Was I right?

[AlreadySociallyIsolated]

Sorry for long post.

My co-workers were told to work at home last week. Due to the nature of my role it would be nigh on impossible for me to work at home, so I accepted the fact that I would have to be in the office.

I was ok with this as all my co-workers would be working from home, so that would minimise the risk to me and my family. No-one else would be working in the same office and I could avoid other people in the building.

The following morning two co-workers turned up at the office, despite the fact they had been told to work from home. They had no pressing reason to come in, they just didn't want to work from home.

I may have shown my anger at this, shall we say. I tried to explain that I didn't have the choice to work from home and that they were being unfair and irresponsible in coming in as normal. Would you agree?

I feel that I have the right to keep myself and my family safe and the fact that the government and our bosses were telling staff to work at home should be heeded. I am taking my responsibilities seriously, so should they.

Yes I think you were right, I'd have been pissed off.

YANBU. They do this in my work too. Supposed to be working from
Home but breeze in every now and then to complain about lack of protection from Covid. Boils my piss.

Thanks, I was beginning to think I'd blown it all up out of proportion, but this thing has me really scared.

I think it's important to remember everyone will have a unique situation. Your coworkers may be able to work from home physically but they could have other mental health issues that make it difficult for them. Last week we were told to work from home as a suggestion. A colleague I know personally discreetly asked to be permitted to work in the office as she is on suicide watch and shouldn't be alone and would e so at home. She was allowed. I don't think she needs to explain herself in such a sensitive state.

Could they have discussed with your manager and you are not aware?

So what's the outcome and what will happen now op?

I think you need to talk to your employer to establish whether you can work from home/alter your duties/take time off rather than kick off at colleagues because you think they shouldn't be in the office but you think you should.

Thanks for the replies. All good points. They were told in no uncertain terms that staff were to work at home, no exceptions. I can't say why except the demographics of the clients we work with are the ones at most risk at the moment so all work is to be done by phone, not face to face. My job means I have to collate the work as it comes in through various means and distribute it. I do have provision to work from home now but will still have to go into work to collect letters and other paperwork as it comes in, so I would be making several journeys that could be avoided. We are trying to implement an email only route for the work to come in so that the need to go to the office would be further minimised.

Re mental health problems - I completely understand that some need the interaction at work for their mental health. I found it to be a very lonely week but I can understand the reasoning behind the decision for WFH. If that is the case a discreet word in my ear would have helped my understanding of the situation, even if it was not explained completely.

It's a sensitive situation all round but I still maintain I have the right to keep myself and my family safe, and to continue to do my part in keeping the service I work for running effectively, more important now than ever.