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Covid

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Original poster

Anyone else had work refuse WFH?

87 replies

Oysterbabe · 17/03/2020 07:27

My job can easily, easily be done from home. We all have a laptop ready to go in case Boris orders companies to let people WFH. My company are yet to agree it and everyone has been told to go in today as normal. It's a large company with in the region of 500 staff working in offices in close proximity. I have a feeling they won't allow it unless they have no choice. They hate people working from home for reasons they've never been able to explain.
They're cunts right?

OP posts:

startingtoday · 17/03/2020 08:04

Me, but expecting there to be a decision today after Boris's announcement. No reason at all why I can't wfh.

Kimbaland · 17/03/2020 08:07

Yep me. Half of our office have been told to work from home and some even had brand new £1000 laptops bought just so they can. The rest of us were told sorry you can't work from home.

For the record I work in a team of 4 managers all doing the same job, the other 3 are working from home and I'm not allowed. I even offered to use my personal laptop and was told no.

I also have to drive an hour for a meeting today which I have to go to. Pretty sure it's a non essential gathering but hey ho, apparently I'm the sacrificial lamb!!

NoraEphronsneck · 17/03/2020 08:10

I work for a company with around 5k workers around the UK.

They have arranged laptops for those who don't already have them and everyone was told last night to work from home as of today.

It's a massive task and I was shocked but obviously very necessary.

sixeightfour · 17/03/2020 08:12

My friends company womt allow WFH but most of the managers are WFH. They're just waiting until someone tests positive but it may already be in the office

theneverendinglaundry · 17/03/2020 08:13

I cannot believe there are still employers telling their staff to come into the office when they can wfh. It is so irresponsible.

DH got an email from work yesterday saying wfh, the office is closed and locked.

Mintjulia · 17/03/2020 08:19

We provide security kit that allows people to work from home without breaching security rules. We’re inundated at the moment, with companies trying to sort systems in a hurry.

So companies may be holding on until they can support enough VPN’s.

theemmadilemma · 17/03/2020 08:20

So irresponsible.

My company was in action all last week getting anyone (tiny %) who wasn't already wfh set up to wfh.

The offices are essentially closed now.

MrsMozartMkII · 17/03/2020 08:22

Bonkers!

Really, what do these employers think they're going to advice achieve other than potentially 'losing' a good portion of their staff for x weeks. Plus, if anything does go desperately wrong (really hope it doesn't!), I'm thinking there'll be lawsuits.

CollieDug · 17/03/2020 08:23

That is so irresponsible OP

These companies should be publicly named and shamed.

MinesaPinot · 17/03/2020 08:27

Our office is open for anyone who needs to go in and pick stuff up, which I am doing this morning, but then we are WFH. Same with DH who has gone in to collect bits. I am expecting to be done by 11am and we will come home together and that, I think, will be it, certainly for this week. I am waiting for firm guidance as to next week, but I suspect that we won't be in the office at least until this starts to calm down a bit. DH is freelance, but can do some stuff at home so hopefully we won't lose out financially too much.

I really can't understand organisations who are literally forcing their staff to go in though. It seems utter madness to me.

PurBal · 17/03/2020 08:30

My pregnant sister! She works in a huge central London hospital and travels through 2 major stations on her commute. She told them no.

NettleTea · 17/03/2020 08:31

if they dont trust their workers to work from home, then they need to accept that they shouldnt trust their workers to isolate if they have symptoms. They cant have it both ways.

Mlou32 · 17/03/2020 08:34

They clearly don't value their staff. I would be very hesitant to give any loyalty or any more of my time to such a company.

Racheyg · 17/03/2020 08:36

I can work from home but a lot of my colleagues can't. So I still have to go in. I will be screwed if schools close as DH is working from home but he actually needs to work which is impossible with 2 very active boys

daisypond · 17/03/2020 08:36

Only people who are managers or project managers or IT can work from home. The rest of us, even though we could work from home if they provided us with pcs and software, are not allowed and have to trek in for hours on the tubes and buses.

womanthatfelltoearth · 17/03/2020 08:36

Our company was planning to announce wfh starts tomorrow and have stuck to it's plans. Wider team will be told today but have had to go in today.

Omashu · 17/03/2020 08:38

My OH works at a university. He can’t work from home but he said others and and work aren’t allowing them to! I literally haven’t a clue why!!

Gazelda · 17/03/2020 08:40

My DH has a home office set up from a previous employment. He could very, very easily work from home. But his employers refuse to allow it. He has to travel into London using overground and underground, risking his exposure to the virus and risking spreading it to colleagues.

He'll be looking for another job when all this is over

2020in2020 · 17/03/2020 08:40

Our team has been told we cannot work from home despite having the ability to and we all work from home frequently if we have appointments etc. We are “here to support the business” however our stakeholders are all working from home. There is a lot of anger and we feel like we cannot be trusted.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/03/2020 08:42

My company started advising people to wfh if they could (which most can, except the people in IT who deal with the hardware) a couple of weeks ago.

I WFH anyway, the rest of my colleagues are taking their kit and decamping now.

My DH has been working from home and apparently its caused issues with staff that cant (totslly different types of role) so after the announcement he was phoned and told he had to come in today. Sort of 'we all get it together solidarity'

That's idiotic. The fewer people who are in the workplace, the safer it is for everyone.

NeedToKnow101 · 17/03/2020 08:46

Yes, I work in a college in London and we have all created plans to work / teach from home so all set up. This morning emailed HoD (in light of yesterday news) and yes we all are supposed to come in. Cunts yes.
Good thing train is empty. Might call in sick tomorrow if employer doesn't change plans.

PurBal · 17/03/2020 08:46

And my Dad. He is overseas and has had to quit his job in some vain attempt to get back to the UK (and the provision medical care as he is high risk). His boss (who isn't overseas) said they "considered the risk to health low and the business risk high". Idiot.

BackInTime · 17/03/2020 08:49

Judging by the people on public transport and numbers of cars in the road this morning, yesterday's announcement has had zero impact it's business as usual. Also hearing people coughing so again the message to stay home if you have a cough is not happening.

We have one manager who doesn't believe WFH is actually working. I am giving it until Friday before he gets both barrels about me risking my health just so he can feel he's getting his money's worth.

Greenandpleasanter · 17/03/2020 08:49

I honestly think that some bosses like to treat their staff like children and get off on it. You either trust your staff to get their jobs done or they really shouldn't be working for you. I also wonder if it would give them less to do if they weren't standing over you and that's how some of them justify their jobs.

As for having to deal with people moaning, well that's also a manager's job to have to manage uncomfortable situations. They shouldn't be able to just say, well it causes me hassle so I won't allow it, when it makes business and personal sense (because you're less likely to get ill) to allow you to wfh.

My husband wfh quite a bit and he does a full day, gets more done and doesn't have to suffer the commute, so has a lot more energy at the end of the day, plus fewer distractions.

Alarae · 17/03/2020 08:51

Doesnt affect me as I am on maternity leave, but my company sent round an emergency alert to all workers saying that everyone is to work from home starting today.

This is a top 10 accountancy firm.

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