How to ask?

[Sunshinesandrainbows]

Hi,

So I currently work full time and I've only been in this role since November.

It takes an hour an a half commute and I have to be there for 830. So I get up at 5.30 every day - I have to drop my 3 year old at nursery then get myself to work.

There is a few staff that are currently WFH and I want to see if i can - i am on public transport so i want to reduce my risk. But also I am on steroids so im high risk anyway but they don't know about my medical issues as i never mentioned it.

Finally I feel like id get more done at home and it would give me a better work/life balance as im in bed for 9 to get up so early!

Im Currently wfh at the moment on a laptop as I've got a bad cough so im wfh until i get my test results. Question is how do I ask to wfh whilst in this lockdown?

Thankyou

The guidance is that if you can work from home, you should. As you are WFH now due to illness, is there any reason why you should normally be in the office? If you are going into the office when there's no good reason, your employer is in breach of current guidance.

We've always been in the office. Apparently we are covid secure. Obviously doesn't feel like that x

If you can work from home you should be doing. It doesn’t matter how Covid secure your office is.

Agree with DinosaurDiana. The most Covid secure office in the world is not as secure as working from home.

I would suggest politely drawing their attention to the government guidance.

But also I am on steroids so im high risk anyway but they don't know about my medical issues as i never mentioned it.

That may not be wise. You have no rights to protection for health issues you don’t declare.

@LApprentiSorcier

Agree with DinosaurDiana. The most Covid secure office in the world is not as secure as working from home.

I would suggest politely drawing their attention to the government guidance.

You have no idea whether the role can be undertaken fully and safely from home.

You have no idea whether the role can be undertaken fully and safely from home.

I can only go by what the OP says which is that she is WFH at the moment and feels she would get more done WFH all the time.

Yes. There’s another very long thread where the OP feels the same but her employer has said no.

There are lots of reasons it may not be appropriate in the OP’s case. All she can do is ask. However, if she uses a health condition that she hasn’t declared a reason she may be on sticky ground in other ways.

(HR professional)