Scared about full time return to office. What are other places doing?

[Lizzie523]

Just that. Informed we must all return full time as before the pandemic although most of job fully doable from home. Ive been productive and have grown in the role even from home, excellent PDRs etc. Flexible working denied.

I will be travelling on public transport and am now more or less expecting to get covid unless im really lucky.

Looked at level 0 rules and it says a phased return to the office will be planned so it seems like my company is defying that? Are others all going back to the office full time or are most still working from home at least home of the time?

Totally agree and that’s why the blended approach that would be best is one where employees are involved and have a say in their own blended approach.

Those who want in more can do so. That would benefit those who have no room at home for a desk etc or who have noisy households that they can’t work in etc. They may want in 4 or 5 days a week.

Whereas some may want only one day in the office as they have a convenient set up at home.

If employers just take the time to find out what people want instead of a knee jerk ‘everyone in’ attitude the employees would be so much more content and possible more productive. I always do more for bosses who appreciate me than I do for ones who treat me like a machine.

Hi OP- I think it’s probably quite common to feel anxious about such a big change- especially with all the wall to wall coverage about covid etc.
If possible, try and have a chat with your GP re your concerns, and really push to get your second vaccine ASAP. I’m surprised you’ve not had it already if you have asthma.
Is there no way of you walking/cycling to work rather than taking the underground (assuming you are in Glasgow if on scotsnet)? At this time of year walking etc is really good, and exercise definitely helps when feeling a bit overwhelmed.
I’d also be tempted to let your employer know, in writing, how you are feeling about immediate return.
Remember too so so many people have had to work in their workplace during the pandemic, and not been ill. You never hear from them on the tv/radio/social media.
Best wishes x

@Lizzie523

I'm going to try and make the case for a flexible arrangement one more time. May fall on deaf ears but I want to try.

I am dreading going back too, but when the time comes will just need to get on with it. We have been told September as they gave advance notice so employees could plan childcare requirements over the school holidays.

Is your problem safety when travelling on the UG and working in the office or wanting flexibility to WFH some days? They are distinctly different requests and if it is the later do not confuse things by claiming it is for safety reasons as being willing to come in some days negates that and weakens your argument.

and am now more or less expecting to get covid unless im really lucky

That isn't necessarily the case though. I've been working all through this, in an office with very little social distancing & there's been very few cases at work.

I'm on a contract that ends in November, with annual leave adding up to a month still to take, meaning about 3 months left of work, so I don't really see a point TBH in returning to an office for just 3 months.

I'm also trying to find a job that is entirely remote or home based but not having much luck. I see a lot of great jobs advertised that are office based and I debate whether to apply or not because I really don't want to be based in an office again.

I'm disabled and can't drive so that's a large part of my reasoning too.

I've been working throughout and travelling by public transport and I've not caught it, OP. Surely if the commute was doable before, it'll be doable now - public transport is back to normal, and if you are in Glasgow (as scotsnet), I'd be hugely surprised if there's not a bus option which may provide more on the way of ventilation. Even walking part of the way should be an option, given that the underground doesn't really serve areas far from the centre of the city. I've been walking far more where possible.
Those who are saying most employers are flexible, that's often mainly at jobs above a certain pay level. People working closer to MNW are far more likely to be expected to return to the office.

My work is taking people back in chunks between now and the end of the year. But will be hybrid working 2/3 days in office at most. I think they’ve been quite sensible in the fact that they realise if they rush everyone back whilst cases are high they’ll risk losing a huge proportion of their workforce to self isolation. We’re definitely seeing hybrid working becoming the norm on job adds and candidate requirements too

Well I watched today's update and she clearly said that the phased return to office working would occur post level zero. So I'll have questions about that.

2 more colleagues have covid now as well! I'm taking on part of their workload.

I've also applied for numerous jobs and the rejections are really starting to affect me.

This is the longest it has ever taken me to find a new job. It usually doesn't take more than 2 months, but I started nearly 3 months ago.

I'm actually really confused as to what is law now and what is guidance?
If it's law then you can surely refuse at the moment as you'd be breaking the law if you are able do your job from home?
Or are these "rules" all just guidance now?

Wfh has always been guidance, although it is underpinned by employers duty of care legislation. So if they have robust covid measures in place at your workplace and can articulate why it’s not reasonable to wfh then there’s not much you can challenge. Any challenge would need to be against their covid measures and how they are not showing a reasonable duty of care towards minimising the spread of covid.

This is the guidance:

“Organisations should make every reasonable effort to make working from home the default position as it has been throughout the pandemic. Where a worker can perform their work from home, they should continue to do so”

I feel the same @latissimusdorsi, does anyone have a link to where it specifies what is law ?

They said they wouldn't put us in any 'danger' but if the government specifies one thing and they do another that isn't doing much duty of care?

www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-homeworking/pages/what-the-law-says/

@Lizzie523

I feel the same *@latissimusdorsi*, does anyone have a link to where it specifies what is law ?

They said they wouldn't put us in any 'danger' but if the government specifies one thing and they do another that isn't doing much duty of care?

Just report them to your local council environmental health! They will call up the management request the risk assessments and quiz them on why they are opening the office. If they aren't satisfied with the responses they will force the building shut!

You can easily request that your name be withheld!

I'm back in the office 75% of the time thank goodness. We wear masks in the corridors, only one person allowed in toilets and kitchens at any one time. Cleaning staff are fabulous and we've got doors and windows open.

Many people think they've been doing great at home, and many have been, however as a manager (whose staff are desperate to return to the office), it actually hasn't been that great. There's been a lot of things missed, the communication side of things is lacking and above all as an employer, we all feel it's important our work and home life are separate.

On a personal note, I haven't enjoyed dealing with people (where I'm there customer) who are working from home. I don't appreciate the fact that anyone in their house can see my personal information. My DP who lost their job has been able to hear calls from my customers and it's unprofessional.

Regarding transport to work you can learn to drive/cycle/taxi. You can open windows on the bus/train (and they've reduced capacity).

Can I also point out to those who want to continue to wfh there are going to be a lot more rules and regulations about your seating/desk space/confidentiality etc.

Working from your bedroom on a laptop won't be permitted. You'll need to have a 'home office' to comply with hse requirements. You will also need to identify a proportion of your home for business use to your mortgage lenders and your insurers.

@onceivepostedidontcomeback

I'm back in the office 75% of the time thank goodness. We wear masks in the corridors, only one person allowed in toilets and kitchens at any one time. Cleaning staff are fabulous and we've got doors and windows open.

Many people think they've been doing great at home, and many have been, however as a manager (whose staff are desperate to return to the office), it actually hasn't been that great. There's been a lot of things missed, the communication side of things is lacking and above all as an employer, we all feel it's important our work and home life are separate.

On a personal note, I haven't enjoyed dealing with people (where I'm there customer) who are working from home. I don't appreciate the fact that anyone in their house can see my personal information. My DP who lost their job has been able to hear calls from my customers and it's unprofessional.

Regarding transport to work you can learn to drive/cycle/taxi. You can open windows on the bus/train (and they've reduced capacity).

I don't disagree with you on keeping home and work life separate. A couple of colleagues have mentioned it though it bothers me less.

I said earlier and so did another PP that part of the reason around less commuting is benefiting the environment. I have a driving licence now but can't afford a car yet having just bought my own home. I'm saving for one but even when I have one I don't see me using it every day and think this would be wrong.

As for cycling, the city isn't built for cyclists at all, not like some other UK cities. I'll do what I can to stay safe but I simply don't agree with your 'what the employer says goes' ethos and employees have to suck it up. Companies that are really listening to their staff will be the real winners in the end imo

Get looking for another job. It’s a really backward way of doing things. We’ve moved permanently to flexible working. I’m doing one day a week in the office & the rest at home. Look for a more flexible company.

@Lizzie523

I've also applied for numerous jobs and the rejections are really starting to affect me.

This is the longest it has ever taken me to find a new job. It usually doesn't take more than 2 months, but I started nearly 3 months ago.

Try civil service jobs portal loads of different departments from Scottish government to UK government and Glasgow is a hub.

Ask your manager for a copy of the risk assessment, OP.

For those in Scotland, the first minister is asking employers to continue to allow staff to work from home just now. She was on today live on the politics show.

*Can I also point out to those who want to continue to wfh there are going to be a lot more rules and regulations about your seating/desk space/confidentiality etc.

Working from your bedroom on a laptop won't be permitted. You'll need to have a 'home office' to comply with hse requirements. You will also need to identify a proportion of your home for business use to your mortgage lenders and your insurers*

Could you confirm source for this? People have been working at home for many years, albeit not on this scale. Many employers had adopted home working assessments prior to covid re: confidentiality, health and safety, home office equipment etc. Commercial mortgages are generally only required if 40%+ of the home is used for business purposes. Many home insurers already had caveats in their policies for excluding “admin/computer/clerical” tasks from the “using your home for business purposes” rule. There are caveats and exclusions around office equipment etc, but as I say - homeworking has been around for many years. Are there reports that mortgage companies and insurance companies will review or change t&c’s due to the shift in working practices?

I just feel dejected at this point. A relative works for a big UK company and they said today they will not be making them return as we are in midst of another big wave.

I feel totally powerless and scared of catching this. My colleague and her family and now sick with covid, so I am picking up her workload.

@FrownedUpon I am actively searching and have been for 2 months. I am finding it harder than I ever have before to find a new job.