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Original poster

Management pressuring to come to work

47 replies

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 10:18

I went to work yesterday, a colleague was unwell and then went home and tested positive for covid. Everyone went home soon as they heard the news as some were anxious etc.

I work in a team of 7. The manager is on annual leave, 3 people are off sick, 1 on annual leave and person who has covid is working from home.

A director has emailed me asking what I am going to do about covering the office. For some reason they always want 1 member of staff in to cover in case a member of the public has a major issue even though there are other people in the office.

I am really annoyed as I am working from home today as the covid incident at work has given me bad anxiety, I can’t get hold of LFT’s to not put people at risk and yet this director who is working from home and lives over an hour away won’t come in and is checking our messaging system which is building up because all the staff are off. He has since sent another email to everyone asking people to cover tomorrow and even says organisation’s are struggling for staff, it’s like he has nothing to do.

I don’t know how to respond to his email as he should be sorting staffing issues out, I’m trying to contact and resolve customer enquiries that are building up with all the staff off. Just finding it all stressful.

OP posts:

YukoandHiro · 05/01/2022 10:23

Just tell the boss that the gov rules stipulate that you can't come into work unless you have a negative LFT, as you're a close contact, and you can't get hold of any LFTs

HepzibahGreen · 05/01/2022 10:39

Well, it does sound like someone needs to be in the office and responding to messages..
Lf tests have been fairly unreliable in my experience- had covid twice and never got a positive one, only pcrs when I had symptoms.
If you don't have symptoms, and presumably have been vaccinated three times, and the other staff are not in so it's not like you will be sitting next to someone, then you should probably step up.

WaystarRoycoCEO · 05/01/2022 10:43

@YukoandHiro

Just tell the boss that the gov rules stipulate that you can't come into work unless you have a negative LFT, as you're a close contact, and you can't get hold of any LFTs

That is not the case though assuming you’re vaccinated. Taking daily lft’s is strongly advised if you’re a close contact but not a legal requirement.

It sounds like they need people to be in the office op.

ifonly4 · 05/01/2022 10:50

So there you're down to two members of the team to look after phones. Can you or director organise a rota so you do alternative days with your colleague? My DH has a similar thing, whereby two always have to be in to cover phones - if someone goes off they just accept they have to cover more and sort themselves out as equally as possible.

YukoandHiro · 05/01/2022 11:07

If they're strongly advised, though, I'd say OP is well within her rights to push back. Especially if she's struggling with anxiety around the pandemic as so many are.
The fact is that many jobs CAN be done from home and if they can, in this circumstance, they absolutely should be.

chocolateisavegetable · 05/01/2022 11:14

Is it not possible to dial in to the messaging system remotely?

peachgreen · 05/01/2022 11:27

The director is sorting out staffing issues though - he's emailing the one member of staff who is available to ask them to cover the work that can't be done remotely? Don't get me wrong, I think anyone who can work from home should be working from home, and managers should be doing everything they can to facilitate that, but if there are genuinely aspects of your job that have to be done on location, I don't really see what else they're supposed to do? What would be your suggestion?

WaystarRoycoCEO · 05/01/2022 14:17

@YukoandHiro it doesn’t sound like this can be done from home though if messages are piling up and not being answered?!

MoiraNotRuby · 05/01/2022 14:20

What job/organisation is it? The best thing would be to get the message system sorted so it can be covered by someone WFH. Unless you are MI5.

Itisasecret · 05/01/2022 14:23

I think if your director says you need to be in work, then you should be.

Watapalava · 05/01/2022 15:26

Sounds like they are not unreasonable and you should go to work

Not testing is not against the rule

Plus you likely will be going into work alone from what you’re saying so who are you actually putting at risk?

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 15:41

[quote WaystarRoycoCEO]@YukoandHiro it doesn’t sound like this can be done from home though if messages are piling up and not being answered?![/quote]
Yeah, it can be done from home but for some reason they like to encourage the public to come in person even though Boris says work from home where possible.

OP posts:

helpfulperson · 05/01/2022 16:31

Are you actually a close contact ie within 2m for more than 15 minutes? Or were you just in the same office.

DistantSkye · 05/01/2022 17:03

I think, given the prevalence of covid currently, that being anxious about being around Covid can't really be a valid excuse for not going to work if it's required. There are going to be so many cases that you can't really have whole workplaces rushing off home every time there's a case in the office because people feel anxious!

If the anxiety is genuinely interfering with your work and personal life then that's maybe a GP/occupational health issue?

It's hard to say whether the director is being unreasonable or not. Some parts of some jobs do work better in person so to speak.

flippertyop · 05/01/2022 17:12

Sounds to me like you need to be in the office - bring anxious about covid is not a reason not to be - neither is not using a lateral flow. Your director has asked you to go in - you need to go in

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 17:14

@DistantSkye The problem is everyone is saying they have covid or been in contact with someone with covid. Then people who are well refuse to go in. I will go in and keep my distance. I will do what I can and that’s it, they can’t expect me to burnout if they won’t help.

OP posts:

Twinklingstarface · 05/01/2022 17:15

I think Covid fear and isolating etc are becoming an excuse for people to hide behind now. Fair enough if you’re vulnerable but really people need to get on and get in to work if necessary. I understand that wfh maybe better and more practical but it was never guaranteed to be a permanent arrangement. The guidance is just that- guidance. It’s not legally binding in any way. Teachers are having to go in to work as are most medical staff and shop workers

pho03 · 05/01/2022 17:16

What was the purpose of everyone rushing home when they heard about the positive case?

WorriedGiraffe · 05/01/2022 17:17

I don’t understand, they want one person in the office, so what’s the covid risk? Who are the other people there?

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 17:19

@Twinklingstarface People are hiding behind it now, some to slack off. I will go in as I’m not one to let customers down.

OP posts:

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 17:20

@pho03 I didn’t get that either as they have already had contact.

OP posts:

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 17:21

@WorriedGiraffe There is a rota system of one day a week where people need to come in but people just don’t want to come to the office and will find an excuse to not come in.

OP posts:

WorriedGiraffe · 05/01/2022 17:22

‘I am really annoyed as I am working from home today as the covid incident at work has given me bad anxiety’

But you are doing the same thing? I no you are ultimately going to go in as you have no choice, but they are just doing the same thing has you have done today for the same reason.

SummerInSun · 05/01/2022 17:23

But your manager IS trying to sort the staffing situation out - he's emailing asking you and everyone asking someone to volunteer to go in. What else do you expect him to do to sort it out?

If you are the conscientious one who volunteers to go in, that's annoying now but should stand you in very good stead in terms of how your director perceived you, and professionally generally. Also means you have been the team player this time and have the moral high ground next time you need someone to cover for you.

Original poster

countrylady2 · 05/01/2022 17:35

@SummerInSun Always the downside of being the reliable one! I suppose it’s good the manager will know I worked hard to sort the mess out.

OP posts:

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