Receptionist essential work!

[bellbaeu]

My sister is a receptionist at a solicitors. She has been told she still needs to go in due to not being able to work from home.
Their will be around 8 people working in the building answering phones, it will not be open to the public.
She doesn't drive so will have to use public transport to get there and back.
Would you class this as essential work???

No, they are taking the piss. This is from someone who worked for solicitors for 30 years but got out due to dick moves like these.

Unfortunately she's gonna have to be there... Our receptionist is also asked to be there as a key worker... The office is still open although ppl are discouraged from showing up...

I wouldn’t have thought so? Who the hells going to be going to the solicitors right now anyway? Even the courses are closed! (Yes it may not be a criminal law firm but you get the gist... If the managing director wants to take the calls then fair enough but I wold have though it’s not absolutely compulsory surely?!

Courts*

The essential work thing is getting urban myth status now....the amount of times I've seen it mentioned on here yet it wasn't once mentioned in Boris' speech last night.

Shops that sell food to keep us alive
Banks to get money to buy said food
Healthcare workers, teachers, social workers etc...

Anything else is pretty much a no no and I can’t think of any example why a solicitor has to stay open other than because the owner doesn’t want to close it or money!

If the firm does wills/probate the solicitors and staff are actually classed as key workers as per SRA guidelines sent down and advertised in the gazette

That’s a joke. No need to be on the office. My friends receptionists are wfh.

The office phone is being diverted to their work mobile phone number. They take messages and phone or email the partners the callers details and question.

Alternatively you could leave an answer machine message on the main number advising the email address and assuring callers you are on duty and to please contact you by email, to which you will reply within 20 mins during opening hours (or whatever you want to tell em).

Bloody joke making people use public transport.

It will be able to divert their calls to home and the office should be shut to all clients. I imagine she's in because they'd prob be outrage amongst the other staff if they let one go without the rest.

The courts aren’t closed

@Crazycatlady83

Perhaps not closed but not open and functioning to full capacity. Certainly where I live anyway. Most things have been postponed with the exception of the most serious hearings etc...

I assume the OP doesn’t work in such a firm or she would be more aware of the reasons they are still open