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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say no to going back to office until I've had vaccine & restrictions lifted?

251 replies

Willow79 · 09/04/2021 22:20

I live in Scotland and have been wfh for a year. I'm late 20s and asthmatic. Basically I wouldnt feel safe going back to physical work until I've at least had the vaccine. I know I'm young but I have friends with long covid and the prospect really scares me.

Anyway over the last 2 weeks my boss has been asking colleagues to meet our clients in physical meetings again. They travel there together by car and spend time with multiple teams of people.

Today was the first time the boss suggested I do this soon and another client also put pressure on me for the first time saying they want to meet soon as things go back to 'normal'.

AIBU to not want to do this seeing as the rule is a phased return to work in June?

OP posts:
emilyfrost · 09/04/2021 22:25

YABU. If your boss wants you back in the office, you go back to the office or you quit.

As long as a risk assessment has been carried out and the workplace is safe you have no choice. It isn’t up to you to say no.

Shieldingending · 09/04/2021 22:27

You have no choice, just like lots of other people ... supermarket workers, school workers, carers, nhs staff.

FTEngineerM · 09/04/2021 22:27

I do think it’s being used as a bit of an excuse now.

Lots of measures are in place in work places and the numbers are low.

WorraLiberty · 09/04/2021 22:29

You're talking like you have a choice, do you?

wishingitwasfriday · 09/04/2021 22:29

Agree with the previous poster. Employees need to realise that their employers can ask them to return to work, as long as risk assessments are completed. It's not up to you to make the rules. If you don't go back then your employer is within their rights to start disciplinary procedures.

HumunaHey · 09/04/2021 22:29

If it's just a case of meeting clients and not working in your office, that would count as a phased return.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 09/04/2021 22:29

Actually as an asthmatic who has been lucky enough to have the jab I can see why you would worry about being in the car with them and I don't think that is an excuse.

Witchcraftandhokum · 09/04/2021 22:29

Do you have children at school?

mrsbyers · 09/04/2021 22:30

Why haven’t you had the vaccine ? If you’re not CEV (would have had vaccine by now) then you should be willing to go back to work

GogoGobo · 09/04/2021 22:30

I think you need to get a bit of a grip. You’ve WFH for a year and been able to avoid contact when MILLIONS of workers haven’t had that luxury. Businesses are desperate to try and get things moving again. There will always be SOME risk. If your boss has made your office Covid secure you need to go back.

Ohjustboreoff · 09/04/2021 22:33

Yes YABVU! So you've been WFH and still want your way! Some of us have been working on the frontline through this entire thing, homeschooling children, late 40's and still not a sniff at getting the vaccine. Put your big girl pants on and get on with it!

lovingllamaa · 09/04/2021 22:33

So many people have been made to redundant due to covid I’m sure your employers wouldn’t have a problem replacing you if that’s what you want?

Scottishskifun · 09/04/2021 22:33

I would say that your not being unreasonable because of the Scottish system.
It's very clear that non essential offices should not be open til June at the earliest. If your boss is flouting this then you can report the business to environmental health at the council who will investigate.

Scottishskifun · 09/04/2021 22:35

@wishingitwasfriday

Agree with the previous poster. Employees need to realise that their employers can ask them to return to work, as long as risk assessments are completed. It's not up to you to make the rules. If you don't go back then your employer is within their rights to start disciplinary procedures.
Not in Scotland if deemed not an essential office it actually currently breaks the legislation to do so.
aug2ftm · 09/04/2021 22:41

I think yabu - not everyone has that luxury for example I’m second trimester of pregnancy and will be working full time in a school with no social distancing from next week. I can’t get the vaccine and can’t say no thanks I’ll continue WFH please.

Rillington · 09/04/2021 22:43

It's not your decision to make. If your boss wants you in and you want to keep your job you don't seem to have a choice.

BungleandGeorge · 09/04/2021 22:43

Is there a reason the meeting needs to be face to face? Can you socially distance? What surroundings are the meetings in? Can you travel in your own car?
If you’re being forced to car share then that part is definitely unreasonable I think. Multiple people in a car from different households has been discouraged all along I think. It’s a very confined environment and if you’re going at any speed it’s not possible to have windows open

alltoomuchrightnow · 09/04/2021 22:43

yabu! I work in a busy superstore and everyone has kept working...inc my asthmatic or pregnant co workers.... in fact some are both pregnant and asthmatic..I've kept working with a bad gall bladder infection.. we just get on with it...
Dont look for excuses to not work!

katieg03 · 09/04/2021 22:46

I live and work in an office in scotland. You are not obligated to share cars. But it's reasonable to expect people to return to the office and adhere to FACTS guidelines. You can have socially distanced meetings. You can't stay with forever unfortunately

Original poster
Willow79 · 09/04/2021 22:47

@BungleandGeorge

Is there a reason the meeting needs to be face to face? Can you socially distance? What surroundings are the meetings in? Can you travel in your own car? If you’re being forced to car share then that part is definitely unreasonable I think. Multiple people in a car from different households has been discouraged all along I think. It’s a very confined environment and if you’re going at any speed it’s not possible to have windows open
There is no reason the meetings need to be face to face. These clients want them to be face to face because they miss the in person 'banter' and camaraderie of in person brain storming. These clients were also against the recent lockdowns. What annoys me is my boss actually suggested it and he has been flouting the rules throughout.

We would be car sharing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Willow79 · 09/04/2021 22:49

Exactly this!

For people who 'don't have the luxury' I am really sorry about that. But that doesn't mean others should be forced back in before risk assessments carried out and workers feel safe.

The fact is the job can still entirely be done from home and that is the legislation until June.

OP posts:
Original poster
Willow79 · 09/04/2021 22:50

@Scottishskifun

I would say that your not being unreasonable because of the Scottish system. It's very clear that non essential offices should not be open til June at the earliest. If your boss is flouting this then you can report the business to environmental health at the council who will investigate.
They have been flouting it for about a month or so now. Car sharing all the time.
OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 09/04/2021 22:53

OP you can contact environmental health (they have covid teams) to request assistance with your query and also request they keep your name out of it.

I can tell you straight away car sharing is a no and unless in the essential businesses category office and f2f meetings is a no until June. That's the legislation.

WaterOffADucksCrack · 09/04/2021 22:54

Can't you just not car share and have a distanced meeting?

I'm a manager of a care home and in my twenties. Tbh I've found the younger staff the worst for excuses even though none are CEV and youth is on their side. We obviously work physically very closely but we haven't had an outbreak as I'm so strict with PPE etc.

Scottishskifun · 09/04/2021 23:01

@emilyfrost

YABU. If your boss wants you back in the office, you go back to the office or you quit.

As long as a risk assessment has been carried out and the workplace is safe you have no choice. It isn’t up to you to say no.

There is a very good reason offices are shut you can have every social distancing measure in place unless the office has a once ventilation system or windows wide open it's a covid risk due to air build up.

As said in other posts as well in Scotland it actually breaches the legislation to be in offices currently unless it's deemed an essential business.

Some of my colleagues would love to be back in the office but it's still a no because of the legislation which is different to Englands.