Husbands boss

[MrsWhippey]

Hi all,

Looking for bit of an advice really. My husband and his colleagues are a team of 7. Friday they were all summoned back to full time hours as of today. Previous they were split into teams of two to attend work every three days on rotation for half a day.

As you can imagine the team are very upset and worried. Today when expressing their worries the manager told them all that they will all catch the virus at some point so may as well get it out the way and that cleaning regimes for toilets etc didn't need to be more regular because they could catch it anywhere.... she's a HR nightmare at the best of times but surely this is not ok?

Thanks in advance

Why would it not be ok? Are you suggesting that nobody should be working full time at present?

What sort of work is it? Could they work at home?

Yanbu. The advice hasn't changed. We are still to isolate and work from home when possible. There is no we are going to catch it anyway policy in place. Does he have a union? High touch areas should also be cleaned more regularly (ie the toilet handles). I would be going to my union. Work from home where possible is the advice.

Pocket - that's a bit of a silly question my point isn't working, it's the numbers and the managers reactions to their anxiety and worries. I'm working from home full time as are my entire organisation, because we can do it safely. I do this whilst juggling three children as do a few of my colleagues.

Mrs Choc - can't work from home, they're happy to work but not in a team of 7. They can maintain a safer distance to other departments
But a lot of what they do requires minimum of two or three for H&S or use of heavy equipment.

Halo - thank you, I think I'll contact Acas today as he's not in a union. The advice hasn't changed which is why this cavalier attitude to catching the virus is the issue.

I've just never expected to hear someone say 'you're going to get it at some point so your concerns about social distancing or being at risk aren't a worry'. No other department are back the organisation except Skelton shifts, catering haven't been there for 5 weeks. Most have been furloughed. DH boss has refused furlough any of the team and she told them on several occasions she cants stand the thought of them being paid to be at home. My husband didn't use the toilet once yesterday in a 8 hour shift there's probably about 50 people in and around the buildings and some live there.

Forgot to add two of the other heads of departments had words with the manager yesterday. They're furious she's placing them and their Skelton shift personal at risk. This isn't a lazy team, they work hard and are good people.

She sounds dreadful. We’re all going to catch it anyway - so she’s made that decision for them has she ?

she should ring WHO if she has information that shows that getting it out of the way leans they wont get it again, they would be very intrested in that since they aren't sure yet

I would ring hr at least about the no need for extra cleaning.

The managers attitude is appalling, if the other heads of departments think that she is wrong to be summoning them all in, are they doing anything about it? It seems as though the skeleton staff approach was sensible. As an aside, why can't he phone ACAS etc?

Your husband does need to manage his anxiety a little though. Using the toilet is perfectly safe as long as he washed his hands afterwards.

Is he an at risk group?

Why has your husband refused to furlough the team? If they aren’t able to work the business can claim for the costs. Blocking this is surely only going to add to the business pressure to get him back to work?

Her attitude has been appalling throughout. She had a go at the apprentice yesterday because she doesn't want any of the team talking behind her back. He said of course he was going to seek advice and opinions of the others and she went mad at him and accused him of bitching, it's insane.

DH has just called so upset, she's had another go at them because her boss is apparently angry the lads are questioning things. No one has tried to even reassure them, they just keep getting shouted at like children for not feeling comfortable or safe.

You couldn't make it up, it's just insane. My husband is recording as much of the conversations as he can because of what she says and how she says it.

Lumene my husband hadn't refused to furlough anyone. It was his boss.

The plan is that very few people will get this virus and that we hold it at bay until there is a vaccine or effective treatment . That's the whole point of not relaxing lockdown until rates are low enough that we stand a chance of doing that. See yesterday's daily briefing

The government says we must maintain a social distancing and that will continue for a very long time. See also yesterday's daily briefing

Health and safety/trading standards ...there is a part of your local council that can be asked if employee feel that their organisation is disobeying the rules , can't remember what , it was raised a few weeks ago on one of the daily briefings

Many organisations are getting back to some kind of normal, but making significant changes in order to do so

The small local roadworks near us are now working again, but with 10 named festival loos on site

If they can identify what exactly they object to it would help

Get your DH to ring Acas. And stop recording the boss - that won't end well.

Just as an aside, can your husband take some gloves and cleaning materials to clean the toilet before he uses it, not going all day is crazy

Report this to Environmental Health/Trading Standards who will investigate and either enforce social distancing themselves or refer to Health and Safety Executiive. Social Distancing is the law now.

Oh sorry MrsWhippey. What an annoying boss!

Thanks all, confirmed the teams feelings. I'll call acas because if he's caught on the phone there will be more drama.

I'll ask him to list out the specific objections, of which there is a few to share with acas.

Recording the managers raving tool box talks can only ever help. Yes it's inadmissible in court but it doesn't stop HR listening to the daily venom spewing from this manager. It's toxic, they're being told to shut up and carry on or F off. (She actually said that to one of the younger ones yesterday)

Manager keeps mentioning they're making redundancies in October, I feel it's a veiled threat