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Original poster

Any non key workers still being told into come to work?

62 replies

Halfstonehomerun · 20/03/2020 05:40

Just curious, my work have closed to the public but staff will work behind closed doors. We can definitely keep 2m apart from each other and have sanitiser/sprays/a lot of hand washing awareness!
Feel like I am the only person I know who is a non key worker who is doing this?
I should add it’s not a huge concern to me at the moment, I just wondered if anyone else is still going to the office next week.

OP posts:
VadenuRewetje · 20/03/2020 05:42

Sounds like its pretty safe for you to be there. Are your employers being flexible fore people whose children won't be in school from Monday?

Cherrypi · 20/03/2020 05:42

I work in a library and we're still open. I think they should shut on Saturday but we've been asked about working next week.

feelinguseless101 · 20/03/2020 05:58

DHs main office cannot currently work from home, though DHs team can. His team are working on getting the IT infrastructure in place so those not needed in the warehouse can WFH. His employer aren't being great about the child care situation though.

DinosApple · 20/03/2020 05:58

I'm a TA but off in SI at the moment. I think from next week support staff are on a rota Inc through the Easter break.

DH works in an office. When SI has finished he'll go back, the desks are 2m apart anyway and the public don't come in much. He can't work from home, but we will need the money.

CappyCapCap · 20/03/2020 05:59

Can you work from home?

If not, can you afford to be without pay?

Original poster
Halfstonehomerun · 20/03/2020 06:14

They would be fine if I needed to look after my children but fortunately my husband works the days I don’t and give versa so we are covered there. I can do a substantial amount from home but no one is working from home unless isolating. I’m just interested to know if others are still going in too. From Monday I will no longer take public transport though.

OP posts:
Flummingbird · 20/03/2020 06:24

I work in an office, not essential work. Not 2m apart. I don't get paid if I don't go in next week to look after my DD, she will have to go to almost 70s GPs, I can't afford to not earn for more than a couple of weeks max. No talk of closing down yet although can't be long as we will run out of work in next few weeks (haulage but not general delivery so not for shops etc). I have asthma. I have absolutely no idea what to do...

Sally872 · 20/03/2020 06:26

I am non essential and still working in office.

homemadecommunistrussia · 20/03/2020 06:32

I work in a library too and still going in. Confused

hellhasahancart · 20/03/2020 06:33

Sorry if I am misunderstanding but I thought that the list of key workers was just for schools, identifying whose children they are open for? It surely isn’t a list that identifies who goes to work or not? That would be madness....

Herpesfreesince03 · 20/03/2020 06:37

I don’t know a single person that has been kept off work yet

greytminds · 20/03/2020 06:38

We’ve been working from home exclusively for some time but we had a colleague with a confirmed case early on so it’s been taken very seriously.

DH works for an organisation that doesn’t rely on revenue to exist and in theory should be very employee friendly. Despite this they are still not allowed to work from home a day it’s basically because the head of the business is both a workaholic and has little trust in her employees to actually work. I’m appalled by their attitude to be honest as they are not allowing home working even though it is possible.

namechangepls5 · 20/03/2020 06:40

I am non essential and still working in office. same here

WeAllHaveWings · 20/03/2020 06:41

In our global company if you can do your job from home you WFH. Otherwise you go in until government advice changes and there is a lock down.

Nofoolfornoone · 20/03/2020 06:42

The solicitor firm I am currently using are still in the office but not allowing the public into the building

mummyh2016 · 20/03/2020 06:43

Non essential office worker still at work, who could work from home with a laptop and a phone but whose bosses think this is all a big joke.

namechangepls5 · 20/03/2020 06:43

To add to my last post:
I’m not senior either, and I regularly go through periods of having nothing to do work wise.

I will have an hour commute on public transport today, and I’ll probably spend most of the time reading the news at my desk as I don’t have any outstanding tasks

Ridiculous I’m still expected to come in imo
(I haven’t been given the option to work from home)

awesmum · 20/03/2020 06:54

Non essential and still working - very small office and able to keep distances and everyone good on hand washing etc and are all social distancing the rest of their time. Discussed with my boss if needs be to work from home if necessary and he's happy with it.

motorcyclenumptiness · 20/03/2020 06:57

I am non essential and still working in office
Me too. Still commuting in on public transport to a huge open-plan office with hundreds of other people to do what should be an easily-portable computer-based job, but the organisation doesn't have the measures in place for us to WFH.

maneandfeathers · 20/03/2020 07:02

Still working here too, quite close proximity too and contact with the public.

Not sure how long for but no sick pay means going off hard.

MinnieMountain · 20/03/2020 07:04

Staff who can walk/drive in are still going to my office.

I'm WFH until the end of next week due to DS having a cough but I (currently) expect to go in after that.

adaline · 20/03/2020 07:06

If people can work from home then they should - that's what Boris said a couple of days ago in his speech anyway.

Only go to work if you physically can't work from home.

dementedma · 20/03/2020 07:06

I'm still going to work. Plenty of rooms and space, everyone well everyone washing hands. No need for us to work from home.

mocktail · 20/03/2020 07:09

Government advice is that "businesses and workplaces should encourage their employees to work at home, wherever possible". It's not to do with whether your job is essential or not - just whether it's possible to work from home.

FairyBunnyAgain · 20/03/2020 07:14

Finally got wfh agreed from next week and I’m not due in today, but that is just for my team. Rest of office have a spilt week and you are expected to wfh on 2 of your days off.

We are non essential but if we stop working we won’t get paid and the company will fold or at least struggle