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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:
NeverForgetYourDreams · 04/11/2020 21:36

I've told my staff who can to work from home. My PA and I have decided to go in still. I have one other employee who suffers from depression and if he wants to come in he can because he lives alone and the shielding time last time nearly broke him.

flowerycurtain · 04/11/2020 21:38

The business park I work on has 15 companies. 11 shut last time. 1 is shutting this time.

Thisismyusernamefornow · 04/11/2020 21:57

Our company has done a risk assessment to ensure we are following stricter guidelines etc and has deemed it (in agreement with staff) more productive to be in the office. If anybody were to complain they'd likely be allowed to wfh.

Onthelowdown · 04/11/2020 22:05

I think it’s dependent on productivity.

We all moved to FT WFH in March, with very gradual, limited return to the office (based on performance and those who wanted to). Those back in the office have been issued with key worker docs this time around (financial services).

If people can’t effectively WFH due to environment, resources etc and adherence to social distancing is enabled through massively reduced office capacity I think that’s reasonable and risk can be minimised. If it wasn’t possible as too many people were expected to return to the office I would be more critical, and expect consideration to be given about productivity in relation to business need for at least the initial period.

Bluntness100 · 04/11/2020 22:07

I think folks need to understand companies just can’t afford it any more. They need to stay open, meet the commitments, and operate at full capacity as far as they can.

Last time all these companies weren’t supposed to shut down, but they did. Now no one is making the same mistake twice, in addition people’s mental health is now being addressed. If they can’t work from home for whatever reason, then workplaces are allowing them to come in. And yes foe certain types of work this will force supervisors in. So what they are saying is at times that role cannot be done from home.

I think instead of getting hysterical about “hundreds or thousands ” folks not able to get a bed, then everyone should comply with the other lock down measures, inc not socialising and wearing the correct ppe. It will reduce it.

LardiLaLardiLi · 04/11/2020 22:13

We stay partially open - managers are required to work from the office 2-3 times a weeks on a rota basis to support anyone who can't work from home, have any MH issues or weren't productive in a previous lockdown (it might not be a popular decision, but it's better then sacking someone who isn't performing while wfh). We have very strict Covid measures in place that people mostly followed.

eurochick · 04/11/2020 22:23

But @Bluntness100 the OP is talking about a business where everyone can work from home.

My office (law firm) is only open for very limited purposes - people who have a real business or medical need to be there. And you have to make your case to the senior partner. I guess the only people rota'd to come in will be one security guard for the front desk to control access. Everyone else is encouraged to work from home if at all possible.

LooseMooseHoose · 04/11/2020 22:36

@WhiteChocTwix Our senior management and site directors have been onsite since the beginning, even when 95% of staff were at home. They saw it partly as their duty, but also saw that they needed to be on hand to deal with the day to day to cover if staff were needed.

I know MN likes a good office management bashing thread, but only the shit ones are actually shit.

LooseMooseHoose · 04/11/2020 22:42

Oh and our workplace is staying open and those brought back in are not going back to wfh. Although there are some support staff who were never brought back from WFH. I haven't heard anyone complaining about this, we feel supported by the company and want to make sure it still exists after covid is over. This goodwill is fostered by good management and the fact that despite a serious financial hit, staff still come first

Gertie75 · 04/11/2020 22:43

Dh worked from home last time but has to go in this time, they've said the offices are covid secure but at another of their regional offices 5 employees caught it.

EndlessWaffle · 04/11/2020 22:47

I'm in exact same position as your DH. I work in an industry which stays open - Boris name checked our industry in the Commons as staying open - however I'm 100 f-ing % sure Boris didn't mean people in head office who do their job on the phone and in electronic documents (like me). It's ridiculous but I've given up arguing. Happy to be in a job and not furloughed or redundant. So cracking on. Will now RTFT

Original poster
PickleWithEverything · 04/11/2020 22:53

Wow I am surprised such a large proportion of replies state that employers are keeping people in the office this time around.

Oh well then, looks like I'm out of step with the interpretation of the rules this time. I'll just climb down tmfrom my high horse then...

OP posts:
EndlessWaffle · 04/11/2020 23:01

@PickleWithEverything it's rubbish but just keeping your job is hard enough at the moment. I'm sure your DH hates it as much as you do. But the most senior and most junior roles seem to be caught most in some sort of office rota or expectation.

This thread been good for my sanity to see I'm not alone in working under such odd nonsensical requirements.

vroc81 · 04/11/2020 23:11

Office staying open... but we get a special mention from boris in the construction industry Hmm but I’ve said do what you are comfortable with. We’re in a low cases area and those staff are going nowhere other than in the office and if they don’t want to work in their one rented room then they can work in the office.. likewise they can also work from home.

..our one positive case stopped at one positive case so our risk assessment works.

AnImposter · 04/11/2020 23:28

Back in March my company bull headedly put their head in the sand and ignored the WFH guidance, the day after lockdown began I began a job hunt.

7 months on I'm retrained in my new place of work and started WFH as of Monday. All my old team are still in the office, without ventilation and minimal measures in place.

There are many many companies I will avoid after this is all over that are too happy to throw their staff under the bus.

MadameBlobby · 04/11/2020 23:31

My office is open with limited capacity but wfh is encouraged. It is open for people who cannot wfh for mental health reasons or need to do work that cannot wfh. I live 250 miles away so won’t be going into the office anyway.

MadameBlobby · 04/11/2020 23:36

@Bluntness100

I think folks need to understand companies just can’t afford it any more. They need to stay open, meet the commitments, and operate at full capacity as far as they can.

Last time all these companies weren’t supposed to shut down, but they did. Now no one is making the same mistake twice, in addition people’s mental health is now being addressed. If they can’t work from home for whatever reason, then workplaces are allowing them to come in. And yes foe certain types of work this will force supervisors in. So what they are saying is at times that role cannot be done from home.

I think instead of getting hysterical about “hundreds or thousands ” folks not able to get a bed, then everyone should comply with the other lock down measures, inc not socialising and wearing the correct ppe. It will reduce it.

This

Businesses that weren’t instructed to close last time panicked and did anyway. They can’t afford to do it this time. If your work can’t be done from home - and that’s really for your work to decide - you have to go in.

ethelredonagoodday · 04/11/2020 23:42

I've just posted this on another similar thread, but same applies here:

My husband's company is staying open. They are consulting engineers, so jobs can readily be done at home; they just won't make quite as much profit and he/the board has concerns re 'supervision' of junior staff. I've told him I think he's sailing close to the wind and taking the piss.
They have been 'all back' since June this year. Covid secure, but all staff back in relatively small offices nonetheless. I do a similar job but for a local authority and I've not stepped foot in our office since March. We are still working an normal effectively, but from home.
My husband and I have had numerous heated debates on this. His argument is that they can't WFH and survive as a business, yet this year, including the earlier lockdown period, they've had their most profitable year on record. My head hurts. 🤯😳🤦🏻‍♀️

Mammyloveswine · 04/11/2020 23:51

I'm a primary school teacher, in nursery...young children cannot socially distance.. parents are also sending children in with coughs and colds after medicine and not telling us..

I'll be honest I'd love to work in an office where at least I know the other people sharing are also taking the same precautions as me!

I love my job and am happy to do it but it is a scary time.

Springcatkin · 04/11/2020 23:58

I cannot wfh as have supervisory responsibilities for trainees. Not worried as very few other people in the office and covid restrictions in place
Dh has had worked from home from the beginning generally but still has to go to some meetings and visit other sites or go into the office for certain tasks

CrazyToast · 05/11/2020 00:07

My work place is saying that locally my building is in Tier 1 so nothing changes. But they are overlooking that I have to travel for over an hour on public transport through a lockdown to get there

flumposie · 05/11/2020 00:16

Teacher so no choice. I'm appalled that so many offices are staying open. Makes a mockery of 'lockdown' headlines I keep seeing in the news.

InMySpareTime · 05/11/2020 06:50

The irony is that with schools open in Lockdown 2, WFH should be far less stressful for parents.
Allowing at least a WFH trial week would show this.

Heatherjayne1972 · 05/11/2020 07:00

So many work places staying open this time , even the Church of England have asked if they can resume/continue services which means other religious buildings will be allowed to operate as well

I think the numbers of people actually staying inside will be much much smaller this time

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