Voluntary Redundancy Offered - Now It is an Exit Package?! Advise Please

[mummytippy]

In short I have been off work since September suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. I opened communication with my employer regarding occupational health provision and they told me they did not have any, but would welcome my GPs recommendation. My Dr is recommending that I work from home. My employer has been telling me this isn't possible. I do accounts admin and have been told by the company's IT consultants it is possible via remote working on a laptop. I submitted a reasonable adjustment request and been turned down. The reason - logistics of transporting paperwork by other staff members- too costly, too time consuming but it can be scanned and emailed... or posted. Most of the company's suppliers and customers email their documents. Also, contamination? I will contaminate paperwork in my home? I've not heard of Covid 19 being transferable on paper?

Just before Christmas I was asked if I wanted to consider voluntary redundancy (also told strictly confidential) and was made a financial offer. I made it clear I didn't want to take such a redundancy. I want to work, but wfh. I was then told I would be informed of any decisions made. I heard nothing and after Christmas I contacted my employer to ask the latest on the redundancies, which process are they following and who does it affect. They replied they were exploring whether I would be interested in an 'exit package' in case I might not be going back to work. I feel completely mislead and spent the entire Christmas period (while they were closed) worrying about their decision and this certainly hasn't help with my panic attacks and anxiety. Any advise on this matter would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

I cannot accept the proposal of phased return as when I asked how they would accommodated me in the office should I have a panic attack, they told me they had no occupational health provision.

Occupational health can't help you if you have a panic attack! That's for you to learn some coping mechanisms, and explain to your employer how they might help if you become unwell. For instance, give me space/ reassure me, make sure I have water, help me regulate my breathing.

Also, wfh would allow me to do my contracted hours as opposed to reduced hours so I would not be losing out financially.

Your finances are irrelevant.

Stop focusing on wfh, they've said it's not happening.

They haven’t seen you for how long, best part of a year, you’re clearly not fully well yet (still having PA etc) and you want to completely change the way you do your job.

They are entitled to have concerns and to say no. If WFH is your objective/only option you should probably start looking for alternative work.

Surely it is down to you to be learning techniques to manage your panic attacks in the office as against OT input?

I cannot accept the proposal of phased return as when I asked how they would accommodated me in the office should I have a panic attack, they told me they had no occupational health provision.

Also, wfh would allow me to do my contracted hours as opposed to reduced hours so I would not be losing out financially.

I’m showing genuine initiative.

You are looking at it from the wrong way - looking at the things you think your company should be doing for you. You need to offer them something- show them how it’s good for them. Asking to wfh is not showing initiative at all. It’s all about what you want, how you won’t lose out financially etc. However, I suspect it’s too late now. There are redundancies on the cards.

when I'm showing genuine initiative.

You're really not. You're being completely inflexible, and creating barriers that don't exist. That's symptomatic of your anxiety, but until you recognise these symptoms you're not going to overcome them.

WFH, seems a non starter you need to learn to manage your anxiety. You can't except colleagues to scan and email work to you everytime something needs done, that is unreasonable and giving others your work

Yes, all your reasons are based on why it's good for you, you need to show it's good for them too or at least not detrimental. So far the difference for them is that someone in the office needs to scan things for you and the IT will be expensive, so you can see why they don't want to do it.

Your finances aren't their concern.

They should be offering some support to help you manage the anxiety but you also need to demonstrate that you're taking steps yourself.

@QuantumQuality

Scanning and emailing documents obviously takes more time than putting items in a tray. I can see why they aren’t agreeing to your requests if that’s the sort of argument you’re making. You’re fixated on getting them to say yes to working from home, but it’s pretty clear that’s not going to happen.

So, what do you want? Do you want to work towards returning to the office or do you want to leave? Those seem to be your only two options. If you’re not prepared to return to the office, you need to focus on agreeing the best exit payment possible. How much have they offered?

But it really isn't much more effort to scan a sheet of paper and attach it to an email. It's only the same as replying to a customer or supplier and it would allow me to chase money from customers which would benefit them, getting money in - cashflow. All done by email.

It feels more like the other way around, in that they are dead set on not allowing it.

They offered me statutory 'redundancy pay' which they had calculated on the Government website... 1 year for each year worked which when I checked was not correct. It equates to 2 months pay as been there 9 years.

But it really isn't much more effort to scan a sheet of paper and attach it to an email.

Put yourself in the shoes of the member of staff who's having to take that on extra to facilitate your being at home. Still seem reasonable?

You’ve been arguing about furlough and returning to work for months. There are many past threads.

You have a child who needs your undivided attention for homeschooling, but got pissed off at being furloughed the longest (when childcare was absolutely a valid reason for furlough). You’ve refused any adjustments to arrangements your employer has requested but won’t accept their refusal of your demands. You need to think a bit more broadly than your needs for a minute here.

@mummytippy but they could get someone able to work in the office to chase the money without having to go to the effort of scanning it. They have managed after all to run the business since September without you to put it bluntly.

Speak to your union, but at this point redundancy with a decent reference seems the way to go.

What is it about working from home that is intrinsically better for you?

But it really isn't much more effort to scan a sheet of paper and attach it to an email

Yabu here.

I go in at a prebooked time to my workplace and scan my paperwork in (to then work with it from home). On a "good" week, I still spend at least 45 mins scanning docs in, making sure they are double sided where needed, doing each item separately as they all have different tasks etc. Sometimes it can take over 1 hour or I have to go in for a second slot.

Take a step back here OP and look at it this way. You have asked to work from home. The employer has said no and give reasons (cost and organisation). Whether you agree with them or not isn't really here nor there; they don't have to give you everything you ask for. Companies across the board are struggling, they perhaps don't want the additional expense of encrypted laptops, scanning and emailing documents, (or having them going missing in the post), postage, printing. And the time it takes to manage all of that.

So you're not going to get your working from home and it's time to push that to the side and look at your options.

You either go back to work, in the office as they have requested, or you don't. If you don't, well then you look at the package they have offered, and probably get some legal advice about whether it's fair.

But all you're doing by banging on about working from home and coming up with "solutions" is not helping, they have said no home working loud and clear and you are choosing not to hear that.

OP, firstly you do have my sympathy. Not necessarily the same but i had horrendous back problems a couple of years ago and had some issues with my employer in regards to expectations. I was fortunate that the global HR team took over and dealt with the issues. Things improved and i was able to return to the office over time. Unfortunatley it sounds like your company maybe a small to medium sized one therefore doesnt have all the arms of support a larger one might.

With me it never got to the issue of me leaving but in all my years of work when ever that has been discussed the company, or those in charge, have made their mind up and want that individual out. I dont think you have done anything wrong but i also think your company have been quite accomodating (more than mine was tbh in regards to the length of time you were off). I suggest you take the exit pay. Maybe try and negotiate another months pay if you can. The reality is unfortunately the company dont want you there anymore so you will be gone either way.

I think @TitsOot4Xmas post is interesting of your background and post history is correct.

You sound terribly entitled to me - you working from home is a no go for the reasons the company has suggested, explained in greater detail by pp here. This is not something you can force.

As a PP said - they’ve lasted a long time without you now and I wouldn’t want you back if I were your employer. I’d now be managing you out, based on your attitude and unwillingness to be flexible and actually do your job.

@TitsOot4Xmas

You’ve been arguing about furlough and returning to work for months. There are many past threads.

You have a child who needs your undivided attention for homeschooling, but got pissed off at being furloughed the longest (when childcare was absolutely a valid reason for furlough). You’ve refused any adjustments to arrangements your employer has requested but won’t accept their refusal of your demands. You need to think a bit more broadly than your needs for a minute here.

Yes, there are other threads as I am absolutely trying to hold on to my job and am prepared to work despite having a child currently at home again working remotely.

I'm not arguing or being demanding, I have simply been trying to discuss the matter and sort something out with my employer.

I would hope it can be seen that an awful amount of uncertainty has been caused by employer in them not being in contact with me regarding furlough... relating to why I was, how long for, what my wages would be, the best way to communicate. I received nothing.

At the time I was furloughed I was also shopping and caring for my elderly parents too. I then started with panic attacks in May and then my father passed away in August. I am trying my best to manage all of these things.

I don't see my request based on my GPs recommendation as demands. Sorry I just don't as there are far more benefits to my employer allowing me to wfh which I'd wish they would see, rather than stating I will / they will be handling 'contaminated paper work' and basically changing their reasons for allowing me too each time.

I'm offering solutions and doing my own research and it seems to be falling on deaf ears. I thought employers had a duty of care to also keep in touch.

Its sounds like you've probably burned your bridges but FWIW, we'd be far more likely to agree a short term wfh arrangement for someone struggling with childcare in the current situation, than someone who's too anxious to work with no end in sight.

You're saying they're not demands but clearly if you aren't accepting their answer then they are demands! You want to wfh, they've said no and you're not accepting the answer. Forget furlough and their communication at the time etc.. none of that is relevant. At all. This is about them wanting you in the office. You cannot say you're prepared to work if you aren't willing to do the job in the way they require it done. Its black and white. Either go into the office or accept their settlement offer. You have no other choices despite how you might feel.

As a HR person I always triangulate the data.

The majority of employment law is based on reasonability. No two cases are the same and there are often disputes between sides as to what constitutes reasonable.

I’ve set out the potential next steps. You can keep screaming about WFH all you like but you can’t force them to agree with you. You’ve detailed an incident where they tried to communicate and you were unavailable and responded days later (?) by text. That they have started writing to you outlining situations does not bode well.

Take a breath, work out what you can offer that is far closer to what they are asking than you and you stand a chance of keeping the job. Otherwise it’s a question of when and how they push you out.

Unfortunately you have no absolute right to work from home.They have said no.
I think you need to either take the exit package,get legal advice to see if you can get a bit more,or get back to work.

Otherwise you run the risk of them dismissing you on capablity without the pay off

It's only the same as replying to a customer or supplier and it would allow me to chase money from customers which would benefit them, getting money in - cashflow. All done by email.

You would be better off trying to outline how it would add value / efficiency / save costs / make clients happier to the business by you WFH - not just the status quo of you chasing customers for money. You need to add something- what would the company gain by employing you from home? Or indeed, what does the company gain by employing you as opposed to someone else? Do you have special skills?

I'm not arguing or being demanding, I have simply been trying to discuss the matter and sort something out with my employer.

As far as they're concerned though, the discussion is over. You asked, they said no.

So what's your next move, given that continuing to flog the dead horse of working at home doesn't appear to be getting you anywhere?

Unless you’re prepared to go back into the office to work it seems there is nothing else to be done. Even then this may no longer seems salvageable.

The best thing you can do now would be to start thinking about how you can find alternative employment. Get your CV up to date and start applying for jobs.