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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Employer says I must return to office

497 replies

Dishmatic · 09/03/2021 14:18

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?

OP posts:
BlueSussex · 09/03/2021 17:21

It was never previously agreed she’d come back after a second dose confused You can’t just make stuff up!

From the OP, HR have said that now she is vaccinated she has to return, so clearly that is what they think the agreement was.....

BungleandGeorge · 09/03/2021 17:27

You’re vaccinated after the first dose, the second is a booster. There’s also very good evidence of reduction in transmission/ infection after one dose and that even if you do get infected the infection is minor. If that wasn’t the case then the most at risk in groups 1-4 wouldn’t be waiting 12 weeks for a top up

peak2021 · 09/03/2021 17:30

I start from the premise that why are there 70 people in the office. I doubt if it is necessary, and certainly doubt the necessity to be in the office full time, which the OP I think is saying what happens. Were there only half as many, say two days per week in the office, then I am sure the risks could be minimised.

The OP may or may not be safe from having only one of the two doses, but the employer owes a health and safety duty to all of their staff. More people in the office means reduced social distancing, be it in the office or for those who travel to work on public transport.

motherrunner · 09/03/2021 17:36

If a teacher had started this OP, it would have descended into a bloodbath of replies!

I’m in a room with 33 other young adults. I haven’t had the vaccine as mid 40s. It’s WFH if you can.

BungleandGeorge · 09/03/2021 17:37

70 in the building, only 14 in the office she works in, but yes does rather depend on how big that office is, what ventilation etc they have. Probably asking for the risk assessment would be a good idea.

VaVaGloom · 09/03/2021 17:45

@motherrunner you are right people have been vitriolic about teachers working as usual and often without any of the mitigations PPE etc in other settings!

@Dishmatic do you have children who have returned to school or are other colleagues returning after their children are now back in school - this may also be what the employers have been considering?

NoSquirrels · 09/03/2021 17:52

@peak2021

I start from the premise that why are there 70 people in the office. I doubt if it is necessary, and certainly doubt the necessity to be in the office full time, which the OP I think is saying what happens. Were there only half as many, say two days per week in the office, then I am sure the risks could be minimised.

The OP may or may not be safe from having only one of the two doses, but the employer owes a health and safety duty to all of their staff. More people in the office means reduced social distancing, be it in the office or for those who travel to work on public transport.

And the risk assessment the employer has carried out will also start from this premise - can we have 70 people (or more) in the office safely? If so, with what measures in place?

None of us here know, on the basis of the OP's posts, whether the office environment poses a health & safety risk to the OP.

70 people in the building, 14 in the particular office tells us absolutely bog all about whether this employer has been reasonable in discharging its health and safety duty to its staff or not.

It sounds a lot like health anxiety to me, and the best way to tackle that (and most anxieties) is not by avoiding the thing that makes you anxious.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 09/03/2021 17:52

If this was a teacher this thread would a carnage.

It's WFH if you can. If your employer has a reason why you need to be in then they should let you know. Ultimately if they want you in, you have to go in. You're in a lot better position than many because of your vaccine.

IEat · 09/03/2021 18:01

If you are normally office based then it’s reasonable for your employer to want staff back

Original poster
Dishmatic · 09/03/2021 18:01

@BlueSussex

It was never previously agreed she’d come back after a second dose confused You can’t just make stuff up!

From the OP, HR have said that now she is vaccinated she has to return, so clearly that is what they think the agreement was.....

@BlueSussex

Eerrr no, they didn’t think that was the agreement.

I requested last year to work from home due to being CV.

I didn’t formally tell work I was being vaccinated, I told a colleague.

I then had an email yesterday saying they were reviewing wfh.

OP posts:
QualityRoads · 09/03/2021 18:02

Unless her employers have installed equipment to change the air in the room continually, then 14 in a room is not "Covid secure" in any way. The occupants would be breathing in air that others have just breathed out!

Original poster
Dishmatic · 09/03/2021 18:05

@Oblomov21

What exactly are you worried about? You actually have no grounds. If they want you to return to the office, then they have the right to request that you do so.
@Oblomov21

Becoming ill....

OP posts:
motherrunner · 09/03/2021 18:06

@QualityRoads

Unless her employers have installed equipment to change the air in the room continually, then 14 in a room is not "Covid secure" in any way. The occupants would be breathing in air that others have just breathed out!
I teach in a room that doesn’t even have a window to even open for ventilation.
BungleandGeorge · 09/03/2021 18:06

Whether you’re a teacher or something else, H&S is up to your employer. Many teachers said they didn’t want to go to their SLT but that is who is responsible for your risk assessment. OP can ask HR for a risk assessment and mitigations. Most of us are presuming someone who is not CEV and has been vaccinated is not going to come out as high risk in most office environments.

Bluenightowl · 09/03/2021 18:06

Can you tell them you haven’t had the vaccination? Just say they didn’t do it when you went as you weren’t well/had the flu vaccine a couple of weeks ago or something?

Growuppeople · 09/03/2021 18:08

O fgs go back to work
14 people!? Try going to work everyday with over 100 people coming and going!

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 09/03/2021 18:10

Your risk is so so small. You've been vaccinated, you'll see a consistent 14 people per day. You're allowed PPE and can social distance.

Shoxfordian · 09/03/2021 18:12

If you’ve had the vaccine then I don’t see why you shouldn’t go back in

MonaCorona · 09/03/2021 18:14

I am struggling to sympathise with someone not on the shielding list and who has been vaccinated not wanting to return to the office.

I lost my job last March thanks to lockdown. That's no picnic either, OP. If you don't want to go back to work in person, there will be lots of very desperate people willing to take your place.

VaVaGloom · 09/03/2021 18:17

@Dishmatic as i said HR's review may have been happening to coincide with school reopening, not your vaccine

How old are you OP?

Do you live alone or do you have a oartner /housemates/lpartner that work outside the home? Do you have children at school/nursery?
Are you anxious about resuming all social contact until you've received both vaccinations?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/03/2021 18:17

Are you or no one else on the household not going anywhere at all?

It’s not an unreasonable request from your employer if you have had the vaccine and are not shielding on medical advice.

VaVaGloom · 09/03/2021 18:18

That should read Partner/housemates or parents

Eleganz · 09/03/2021 18:19

What does your employer's risk assessment say about clinical vulnerable people like you?

What is it about your role that can't be done at home?

Your employer should be able to give good answers to both of those things or they have no real reason for increasing your risk at all.

snowcobra · 09/03/2021 18:19

@Dishmatic You are due to have your second dose soon and you're not shielding. You are very low risk, and there's no reason why you can't safely work in the office.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 09/03/2021 18:19

Why not put in a flexible working request if you think you can do your job as effectively from home and you prefer to do so? They'd have to consider it at least.

It is going to become untenable at some point soon to just rely on voluntary adjustments for COVID risk especially if these didn't follow some kind of risk assessment and occupational health advice. Risk is reducing day by day as cases fall and more people are vaccinated. When do you think it would be safe?

If you feel you are not safe now then can you suggest a counter proposal of when you think it would be safe to return? Or if it's just a preference i reality then put in the flexible working request.