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Original poster

WFH if you can - training New staff

34 replies

Harriettheoriginalspy · 02/03/2021 22:59

A and B both start new jobs during Covid (now). Both can wfh. A is asked to go into office on their first day and then asks to go in more often as is learning a lot and being trained. Social distancing takes place and A uses public transport to come in which is empty. Only their boss comes in at the same time.

B doesn’t have the option to do this but is furious at A for going in when they haven’t been able to meet their team in person and see anyone. B thinks that A is incredibly selfish for doing this and should be wfh.

A thinks that they are being sensible and don’t want to push back at their new company early on. Who is right?

OP posts:
namechange63524 · 02/03/2021 23:28

A

LouiseTrees · 02/03/2021 23:32

Both. My company has successfully been starting many many people entirely remotely during the pandemic but equally it’s probably much easier learning in person. If A had’ve been asked to go in rather than doing the asking it would be more clear. Does A wear a mask?

bubblebubblebubbletrouble · 02/03/2021 23:38

If boss is ok with training A f2f and building is suitably "covid secure" (masks, social distancing, cleaning) combined if possible with LFT then A will learn much faster & be up-to-speed quicker & will be building relationship & reputation with boss.
That's not to say training can't be done remotely but it's definitely more difficult.
Why does B care? Is B getting pressured to do the same/expected to be learning as quickly??

Womencanlift · 02/03/2021 23:45

A has nothing to feel bad about. B sounds quite petty

Incogweeto · 02/03/2021 23:47

A should be working from home if they can. They are not different and special. B is clearly managing it.

purpleme12 · 02/03/2021 23:47

I'm guessing B is feeling resentful and like he's being treated unfairly (even if A did ask work herself)
Which is fair enough really. B will be disadvantaged
I think that even though A did ask, it would have been a good idea for the manager to say to B, this is what A is doing, would you like to come in too then it kind of makes it more on an even footing and their choice. But I'm guessing it's too late for that

MuddleMoo · 03/03/2021 06:03

Do A & B live together or work together?

MuddleMoo · 03/03/2021 06:07

If they work together then B is being unreasonable as it's between A and their employer.

If they live together that's different as it increases the risk for B.

MuddleMoo · 03/03/2021 06:09

Although it seems A is doing everything they can to go into the office safely so if I was B I'd understand but would depend on if they were shielding or high risk or not.

Acesulfame · 03/03/2021 08:35

So A has proactively asked to do something they derive benefit from, has done it safely and the manager doing the training is also fine with it? I’m failing to see the problem.

What it’s got to do with B?

CavernousScream · 03/03/2021 08:39

I’d be wary of B as a colleague as people who get furious about random stuff aren’t good to work with. But I would also keep my distance from A, who doesn’t seem to have noticed the massive ‘stay home’ ‘work from home if possible’ ‘only use public transport if essential’ campaign. So I’d guess they were a bit dim and selfish.

Sleepingdogs12 · 03/03/2021 08:49

It has nothing to do with B. If this is the sort of person they are when you've not even met in person then they really aren't someone to be around and give head space to. If they feels they are missing out on a good induction she needs to raise that with their manager. If they think you are breaking covid rules then they should mtob.

Womencanlift · 03/03/2021 09:24

So which one are you OP?

AtSwimTwoBerts · 03/03/2021 09:28

So A has proactively asked to do something they derive benefit from, has done it safely and the manager doing the training is also fine with it? I’m failing to see the problem

No, A was ASKED to do it, A did not ask to do it.

So A gets 1 to 1 training and special attention from the boss, B gets told to stay aat home and try to get on with it without the support and teaching A gets.
B is right to be pissed off, but not at A so much as management.

SingANewSongChickenTikka · 03/03/2021 09:30

What A agrees with management is between A and management. If B wants to a raise an issue with management then it is between them and management, nothing to do with A.

MuddleMoo · 03/03/2021 09:31

@Incogweeto

A should be working from home if they can. They are not different and special. B is clearly managing it.
A's circumstances might be different and feel they genuinely can't work from home and do the job.

It shouldn't be a problem for B as long as the boss takes into consideration that B was WFH in any assessment of competency.

MuddleMoo · 03/03/2021 09:33

@AtSwimTwoBerts

So A has proactively asked to do something they derive benefit from, has done it safely and the manager doing the training is also fine with it? I’m failing to see the problem

No, A was ASKED to do it, A did not ask to do it.

So A gets 1 to 1 training and special attention from the boss, B gets told to stay aat home and try to get on with it without the support and teaching A gets.
B is right to be pissed off, but not at A so much as management.

A was asked the first time and then A asked to do it.

Was B asked the first time too? I'm not sure.

Brokenrecord3006 · 03/03/2021 09:40

A is right. It's not A's fault that B can't get into the office.

FlyingBurrito · 03/03/2021 09:41

Clearly there's a back story but I would do exactly as A has done. Does A owe B any responsibility for the training? Why is B cross with A?

I'm not clear if this is the same employer or A and B are a couple.

BrimFullOfAsher · 03/03/2021 09:42

Do A+B even know each other 9r have any kind of relationship outside of work?

I am failing to see how any of what A does is the business of B?

Original poster
Harriettheoriginalspy · 03/03/2021 09:43

A and B are friends and have different employers

B has told A that if they decide to go back into the office they should probably not tell B as B is “not the best person talk about it with”

B is not enjoying their new job (started 8 weeks before A) and is unhappy that A gets to be onboarded in person and meet some member of their new team

OP posts:
Brokenrecord3006 · 03/03/2021 09:47

Okay, from your update it sounds like B is jealous and needs to grow up.

FlyingBurrito · 03/03/2021 09:48

If it's different employers B is being ridiculous, have they always been like that or they suffering from lockdown fatigue?

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 03/03/2021 09:52

B is a bit of a bellend.
But lockdown is getting to everyone at this point.
I am definitely a bellend just now.

I think the less we analyse the manifestations of our bellendery in detail and the more we sort of gloss over them, and change the subject, the easier it will be to go back to 'normal' once lockdown is lifted.

Acesulfame · 03/03/2021 09:53

They have different employers??!!

B is being very unreasonable Grin