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Original poster

Workplace not closing

49 replies

PickleWithEverything · 04/11/2020 20:13

If you or your DP works in an office where everyone has a laptop and is able to work from home, is that workplace closing from Thursday?

My DP's office is staying open. The management say, it is so that people who have MH issues when they work at home, can come in to the office to work. My DP has no MH issues, but is being required to attend the office 3 times a week to supervise.

I'm really angry, and said it is not right for his office to stay open. He thinks I'm being an idiot. But surely if every workplace did this it would really weaken the effectiveness of lockdown?

I'm sorry for people with MH issues, but I'll be a lot more sorry if there are hundreds or thousands of people unable to get a hospital bed because covid has continued to spread through the community.

OP posts:
MaverickDanger · 04/11/2020 20:22

If he really doesn’t want to go in and is just as productive from home, I’d be tempted to say that the idea of him going in is causing him anxiety.

See how supportive they are then. It is a difficult one, I can see both sides.

Would there be anyone else to supervise?

fairynick · 04/11/2020 20:25

My workplace isn’t closing either and I don’t understand how they’re getting away with it. I’m scared to death. I work in a call centre and feel like management don’t care about our health at all.

WhiteChocTwix · 04/11/2020 20:26

@PickleWithEverything agree with you 100% OP. I think you're spot on. Unless everyone does their bit in this lockdown it's just not going to be effective. My view is give office workers the choice, if they want to go in fine but they shouldn't be penalised for WFH. My workplace has done a U-turn today and is now saying do what you're comfortable with. I will WFH but I will go in willingly if there's a valid reason for me to be there. I say this as a temp who doesn't get paid if I don't work (so will be working my socks off at home in my job which can be done 100% remotely as it's just order management) and with a DF with MND who I'm hoping I might get a Covid secure care home visit with (not seen him properly since August).

Ohtannenbaumohtannenbaum · 04/11/2020 20:26

My workplace won't let us work from home either - they're making us go in to the office at least twice a week.

We work from laptops and worked from home throughout the other lockdown.

I'm looking for a new job (although it's obviously difficult at the moment).

doublecheeseburgermediumfries · 04/11/2020 20:34

At my workplace it depends on your role.

My department have been 3 in/2 out since we went into a local lockdown and now will be changing to 2 in/3 out or 1 in/4 out if you have a valid reason.

Some departments are full time in work some are in 4 days a week.

They have done lots to make the building "Covid secure" but it does feel a bit like "if you catch Covid it's not our fault"

Comefromaway · 04/11/2020 20:35

No, the office is fully open.

RedRosie · 04/11/2020 20:42

Where I work, all senior managers are required to be in (on a rota) to support a different group of staff who cannot do their work at home and cannot be furloughed. Work itself feels very safe (although people do worry about commuting as its central London - thus no option to drive/no parking).

This seems fair to me.

WhiteChocTwix · 04/11/2020 20:44

I think all these senior managers who make these decisions ought to be setting an example and be in the office 5 days a week Grin funny how they all hide at home and send the minions in.....

Twickerhun · 04/11/2020 20:46

Neither mine nor dH office are fully shutting. Both are staying open for people who can’t work from home either due to needing certain technology or people who have MH conditions etc. It’s all a fine line as to what is ok

TheoriginalLEM · 04/11/2020 20:52

We cant work from home, we were furloughed last time but not this time thankfully. We are in full ppe though

doubleshotespresso · 04/11/2020 20:54

OP this is ridiculous the guidance is clear!
How irresponsible of the company honestly

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 04/11/2020 20:55

My OH who has worked from home since March has to go Into the office tomorrow (1st day of lockdown!) For a meeting which can be done virtually. It's fucking bullshit. This is a government department by the way! Oh and he is CV as well

LivingoffCoffee · 04/11/2020 20:58

DP and I have both been WFH since March, not stepped foot back in the offices. And appears to be that way for the foreseeable future.

My office is open if people want to go in for any reason, but they're definitely not making anyone feel like they have to.

I've been quite impressed with my company's handling of it all as they're typically really shit at showing any care or compassion to staff

happinessischocolate · 04/11/2020 20:59

My employers aren't shutting at all, approx 200 of us still working 9 till 5.30 ☹️

Whilst I understand why they are staying open, I think it's grossly unfair that so many other business such as nightclubs and hairdressers don't have the ability to suddenly decide that they are "manufacturers" and "essential" we're really not 🙄

StormBaby · 04/11/2020 21:01

I have to carry on working in an office. Not sure I agree, but I also don’t fancy being laid off either

Barton10 · 04/11/2020 21:07

We are down to a very skeleton staff I volunteered to go in as I prefer that to wfh but nobody is forced to go in.

PatchworkElmer · 04/11/2020 21:10

Ours aren’t shutting either- we all worked from home just fine during the previous lockdown- we had some big successes as a team, so it’s not that they have cause for ‘concern’ about productivity. There is absolutely no reason why we can’t work from home again full time. I feel very disappointed in them, to be honest.

HarrietOh · 04/11/2020 21:20

I work in a university. The message is that everyone continues at normal, which includes non student facing back office staff who worked fine from home during first lockdown. The official message is so that gives “campus vibrancy and shows support to student facing staff and students”

Ginogineli · 04/11/2020 21:21

We also stayed home the previous 5 months and now back full time

No change

Many workplaces have now put covid measures in place so will stay open whilst it’s not forced

Spanielmadness · 04/11/2020 21:22

My DP is still going into the office. He has all the equipment to work from home. Bosses want everyone in.........

ABitOdd · 04/11/2020 21:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at OP's request.

Oysterbabe · 04/11/2020 21:30

I'm permanently WFH now as my company realised it works well. My DH's company said he can do as he pleases. He's going to go in once a week.

LoudBatPerson · 04/11/2020 21:31

Our offices (international company so spread across the world) have remained shut since early last March and they have already announced they won't be reopening again before April '21 at the earliest. We are a tech company and were quick to invest in the needed platforms and systems to get everyone home (including call centres etc). That has obviously helped, but the main driver has been the leadership team deciding to look after its people first and foremost.

I am shocked to see so many people being forced to go in when they can work perfectly well from home.

Dadnotamum72 · 04/11/2020 21:33

I'm a delivery driver to small businesses etc everywhere I have asked this week that shut in the spring has said this time they are carrying on as they have been recently this time.

user1487194234 · 04/11/2020 21:35

Anecdotally it seems to me that a lot more businesses are staying open this time
Presumably they think that's the best way to stay solvent