioned the vaccination to a colleague points even more strongly to that.

There will be a load of resentful staff going in and working and frustrated that others are getting to WFH. They will be pointing out that the rationale given by you doesn't apply so strongly any more ...you've had vaccine, they are now more at risk working in the office than you are.

Their resentment of the situation will mean lower productivity all around which will be a real headache for managers, who are now trying to address the issue by doing what they're doing now.

I know you are working more hours at home but are you able to fully complete every aspect of your role at home with the same flexibility?
If not then your colleagues will be picking up some of the slack and this can cause huge resentment. It also may be that other colleagues are requesting to work from home citing you as a precedent.
Are there any extra precautions they could put in place that would make you feel safer? It would be worth having a conversation with HR and OCC health to see if there is anything else they can put in place for you. Obviously I don't know what your health condition is but if it makes you as vulnerable as you are implying then OCC health may say that you should stay at home until you have had your second jab anyway.

OP is not CEV/ shielding?

No, she's said she is neither

@Totallyfedup1979 you'll be a lot safer in your school if more of your children's parents actually are working from home, and following the guidance diligently. I am about to start working out of home again, and am grateful to everyone who stays at home when they can, and employers who enable it, at least until.vaccine rollout is wider.

Your answer suggests you don't actually care as much about your own safety, as feel like a grumpy child saying it's not fair and that everybody should have to have the same risk as you do.

I think there are few roles where you are part of a team or have a lot of interaction with colleagues - which is most roles - that can be done successfully full time from home. I can believe that people feel they are more productive individually but there will be ineffiencies that arise in most companies if people are never in the same place together. It's certainly the case in my kind of company, even though we've been working successfully from home in many ways.

And you don't get to choose.Your employers pay you to do a job and because they are paying you, they set the terms whether you like it or not.

The government rules are to work from home if you can. No employer should be forcing staff back into work if they can wfh. Yes, many people have no choice but to go into work, but the home-workers by protecting themselves are also helping to protect those people.

[quote OverTheRubicon]@Totallyfedup1979 you'll be a lot safer in your school if more of your children's parents actually are working from home, and following the guidance diligently. I am about to start working out of home again, and am grateful to everyone who stays at home when they can, and employers who enable it, at least until.vaccine rollout is wider.

Your answer suggests you don't actually care as much about your own safety, as feel like a grumpy child saying it's not fair and that everybody should have to have the same risk as you do.[/quote]
Unfortunately in this imperfect world, parents are not diligently staying at home and teens are already mixing at one another’s houses. But that’s fine, because life has to get back to normal.

I’m less concerned about ‘it’s not fair’ and more concerned that ‘there are people out there who want to drag this out’. Even though young and vaccinated, they still feel too vulnerable to get back to work.

There have been threads where people have discussed wanting to live like this and have openly said it provides a better work life balance.

But, then they want “key workers” to have only a work:work balance so that the negatives of lockdown don’t actually impact them.

I’m having a cup of tea now in my classroom before period 1. As far as I’m concerned there is nothing to worry about.

Someone upthread said that healthcare workers would not have needed to come out of retirement of people had stayed at home. Unfortunately they were needed in April and May last year when hospitals were full due to people already having spread the virus because lockdown was brought in too late, we were told masks did more harm than good and all we needed to do was was our hands while singing (ie spreading virus) happy birthday

*It will be a staff morale issue. And the fact that you were contacted after you mentioned the vaccination to a colleague points even more strongly to that.

There will be a load of resentful staff going in and working and frustrated that others are getting to WFH. They will be pointing out that the rationale given by you doesn't apply so strongly any more ...you've had vaccine, they are now more at risk working in the office than you are.

Their resentment of the situation will mean lower productivity all around which will be a real headache for managers, who are now trying to address the issue by doing what they're doing now.*

This.

@Claudia84 I realise she's not having time off but she's been given special consideration. In my company, (care service provider) those who have admin jobs that can be done from home are wfh, those who are CEV who are unable to fulfill their function successfully from home have been furloughed. However, as I understand it, we all are expected to return to work on 1st April as the extended furlough is only for people in industries that are not allowed to trade atm, hospitality, leisure etc. Anyone whose place of work is open and who cannot wfh is expected to return to their employment on 1st April provided they can work in a Covid safe way.
OP's employers have said she can work in a Covid safe environment. Her colleagues are doing so and have been all through her special dispensation period and she has been given the three weeks after her first jab recommended for maximum immunity that the CEV have been accorded, I'm group 4 and I've hit my three week marker today.
I am scared of going back. I've got this far and I don't want to fall at the last fence. But I want to be part of my team. I want to work alongside my colleagues again and, for team morale, so does my employer.
It may be that OP's company can function as an organisation with one or two wfh but not with everyone doing so. OP will have 60-70% protection by three weeks after her jab, that will put her in the same risk category as the rest of her colleagues and her employer has therefore decided it's time for her to return. Her colleagues, and everyone else young and healthy, haven't been working under no risk you know? No risk doesn't exist and won't, even with everyone who can be, being fully vaccinated. Sounds to me like OP needs to give her head a wobble and get back to working alongside her colleagues or seek counselling if her anxiety is at such a level she feels she can't. The situation is never going to be no risk no matter how long we shut ourselves up.

We have had some resentment apparent in department meetings. People questioning why they should have to pay (the employer) to park when other WFH colleagues have zero parking and commuting costs. I can see their point as parking permits cost nearly 400 pounds a year and we are being advised to avoid public transport.

Resentment is a problem for many employers but employees tend to only see the situation in a purely personal way.

@suggestionsplease1

It will be a staff morale issue. And the fact that you were contacted after you mentioned the vaccination to a colleague points even more strongly to that.

There will be a load of resentful staff going in and working and frustrated that others are getting to WFH. They will be pointing out that the rationale given by you doesn't apply so strongly any more ...you've had vaccine, they are now more at risk working in the office than you are.

Their resentment of the situation will mean lower productivity all around which will be a real headache for managers, who are now trying to address the issue by doing what they're doing now.

I think it's to do with this. Everyone going into the office is probably going to get very resentful so they need a date you will be back.

@Ifeelsuchafool I do agree with you. I’m looking forward to going back too as I see the benefit in being around my colleagues, although I’m really lucky that I work for an organisation that was flexible before - Ie if I want to work from home I don’t need to request it and I think there are benefits to both.
I’m probably looking at it from that angle a little - so just think it’s a shame that the OPs org is seemingly still of the mindset that it is all or nothing.

@rulerbirds

I thought the govt told everyone to WFH? Could you report them in any way OP. How are they Covid secure? This is unacceptable. That office needs to be shut down and the people running it prosecuted. Report them to the police.

The police!?

Fucking hell 😂

Come on, be honest, how much had you drunk when you posted that?

If you are not shielding, then you have to go to work if requested.

I think this is a bit tone deaf. There are people in a much worse situation than having had a vaccine and having to go back to work.