Employee refusing to come into work - scared of covid

[AtticusMcPlatypus]

Bit of a difficult situation at work. Most employees are back on a hybrid working basis, roughly two or three days in the office, the rest at home. One employee has been very reluctant to come in and has barely been in all year with the exception of a couple of days.

We've been pretty relaxed about it so far but we have a big project starting next week which requires them to be there in person for three days. Employee has travel plans booked for the middle of next month and is now refusing to come into work in case they catch COVID and can't go. On one hand I get their point of view, but everyone else is having to do it and it seems unfair that they won't. If they'd done their fair share over the last few months I think we'd cut them a bit more slack, but they haven't. WWYD? Let them off, or make them come in?

If the job needs them to be in then they need to be in.

Have you done a risk assessment with them? I’d start there

I think you need to make them come in. I think some people - myself included to some extent- have found it really difficult to readjust but we need a bit of a kick up the backside to get on with it.
I think refusing to go to work yet planning a trip away is quite ridiculous tbh

Our workplace asks everyone to do an lft the day before coming in. Nobody complains about this (not enforced in anyway mind)

They aren’t that scared of covid if they have travel plans. Work before holidays I’m afraid.

If you need them in then they need to come in. If they refuse then there’s not a job for them. It’s as simple as that.

If they could potentially continue to work from home, but you prefer them not to, then that’s a different matter.

If the travel plans are to see a very unwell relative I would cut them some slack, but for a holiday? No. You need them in work.

They aren’t scared of covid, they are scared of missing a holiday. What is the place of work in their contract? That is a term which can be enforced by employer and it’s a disciplinary issue if they don’t comply

So they aren't coming in because they are scared of getting covid but because they want to protect their holiday! No way. That is totally unreasonable.

If you're the manager, then initiate the correct disciplinary procedures - that may mean starting with a risk assessment etc. You need to ensure your own/the company's behaviour is above board. Push as hard as possible to ensure they return whilst doing everything by the book.

Turn it round.

They have booked a trip that could mean they can't come in to work.

Doesn't sound so logical that way, does it?

Get some legal advice and start a proper disciplinary action. You need to be sure that whatever you choose to do is legal and won't cause you further issues - not least that by letting them off you are setting a precedent that any other employee could demand to receive and sue for discrimination if you say no.

There should be a lot of legal awareness around this at the moment, it isn't an unusual scenario!

Lol. Try being a teacher

They're full of shit.
I don't want to risk getting covid before my holiday. That's the reality.

Some people have got so used to wfh that they seem to think they have the right to continue forever.

Thank you for the replies. It's not a trip to see a sick relative, but is a trip to see a family member they've not seen for a long time. I get that they don't want to jeopardise their trip I really do, but I don't think we are being unreasonable at all. If needs be we will all do LFTs and wear masks if we have to. It's a small office, only about 6/7 of us in at any one time.

For crying out loud.
What a piss take!
Plenty of us have had to go to work throughout the pandemic and take on board the risks and all the associated problems that come with it.

@Yuledo

They aren’t that scared of covid if they have travel plans. Work before holidays I’m afraid.

This.

They are taking the piss and I'd be making them come in, they are lucky their workplace has been so accommodating so far - plenty of people don't have the choice!

Just out of interest, why do you need people there in person for this particular project?

I was being quite understanding until you said they were going on holiday.

I agree that you need to do a risk assessment and ultimately go down a disciplinary route (assuming nothing comes up in the risk assessment). But, I suspect some form of wfh will probably be back in place before the end of the winter.

@FindingMeno

For crying out loud. What a piss take! Plenty of us have had to go to work throughout the pandemic and take on board the risks and all the associated problems that come with it.

This, it's getting a bit silly now, loads of people have worked throughout, millions of them in daily contact with the general public never mind those in healthcare.

If the employer says that the employees need to come in then that's what they need to do. I struggle to have sympathy for someone who is prepared to travel but not go to work

@CreepySpider

But it’s not just a holiday. It’s to see a family member they have not seen for a long time

@AtticusMcPlatypus lots of people on here and quick to point out we must live with the virus, it’s just a cold etc. They are quick to point out how mental health has been hit by lockdowns, isolation etc. However people also need to understand that some people’s mental health has taken a knock as they simply don’t want to catch it due to all the press reports, pictures of people on ventilators etc, hence continuing to wfh, not put themselves with crowds etc and it may take quite a while for them to get mentally to a place where they are comfortable

In this case I would cut them some slack, so they can see the family member but make it clear when they are back they now have to conform to the new process of hybrid working

There travel plans might get disrupted anyway.

Their

Your HR decisions so far, tolerating full remote working when others were coming in, haven’t helped you here.

If not already done, give them advance written notification that they are required at X location Y days a week from X date.

If you don’t already have clear, written HR policies on location of work and the minimum in person attendance required, HR and senior management should put that in place.

Then it’s a disciplinary matter, with fair consideration of any adjustments requested for health reasons.

I have zero sympathy
If I refused to go to work I would be sacked
They are being ridiculous

If they are going on their trip on a train or
plane the chances of getting covid on their journey (and perhaps being stuck there) are far higher than catching it in a small office.