Going back to office in Tier 3?

[3tears4tier3]

Posted in AIBU but no one’s answered.

I’m a Support Worker (non-statutory) in a Tier 3 area. My job involves helping people manage their tenancies (utilities, budgeting, signposting, advocacy, etc.). I WFH during lockdown period and, to my surprise, I achieved a lot with my clients (almost all my normal duties) with just telephone / email support.

My employer started relaxing things about a month ago, stating we could start visiting people in their own homes again (wearing full PPE) and come back to the office but we have to wear a face mask if we move from our desks, can’t pass people in corridors and must wipe down everything we touch.

The thing is there’s nothing I can do at the office that I can’t do from home. The other thing is, the majority of our clients are clinically vulnerable in one way or another. I could totally understand the pressure to return to normal working if we’d not just been plunged into Tier 3! It’s as though they’re sticking their fingers in their ears and going LA LA LA to the fact that we’re not on a downward curve any more and cases in our area are skyrocketing.

So, AIBU to think my employer is acting irresponsibly?

You have said you achieved 'almost all my normal duties" and also "there’s nothing I can do at the office that I can’t do from home. Which is it and does your employer agree?

You needed telephone and email support but, if you were in the office, could you just quickly ask someone, rather than emailing and waiting for someone to come back to you? Can you do the job quicker at the office?

Is there a benefit to visiting someone in their homes that you perhaps haven't realised? Do clients feel that they benefit from your visit rather than telephone calls/emails?

I see your point. The only things I couldn’t do with them is form-filling (have been talkI hope them through it over the phone) and transporting to appointments, which we’ve been told we still can’t do anyway as can’t social distance in a car. I suppose the benefit of face to face visits for the clients is the social contact as some of them are quite isolated, but that’s not really what we’re there for.

I meant me providing telephone / email support to my clients. I rarely need advice (have been doing the job a long time) and if I did I can get through to my manager easily.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. Not sure what the point is of increasing risks now, I feel like the window for taking more risks was the summer and we should be looking at minimising contact again, especially if your contacts are vulnerable and can be supported remotely. Could Face phone calls be an option?

I think until Boris takes control of the country there are going to be unnecessary anomalies between regions. I would definitely argue my case and hope for a positive resolution if I was you.