Tier 4 - Office work

[doireallyneedaname]

What’s the deal now? I know it states work from home unless “unable to” but what if said office states you’re “unable to” collectively because of lower productivity at home?

I am due to return to work shortly and I am perfectly capable of doing my job from home but I have a feeling it won’t be allowed.

Examples of productivity being worse - my son is buying a property and last week the solicitor had to wait until another one posted a certificate to his office, then it was forwarded by post to a partner's home and then sent on. Other examples - I have had to call customer services since March on various things and sometimes the individual has a poor phone line can hardly hear or noise in the background so the call cannot be done well or their office hours are not what they were and that kind of thing [I am not against home working and have been doing it since 1994 full time by the way]

Its supposed to be 1m plus mitigation such as screens or masks.
Without mitigation you should be 2m distance.
If not your office is not covid secure.

The idea that you have to travel twice a day using up time and carbon to sit in a sterile office (like animals in pens) to do something you can do perfectly well at home (like talking on a phone or typing on a computer) seems more ridiculous and archaic with every day that passes.

he thinks I wouldn't work well. It's the sort of place that has cctv cameras pointing at out screens. I'm applying for other jobs but I guess it could be years before I find something

I hope you do find another job and when you leave I hope you politely tell him that it’s because his complete lack of trust makes you feel undervalued and his outdated, infantilising suspicious views makes working there unpleasant.

I’m having the opposite issue.

Our employer went above and beyond to ensure the offices were Covid secure and now won’t let us in there until god knows when! I’m itching to get back in!

I don’t see how following guidance to allow people to work from home if possible is bending over backwards, some employers are blatantly flouting the rules because it suits them when they could easily accommodate wfh.

So what is the actual deal here then? Does someone have grounds to demand to work from home if it’s blatantly obvious that it’s possible to do so?

The actual deal is that you do not have a right to insist on working from home. If you have union or can band together with a lot of employees or have a lot of money to pay lawyers it is possible people might argue they are being made to work unsafely at work and use general health and safety law just as if you were being asked to work with fire without a special mask and gloves.

So the answer is no you do not have the right to work from home even if you could. It is the same the other way round - loads of people want to go back into the office but some employers are forbidding it (as they are saving rent and costs and live in huge houses themselves so love working at home).

What’s everyone’s stance on this now then given the national lockdown? Should employers still be allowed to force staff in due to “lower productivity” at home?

No they shouldn't. The rules should be clear, you work from home unless you genuinely can't. Not because of a micro-managing employer.

Guidance says "Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working".

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949536/NationalLockdownGuidance.pdf (page 13)

Civil Service here and we are being told not to go in. I’ve not been in the office since June.

Work was only social contact I had. Really contemplating not being around for this lockdown.

This too shall pass, that much I can promise you! Things will be ok

This type of employer is dangerous and quite frankly I wouldn't want to be working for them outside of a pandemic. They can't be arsed to keep people safe, they have zero trust and want to micromanage. There are far too many businesses like this as well.

We are office/home cycling the team so not all in together it's great as you still get to be in office around people but with mitigated risk. Decent employers are more concerned with employees Mh over productivity. I'd raise a grievance with your manager to say you don't feel safe, and feel you are going against the rules. If they insist you are in office you need a letter from them (should be director/owner) with information on why your job is essential and you cannot work from home plus their contact details in case you are pulled by police.

This time there is fixed penalty notices for travelling (even work) if not essential and can wfh. I highly doubt they will provide said letter as there is no reason for you to be there.

If you still get nowhere anonymously report to hse

I’ve actually taken unpaid leave for the time being as I can’t imagine feeling safe in the office, but in light of tonight’s announcement I will have to have a think about what to do.

We are trying to figure out where DS stands.
He started working for an insurance company today. They were still in the office throughout the November lockdown, they say they’re classed as essential services. He wouldn’t be eligible for furlough...