Being asked to attend work in a job I can do from home.

[Cuntycovid]

I plan to consult my union tomorrow as I am becoming increasingly annoyed about a situation at work
So basically my job ordinarily is for a large local authority face to face contact ect with the public. the job now due to Covid means that the face to face element is completely gone and all the work is computer and telephone work that can be done with a laptop and work mobile at home

My employer are insisting that we attend the work office despite the fact my role can be done from home , there was around 20 people today in the large work office not all adhering to social distancing
I did not complete a single task today that I could not do from home. i have asked my immediate why we are expected to come in and all I get told is that it's a senior management I instruction

There seems to be an instance on physical prescence in the office despite the fact it's not required

Are my employer acting illegally??

Sorry should read asked my immediate manager x

Do you have a laptop and work mobile to use to work from home?

The gov guidance is to continue to wfh where you can

I would refuse to go in and tell them you will be working from home and complete your work at home ensuring you get it all done then see what feedback you get.

Notnownotneverever OP hasnt answered whether they have the equipment to do this or not...

It's also terrible advice!

Your employer are not acting illegally however they should definitely abide by social distancing. It's also up to the employee to abide by social distancing too.

I'm surprised that a local authority is not continuing to let you work from home if you have been managing so far.

Yeah have a laptop and work mobile I can do my current role from home

Raise your concerns about failure to observe social distancing. And ask them to do a risk assessment.

Maybe the staff aren’t as productive working from home. Maybe your employer is looking to return to face to face contact with your service users.
Why don’t you want to return?

You could say you don’t feel comfortable risking your health travelling on public transport because it’s also been announced that we shouldn’t really be using it especially if your saying you can WFH.

Could it be anything to do with data security or IT systems that they cant protect fully outside the office?

Its typical local authority thinking , I work in similar type of building to yourself and already our manager is sending out feelers about how much being in the office helps everyone feel connected bla bla (we are in another part of U.K. still locked down stricter than England ). Not one of my colleagues is missing work and I would say all of us are being a lot more productive at home . Just feel some managers miss the power trip they can physically have over staff .

OP have you been working from home the last wee while?

The social distancing thing is a real problem. Wanting you in, I kind of understand. I'd much rather be working in the office just now.

It's good you are in a union. Speak to them and see what they say. It's ridiculous that you can WFH, and yet are not being allowed to.

If you can work from home, then say you are following government guidelines and will continue to wfh. But dont go in any more or it's too late. Say you've been in once and social distancing is not be adhered to and the environment is not safe, so you will not be attending. So long as you do your job you're within your rights

I have seen this in the nhs too. A massive resistance in some departments to home working for the admin staff and others who can. I honestly believe there are still plenty of managers who don’t see it as ‘properly’ working. It is not about productivity and efficiency but clocking in at 9 and out at 5 with your set rigid breaks..

Please dont not go to work. You are not within any rights. Speak to your union, acas etc and post on the employment board.

Thanks for all the replies I am going to try and call unison today , unsure I'f they work Saturday if not will call back Monday

I agree with the poster about management power trips and control, there seems to be a dis trust about working from home despite the fact I do the same amount of work from home

Is it possible that colleagues have been taking the Mick and rather than deal with the issue and cause a scene they have decided to pull WFH for all?
Not everyone is productive working from home.

They want to see arses on seats because basically they still think you're at school and can't really be trusted.

Have you seen the risk assessment? In my (big, public sectorish organisation) there will be risk assessments for anyone in campus. I would ask to see it and it should be signed by all staff who are in.

(I suspect ours will be “mitigation: wfh” for a very long time)