Am I daft to consider travelling back to the UK to work?

DaftforTravel

Was working in London before the pandemic and got a bit spooked by how things were being handled so decided to work from Dublin. All going well until about 10 days ago when myself and other colleagues doing same were told that for risk and tax reasons we can no longer work abroad (Republic being included in this definition) and have to log off and take emergency and annual leave going forward.

This has cast a lot of uncertainty on the future of our employment should we be unable to work for the long term but were told to try and make it back to London by 19th April to avoid any of this.

I appreciate this might seem incredibly selfish to some, but as flights are still going I'm thinking of doing it. Albeit all I'll be doing is moving from the parents house to work alone in a flat.

I'm at a bit of a loose end with this, can anyone shed some perspective on what you would do?

road_high

DaftforTravel wrote: »

Was working in London before the pandemic and got a bit spooked by how things were being handled so decided to work from Dublin. All going well until about 10 days ago when myself and other colleagues doing same were told that for risk and tax reasons we can no longer work abroad (Republic being included in this definition) and have to log off and take emergency and annual leave going forward.

This has cast a lot of uncertainty on the future of our employment should we be unable to work for the long term but were told to try and make it back to London by 19th April to avoid any of this.

I appreciate this might seem incredibly selfish to some, but as flights are still going I'm thinking of doing it. Albeit all I'll be doing is moving from the parents house to work alone in a flat.

I'm at a bit of a loose end with this, can anyone shed some perspective on what you would do?

If my job was on the line, yes I think i would go back but go via the ferry/train which I'd consider less risky than flying over. But I'm not in a high risk category so that will depend on you.
This came up another thread and seems unneccesssarily harsh on the companys behalf. Working alone from a flat in London I wouldn't consider any riskier than doing the same in Dublin tbh.

beauf

Of topic but If you are working at home in London. How will they know if you're in Dublin or Ireland. You could use VoIP and a VPN etc. Not what you're asking I know.

Depends on the job and your personal situation. The risk is there, I assume you've no high risk condition.

How important is keeping the job. If it's something you're committed to or not etc. At some point this crisis will end. Plan accordingly.

Mezcita

DaftforTravel wrote: »

Was working in London before the pandemic and got a bit spooked by how things were being handled so decided to work from Dublin. All going well until about 10 days ago when myself and other colleagues doing same were told that for risk and tax reasons we can no longer work abroad (Republic being included in this definition) and have to log off and take emergency and annual leave going forward.

Their reasons about this sound a bit dubious. You're still a UK tax resident as long as you spend 183 days a year there.

TheBoyConor

If you are working from Dublin and your location can't be deduced or figured out from your computer, through VPN or whatever other technology, then what does it matter. Just tell them, yeah, I'm back in London now.

beauf

Sounds more like a Brexit exit.

deceit

When I moved to Germany I was able to keep paying Irish tax (Work from home in Germany but my place of work is in Ireland). I would have presumed its the same for British as the laws in this regard are similar around Europe. The only thing I could think of is they are getting their company ready for Brexit by enforcing this at the start of their financial year which could be then as that year would extend past the Brexit deadline.

DaftforTravel

TheBoyConor wrote: »

If you are working from Dublin and your location can't be deduced or figured out from your computer, through VPN or whatever other technology, then what does it matter. Just tell them, yeah, I'm back in London now.

I need to go through a VPN just to get online anyway, I'd rather not risk it for fear of missing a step and being caught in a blatant lie - which would be a lot worse.

Given the situation is getting worse in UK it doesn't seem wise to go back, I'm continuing to push for some sort of dispensation to work and using annual leave right now but have resigned myself to ask for unpaid leave if it comes to it.

As some have mentioned regarding Brexit, that would make total sense. Albeit would be nice if a few weeks to ride this out was approved

A friend of mine rang me today. Her daughter is working in London for an International bank but now working from home. She had wanted to return to Ireland and continue working from home here in Ireland. Her employer wouldnt let her, something to do with Tax too. Sounds like the same reason as OP.

beauf

I empathize with people where companies put stupid rules in place for no good reason.

OMM 0000

Just do what Asian countries are doing - wear a mask every time you're outside, wash your hands obsessively, and it's unlikely you'll get infected. Look at places like Hong Kong - they never shut down, life is continuing as normal, and there are very few local transmissions outside of morons gathering together in pubs and banquets. Only 4 people have died of this virus in Hong Kong. The key is masks.

So, no, you're not being selfish. Go for it.