Remote work possible employer bent on getting people into the office

Stuxnet

Hi

I work for a massive multinational. There are approx 200 IT folks in our office. We have been WFH since March like most that are capable. Our Data centers are across the globe. So we are 100% remote working even when we were in the office.

They are trying to get people back into the office. I know they are doing a good job with making it safe, spacing the desks, and rules around compulsory mask wearing etc.

But I am really anxious about returning to office. I thought the Govt guidelines say IF Remote Work possible, (as 100% is in our case) then continue to WFH.

I understand some will want to go back, and that is fine. But surely we can't be forced to go back when we can do our jobs at home ?

I love my job, but I really don't see the point in going into the office when we can do it remotely, and I know chances of infection will be low. but its still a chance.....tbh I have not left home only to do the family shopping etc since march.

Is the GOVT guidelines to continue work remote if you can ? or can employers make us go back, with no need to be there at all ?

Stuxnet

Stuxnet wrote: »

Hi

I work for a massive multinational. There are approx 200 IT folks in our office. We have been WFH since March like most that are capable. Our Data centers are across the globe. So we are 100% remote working even when we were in the office.

They are trying to get people back into the office. I know they are doing a good job with making it safe, spacing the desks, and rules around compulsory mask wearing etc.

But I am really anxious about returning to office. I thought the Govt guidelines say IF Remote Work possible, (as 100% is in our case) then continue to WFH.

I understand some will want to go back, and that is fine. But surely we can't be forced to go back when we can do our jobs at home ?

I love my job, but I really don't see the point in going into the office when we can do it remotely, and I know chances of infection will be low. but its still a chance.....tbh I have not left home only to do the family shopping etc since march.

Is the GOVT guidelines to continue work remote if you can ? or can employers make us go back, with no need to be there at all ?

Of course you can be forced to go to the office. That's your workplace!

Guidelines are exactly that, guides.

_ZeeK_

"trying to get people back into the office"

what does that look like?

talks of making plans for re-entry? gentle encouragement? official instructions?

Planning does not equal pressure. It's just being prudent, imo and I'd imagine most larger employers would be putting these in place for whenever the time is deemed right.

Have there been surveys on people's attitudes or have you been consulted as to your preference? I find it hard to believe an IT company would pressure all their workforce to come back at once.

Very surprised at a multinational in IT forcing anyone back to the office. Most always allowed lots of remote work even prior to covid, was this not the case in your office?

Who is forcing you back, company policy or your manager?

KevRossi

You'll have to start campaigning to WFH once you get back into the office. Twitter, Siemens and many more are deciding to let people WFH if they want,I suspect many more companies will follow.

You need to soberly point out the advantages to WFH, the disadvantages of being in the office and construct a reasoned argument around it. Maybe compromise, with an agreed one day a week in the office.

It may take a while, but you could build on it with the possibility of a 2nd lockdown coming up.

Go back to the office. Your chance of catching it in the office is low.

The only workplace having clusters are healthcare settings, construction and meat factories. Not offices.

Jim2007

salonfire wrote: »

Go back to the office. Your chance of catching it in the office is low.

I don't see how you can know that since you don't know the people involved... if you have to associate with people that don't respect social distancing etc... then you could be in a place with a higher risk than say a health related place where people are more aware of the issues for all you know.