@MarmiteWine
If I've understood it correctly from previous threads, you are contracted to work 21 hours over 3 days. Have you considered whether you would be able to work the 21 hours across 4 or 5 days in the office instead? The shorter days may be better for your mental health.
Looking at the bigger picture, the costs to your employer of allowing you to work from home will almost certainly outweigh the benefits, especially as a part-time worker. This doesn't mean by the way that they'd be discriminating against you, just that the cost-benefit ratio would work in their favour as the additional costs won't reduce with your part-time hours.
- Laptop/desktop PC with encryption software, and probably VPN too
- secure storage cabinet or similar if you'll have paperwork at home
- secure disposal facilities for the paperwork
- costs involved in getting paperwork to you, and back to the office if required. This could be time used by another member of staff to scan or deliver the work to you, or perhaps the costs of a courier service. It's unlikely the employer would just put a large envelope in the post to you if the paperwork relates to customers. What would happen if it went astray?Consider the GDPR implications of customer data leaving the office unnecessarily.
- potential costs of other equipment you need to work safely from home as a designated homeworker. For example a suitable chair, desk etc. It's one thing 'making the best of things' sitting working at your dining table in the middle of a pandemic but your employer would have additional responsibilities if you were a designated homeworker.
- home visit(s) from your manager and/or IT department for risk assessments, setting up equipment etc.
That's just the logistics of actually getting you set up to work from home. That's a lot to lay out before they've even considered whether you can do the job effectively from home.
You've said a couple of times that WFH would allow you to work your contracted hours, which you're not well enough to do in the office but haven't responded to other posts asking why this is the case. How do you anticipate that your management of your panic attacks in the office would differ from at home? I believe you've said that you were on furlough, so away from the office, when the panic attacks began, and haven't returned to the office since. It doesn't seem therefore that the attacks are related to the office itself.
What is the back story to the furlough? You've said you were put on furlough 'without being notified'. Do you mean that in lockdown 1 you were sent home, unable to work, but expected to be paid in full for doing nothing when your employer was entitled to furlough you? You appear to have a very self-centred view of the world.
Ultimately though it does seem like you want your employer to make all the concessions while you make none and just dig your heels in. As a long term strategy that's simply not going to work. Have you thought about what you'll do when your SSP entitlement runs out, assuming you haven't been dismissed before then?
I hear all you are saying and appreciate your very detailed post.
The background to the furloughing is a colleague told me not to go in work the morning after Boris's speech. I heard nothing direct from work.
I then text my boss and asked who confirmed I was on furlough on 80 pc. I then asked for my payslips to be posted which they were.
I then heard nothing and had nothing in writing to confirm, details as to who, for how long, how much, and best way to communicate etc.
I have been there the longest out of all office staff and am the most experienced. They had just recruited a newly qualified staff member to do the same tasks as myself.
When it came to staff going back, I pointed out my ds was not in school and asked could I wfh. My boss said they'd ask the MD and come back to me. The reply was they'd keep me on furlough.
I then started with the panic attacks and anxiety. I was actually admitted to hospital by ambulance with a suspected heart attack as my heart was racing. After a day in A&E being monitored I was discharged with some medication and confirmation it had been a panic attack. I believe the uncertainty created by the lack of communication from work, reduced pay etc may have contributed to this happening.
Then my Dad became very ill.
At the point my Dad went into hospital my boss text me asking me to again return to work. I told them my Dad was ill and was in hospital so I was kept on furlough.
Then my boss contacted me to ask me to return to work and gave a date. I informed her of his deterioration and asked if they could email me the risk assessment for the office etc and they replied by text saying everything was safe but no details.
A few days later they tried to phone me but I couldn't speak to them as my Dad had worsened further and with no visiting allowed by any hospitals my phone line was basically open to my Dad and the hospital. My Dad then sadly passed away. Coincidently this was the date I'd been given previously go back to work.
A week later I was asked to return to work. I informed work my Dad had passed away. I got condolences back by text. I had 2 weeks annual leave booked, but by this time I had spoken with my GP as was experiencing a lot of upset and more anxiety and panic attacks and they gave me a sicknote. It was strange as it was almost like my boss had forgotten about my leave. I did feel very forgotten about.
The panic attacks and anxiety worsened and my GP felt it would be best managed in my home rather than the workplace. Later I did ask my employer what provision there was with OH and options in the workplace and they confirmed there wasn't any.
I understand the implications of what is involved in getting working from home up and running and I do have a shredder, printer, secure cabinet etc as I used to work as a SE bookkeeper from home.
I just feel that it is the MD more than my boss and they don't know how I do my job... technically I mean as they don't.
I did actually speak to the EASS yesterday am and they have said to go back to my employer to ask they reconsider me wfh and to give full details on how it will benefit them and to detail all of my role and how it can be done without impacting on other staff members because it can.
Obviously I do not want to jeopardise my job and now my ds is home again remote learning and he can't be left either.
It seems to be becoming more and more complicated.