Does 'unable to work from home' work both ways?

[HettySunshine]

Just curious really.

My job is doable from home with the right set up; two computer screens, a work phone and someone in the office to scan things, print and post letters, check files etc.

However, I have three small noisy children, no work space - I would have to sit in the open plan kitchen/ living room at the table on a hard dining room chair - and my job involves talking to clients pretty much all the time on the phone.

Therefore it has been agreed by my office and husband (who is at home with the children) that I cannot work from home and I do need to be in the office.

Is this in keeping with the rules?

No worries, working much better than March onwards though we're only one week in

However the rate here is 1603 per 100,000 with 1 in 16 infected.

@Useruseruserusee - how does this work out? 1 in 16 infected would surely mean 6,250 per 100,000.

Yes I've seen similar elsewhere and the numbers don't make sense to me. Unless they're not talking about the case rate, but what else could it be?

@DishedUp

I'm pretty certain it's supposed to be if you need to work on site like a builder or engineer etc. I.e. if its possible to do your job from home you are supposed to be at home.

If you need someone in the office to scan your documents for you it makes sense for that person to be you I suppose. I think its a bit variable because if no one else is going in or you don't get public transport its fine. But if you need to get 3 buses, a tube and cram into an office with no masks or no ventilation then not really. So I guess you need to do your own risk assessment and make a judgment call

Our office was made 'COVID secure' over the summer. So no one sits within 2 metres of anyone else, we have hand san and surface wipes at all shared printers, we all wear masks when not at our desks, only one person in the loos, kitchen etc.

I drive in and park in my office's car park. We all have slightly staggered start and finish times to reduce the risk of walking up the stairs together.

We live in a funny little cottage and all the upstairs rooms are tiny. Our room only has a double bed one bedside cabinet and a chest of drawers in It.

My husband works in IT troubleshooting so while he is wfh he doesn't need to be permanently at his computer, just be able to hop on if something happens.

Our set up is working okay for us so I'm glad we are on the right side of the rules. Thank you ladies.