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Back in office

82 replies

namechangeaga1n · 05/04/2021 17:38

So DP and all staff back in office from 12th inc those that work only with people in other offices. I think it's a bit shite and think firms that stick two fingers up to staff and don't have presence of mind to wait til more people are vaccinated will lose a lot of their decent players as time goes on. Hope not too many firms do this so that reopening doesn't get fucked.

OP posts:
Woolff · 05/04/2021 17:41

Well supermarkets never closed and classrooms have been open Sept-Dec and from March 8th. Why shouldn't a few adults in an office be able to cope.

Whatisgoingon89 · 05/04/2021 17:41

Yep I’m being forced back in as of tomorrow. All staff back in full time. Awful.

reformedcharacters · 05/04/2021 17:43

Provided the most at risk have been offered the vaccine I don’t see the problem. I’d be happy to return to the office tomorrow.

TristantheTyrannosaurus · 05/04/2021 17:43

So he can find another job. Plenty of people have been working throughout.

Abraxan · 05/04/2021 17:44

I'm assuming there are reasons as to why, as the guidelines do recommend working from home where possible.

Are there covid secure precautions in place?

Are cev and cv staff given any risk assessments and protection?

Whatisgoingon89 · 05/04/2021 17:57

@Abraxan I’m on the shielding list and have been told to be back in tomorrow.

Should they be doing a risk assessment with me?

IcedPurple · 05/04/2021 17:59

Maybe their quality of work has been poor?

So many people insist that they are 'so productive' working from home, but customers and employers don't neccessarily agree.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 05/04/2021 17:59

The guidance has not changed. So the employer is wrong in my opinion. It's as much about the journey to and from work, especially as numbers on public transport are restricted. There will be more travelling given the re-opening of non-essential shops.

flumposie · 05/04/2021 18:00

It's difficult and I do have some sympathy but I've been back in school mixing with hundreds of people September to December and since March 8th due to Boris' decisions so can't see why others aren't also if he deems it ok.

polkadotpixie · 05/04/2021 18:02

I've been working in an NHS admin office right through from March 2020 with over 30 people and zero social distancing (no room to) and although a handful of people have caught COVID, it's been from their home lives and it's not spread round the office at all so I wouldn't worry too much

Ilikewinter · 05/04/2021 18:03

This is good news, my employer relies on passing commuter traffic so im hoping the return to offices means the business survives and we keep our jobs.
For those that are horrifed that they need to get back out there then feel free to quit, i know people who will be happy to take your place.

Isolatedizzy · 05/04/2021 18:03

[quote Whatisgoingon89]@Abraxan I’m on the shielding list and have been told to be back in tomorrow.

Should they be doing a risk assessment with me?[/quote]
They should be doing a risk assessment with everyone who is back in the office yes!

I really don't understand these short sighted employers! If my employer was making me go back against all Govt guidance I would start to look for another role where I could WFH!

lljkk · 05/04/2021 18:04

My employer is talking about dismantling the offices completely. All hot desking at my pay grade. I am Not happy. Will not surprise me if I end up changing employer. I want to go to an office.

fudgefox · 05/04/2021 18:05

"classrooms have been open Sept-Dec and from March 8th"

Good point otherwise but nope, this is inaccurate. Classrooms have been open every single day and during the school holidays in the first lockdown. We were never shut.

Office workers will have to deal with what keyworkers have been dealing with over the past year. No distancing, no protection and mixing with hundreds of people.

Starlive23 · 05/04/2021 18:05

Ours never closed (solicitors) which was a little worrying at the time but now more people are vaccinated its starting to feel a bit better.

Abraxan · 05/04/2021 18:07

[quote Whatisgoingon89]@Abraxan I’m on the shielding list and have been told to be back in tomorrow.

Should they be doing a risk assessment with me?[/quote]
At school that's what we've been told.
Not sure anyone has had one. As CV, I could have asked to remain working from home or in a different role if I really wanted when I went back in March.

At dh's office for cev and cv it is voluntary now - if they want to work in the office they can, and it's in their whole office risk assessment.

Woolff · 05/04/2021 18:09

@fudgefox

"classrooms have been open Sept-Dec and from March 8th"

Good point otherwise but nope, this is inaccurate. Classrooms have been open every single day and during the school holidays in the first lockdown. We were never shut.

Office workers will have to deal with what keyworkers have been dealing with over the past year. No distancing, no protection and mixing with hundreds of people.

Quite right. I ought to have said 'at full capacity'.

Full capacity meaning no 'space', as well as no 'face' covering for the majority of that time.

bookworm1632 · 05/04/2021 18:10

While I can understand the comments from those who've worked throughout, it's important to note that most of the infections arose within that group of people. i.e. If NOBODY had needed to leave their home to work, the epidemic would have been over a long time ago.

The trouble is some jobs you can't do without -hence "key workers".

From a "fairness" principle, yes, key-workers have carried a higher risk than those able to work from home, and maybe that's unfair... but leaving that aside, if EVERYONE returned to the office next week, then R would definitely shift upwards, infections would rapidly rise again and before you know it we're in the middle of a 3rd wave.

There's a separate argument that a 3rd wave doesn't matter (it does), but it's not really relevant here anyway as the government are determined to ensure a 3rd wave doesn't happen. Therefore if R rises, they will delay the further relaxation of restrictions and we all lose.

So in summary employers who have needlessly required staff back at the office, are as guilty, if not more, of prolonging the epidemic, as those who hold illegal raves etc.

Abraxan · 05/04/2021 18:11

@Woolff

Well supermarkets never closed and classrooms have been open Sept-Dec and from March 8th. Why shouldn't a few adults in an office be able to cope.
Classrooms have been open since March 23rd 2020. In many cases, schools never closed.

September to December, and from March this year all staff have been back at my school. For the most part few staff were home. Lockdown 1 was 4 of us, January lockdown just me, mainly as my lockdown role is best done at home.

Abraxan · 05/04/2021 18:12

I think this is also one of the reasons they are encouraging everyone to apply for the twice weekly LFT kits.

applesandoranges221 · 05/04/2021 18:15

Where does he work and will they hire me?
I am desperate to be back in the office!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 05/04/2021 18:18

Shielding officially ended on the 1st April.

namechangeaga1n · 05/04/2021 18:20

@bookworm1632

While I can understand the comments from those who've worked throughout, it's important to note that most of the infections arose within that group of people. i.e. If NOBODY had needed to leave their home to work, the epidemic would have been over a long time ago.

The trouble is some jobs you can't do without -hence "key workers".

From a "fairness" principle, yes, key-workers have carried a higher risk than those able to work from home, and maybe that's unfair... but leaving that aside, if EVERYONE returned to the office next week, then R would definitely shift upwards, infections would rapidly rise again and before you know it we're in the middle of a 3rd wave.

There's a separate argument that a 3rd wave doesn't matter (it does), but it's not really relevant here anyway as the government are determined to ensure a 3rd wave doesn't happen. Therefore if R rises, they will delay the further relaxation of restrictions and we all lose.

So in summary employers who have needlessly required staff back at the office, are as guilty, if not more, of prolonging the epidemic, as those who hold illegal raves etc.

This
OP posts:
nordica · 05/04/2021 18:30

Why are so many on these threads so hostile now?

Fewer people mixing protects everyone. If you are a key worker and need to go to work, surely it's better for you if the trains, buses etc. are not busy? If you work in a supermarket, isn't it much safer for you if your customers haven't spent the week mixing with 50 people in an office?

If productivity in some teams/work places has really dropped due to WFH then fair enough but otherwise, why not wait another month or two when most of the working age population will be vaccinated?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/04/2021 18:33

@lljkk

My employer is talking about dismantling the offices completely. All hot desking at my pay grade. I am Not happy. Will not surprise me if I end up changing employer. I want to go to an office.
Mine has mentioned 'hybrid working'. I'm waiting to see what's happening when it's announced but I can see me looking for a new job. I'd go back to the office tomorrow if I could
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