To be APPALLED at businesses forcing employees into work

[LandOfAThousandJumpers]

I’m not talking about health or care workers, or people performing essential roles. I’m talking about office workers who could work from home but are being told they can’t. My DP has been told this today and I’m utterly disgusted. The advice and available information is right now quite clear - all non essential activities should be stopped.

I've been told I'm not getting paid. fed up.

Yes, but there's already a thread on this.

From some of the conversations I’ve had some people are just utterly in denial and being extremely selfish as a result - one person I was speaking to yesterday is going to crowded venues every evening (keeping calm and carrying on as normal!) then coming into contact with lots of elderly people during the day at work.

My DH is one of these. He could do every element of his job from home, but work won’t allow it.

The laptops etc to WFH are above my pay grade. I work in defence but non essential... I think they're just hoping we carry on.

@livingthegoodlife yes my DP was told that if the time comes for anyone to be off it’ll be SSP only and they won’t contemplate home working. I understand businesses are in a difficult position as the government won’t force them to shut and enable support from insurance, but this is madness.

@livingthegoodlife sorry to hear you are in this position

I’m in the same position. Have been begging not to come in as our housemate is sick. The offices requires I come in, let me work in a sequestered space, which mean I am essentially telecommuting FROM WORK. It’s all risk and no reward. The only reason for it is a lack of trust of workers. I’m furious.

It is just utterly bizarre @tiredanddangerous

My partner‘s work seem to just have zero trust in their adult workforce to perform their job from home. Maybe they think they’ll all just watch cartoons all day in their pajamas or meet up and go up town together to smoke b&h.

Unfortunately the government have yet again left it up to the people to squabble amongst themselves over guidelines they cannot fully understand the repurcussions of, rather than putting proper rules in place. Everyone therefore gets stressed, worried and are feeling in competition with one another for fear of losing their jobs.... Nice isn't it.

Yes, we are in Switzerland. The President has asked ppl work from home, schools are all shut, everything apart from supermarkets, doctors (essential appointments only), certain pharmacies and hospitals. Public transport running a reduced timetable. Boarders are closer. Schools closed
DH boss, boss still going into work. He’s the only one so maybe he will get the message shoot. He so senior he probably gets driver to work.
But wanting people to come in. Luckily they seem to be ignoring. We are in quarantine so DH can’t go in anyway.
It’s not about catching the virus. It’s about stopping the spread.
I was so angry last night. Luckily DH is sensible and he will just stay home.

It’s so pathetic and short sighted and also smacks of a horrible, outdated and untrusting work culture. They will be the losers in the long run when most go off sick and then they have no one to do the work (that could have been done from home).

That is just absolutely ridiculous @thundernlightning!

That is just beyond absurd isn’t it, what an ABSOLUTE FARCE. I’m outraged on your behalf.

It is mind-boggling that employers trust their employees so little.

They’ll probably be a lockdown next week. Then you really can’t go to work in an non essential job. Your managers won’t be able to demand you go in if there are roadblocks and curfews.

Whether it’ll be SSP or unpaid I do not know.

Yes, spot on @DruryLanePenance

I'm lucky my organization is completely geared up for WFH - however many are not yet equipped to do this - whether it is equipment or infrastructure.

They've probably also left it a little late to implement it

They’re only following government guidelines tbf. My DH’s work have sent people home who have cold symptoms and have pleaded with staff not to come in if they even have so much as a sniffle. They also forced two members of staff to WFH for a fortnight when they returned from abroad (not from hugely affected areas but they had to be precautious).

I think full lockdown is imminent, my guess is over the next fortnight and most people will be WFH unless they have an essential job I.e emergency services and medics.

Why not be more appalled at a government that won't help people that have no choice but to either got to work, or keep their businesses running for fear of bankruptcy ?

@Serenschintte yes People should not be under this pressure to ignore advice and go in at risk of repercussions from their employer. At least countries like Switzerland (and pretty much everywhere outside of the U.K.) are behaving sensibly and issuing clear instructions to people. Then people have clear grounds for not going in and don’t need to worry about taking personal responsibility and burden for standing up to their employers wishes and interests!

I know university unions have told employees to go ahead and ignore current instructions to keep delivering lectures to smaller groups.

@SerendipityJane I am appalled at the government too. I agree businesses should not be put in that position.

Note, my original post is specifically referring to workers who could just as easily perform their duties from home.

Yeah it's shit. I have a vulnerable child with a congenital heart defect at home and I'm being dragged into the office for no reason at all. I could easily WFH. They are cunts of the highest order and think we are children who have to be under constant supervision to behave. I've been a hard working and loyal employee for nearly a decade but I'm outta here after all this has blown over.

But isn't current advice to only stay at home if you or a family member have symptoms? Not that anyone is paying attention. Bloke my husband works with is in even though his son has a suspected case. BIL coughing at the weekends but he's gone to work and his children to school.
Some people are either stupid or selfish!

Oh @Oysterbabe that is terrible, so sorry you are being put in that position. It’s beyond comprehension that they would do that when you could just as easily work from home. And especially when they know you already to be a conscientious employee. Don’t blame you for moving on

Must be such a worry at the moment.

My husband usually works remotely (sales, does visit to sites, customer offices etc) but has been told that since all visits are cancelled, he must now work from the office!

I'm self isolating due to symptoms, therefore he should be too... work have told him if hes sick it'll be ssp, but if he's "choosing to self isolate" then he'll get paid nothing!
He's not bloody choosing! He's following government issued guidelines.

Well what about cleaners who are picking up everyone's germs. They need to self isolate. The government needs to do more to protect cleaners. There the ones keeping all the germs at bay.

And why isn't anyone disinfecting the streets the way they are in other countries.

And retail workers ie sainsbury staff are told to go to work and are made to feel guilty if they don't turn up. Resulting in my sister going to work last week full of flu in fear that she would get a disciplinary.

Germs will keep spreading because the government isn't closing everything down.

And another sister of mine works in a care home and there are no hand sanatizers at the door for staff.