Shed for remote office

patrafter7

Could anyone recommend a timber shed installer who can construct a domestic remote office on a budget?

Thanks

Jim2007

patrafter7 wrote: »

Could anyone recommend a timber shed installer who can construct a domestic remote office on a budget?

Thanks

Probably a good idea to check the local building ordinance before you start. In particular rules relating to size and purpose of use.

California Dreamer

Jim2007 wrote: »

Probably a good idea to check the local building ordinance before you start. In particular rules relating to size and purpose of use.

Your bog standard shed does not need planning permission or anything like that. Even if you were to run electric to it.

The only thing the OP says is that its on a budget.....sheds are not cheap that you want to run as a home office. Insulation, heat and light, and a degree of comfort. Something the size of a prison cell won't be good for the mental health.

Do you want to be sitting in a wooden shed when its cold, lashing rain outside and you can feel the elements at the same time?

But in my experience you would be looking at somewhere in the €3-4k range.

beauf

I know a few people who have got a concrete base and metal shed installed as a stop gap. A normal garden shed is a bit too damp and cold to use as an office.

Jim2007

California Dreamer wrote: »

Your bog standard shed does not need planning permission or anything like that. Even if you were to run electric to it.

Yes, but we're not talking about a bog standard shed used to store tools etc...


Making sure you know exactly that is allowed would be prudent before splashing out on it.

California Dreamer

Jim2007 wrote: »

Yes, but we're not talking about a bog standard shed used to store tools etc...


Making sure you know exactly that is allowed would be prudent before splashing out on it.

Its not a permanent structure. I think you are just looking to make it harder than it actually is.

https://www.gardenrooms.ie/planning-permission/

25msq is what is allowed without PP. But all this is a mute exercise when the OP says hes on a budget. Nothing about this is going to be cheap. Your bog standard shed with nothing is going to be €600ish, a steel shed €1000 upwards and as for getting them, well thats another story altogether!

AndrewJRenko

Have a word with your employer about covering your costs. Surely they won't be expecting you to provide free space to them and furnish it and heat it at your own expense?

Mrs OBumble

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Have a word with your employer about covering your costs. Surely they won't be expecting you to provide free space to them and furnish it and heat it at your own expense?

They'll likely just tell him/ her to keep using the kitchen table, and to speak to Revenue about claiming back extra costs.

AndrewJRenko

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

They'll likely just tell him/ her to keep using the kitchen table, and to speak to Revenue about claiming back extra costs.

They may well do that, which would certainly create a liability for them for any musculoskeletal disorders that arise from not having a decent chair and a desk at the right height. It may also place responsiblity on the employer for any breaches of confidentiality and GDPR that arises from doing work in an area shared with non-employees.

Employers shouldn't be expecting to get office space for free from their employees.

JDxtra

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

They may well do that, which would certainly create a liability for them for any musculoskeletal disorders that arise from not having a decent chair and a desk at the right height. It may also place responsiblity on the employer for any breaches of confidentiality and GDPR that arises from doing work in an area shared with non-employees.

Employers shouldn't be expecting to get office space for free from their employees.

True, but that's exactly what's happening.

Employers are seeing the benefit to them ($$$) and are making it a permanent thing without offering any support to employees (like it or lump it approach).

newirishman

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

They may well do that, which would certainly create a liability for them for any musculoskeletal disorders that arise from not having a decent chair and a desk at the right height. It may also place responsiblity on the employer for any breaches of confidentiality and GDPR that arises from doing work in an area shared with non-employees.

Employers shouldn't be expecting to get office space for free from their employees.

Simple- if WFH not possible, you go to the office.
The employer is not responsible to buy you a garden shed office.

Pkiernan

Consider a 10x10 container office?

Idbatterim

where you based op?

https://www.loghouse.ie/product/arklow-log-cabin-3-4m-x-2-5m/

this would strike a good balance, based on the sound of what you are going for. Paint it yourself, you could just run a electrical extension out to it, really depends what your budget is etc...

€2,090.00
AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Cabin assembly
€380.00
AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Timber frame & block foundation
€280.00
AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Upgrade to 35mm walls & living double glazing
€350.00
AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Roof insulation
€260.00
AVAILABLE OPTIONS - Add gutters & down pipes
€220.00
Subtotal €3,580.00 inc. VAT

they are the essential options in my opinion. Few hundred for paint, electrics another good few hundred if they connect it to the board in house...

or this, for 3k... I am assuming that is something striking a balance between reasonable to work from and cost effective...

https://www.eco-home.ie/product/garden-log-cabin-edith-3x2m/

usually two outers walls are not exposed. I would just put warmboard on the outside , fixed to the cabin by screw and washer and tape the joints. then put in infrared heater close to you...

AndrewJRenko

newirishman wrote: »

Simple- if WFH not possible, you go to the office.
The employer is not responsible to buy you a garden shed office.

For some employers, including my own, there is no option to go into the office, and no time scale for when this will be possible.

So they only option on the table is a substantial change in working conditions, imposed not negotiated.

That's not on.

Del2005

newirishman wrote: »

Simple- if WFH not possible, you go to the office.
The employer is not responsible to buy you a garden shed office.

Health and safety doesn't end when WFH due to government regulations

The employer is responsible to ensure that their employee has a safe working environment, a kitchen table and chair is not a safe workplace for the majority of jobs.

Snotty

Work colleague bought a 8x6 wooden shed, think it cost around 400, spend a couple of hundred on insulation and sheeting out the inside, added ventilation and an electric heater, he's very happy with it.
Be careful with the roof, a lot of the wooden sheds have a metal roof and when it rains its very loud, not very professional when on a call or zoom meeting.

Idbatterim

when you lads say a shed, does it have any windows etc, there would be nothing worse than being like a prisoner with no natural light in a tiny space!!!

AndrewJRenko

JDxtra wrote: »

True, but that's exactly what's happening.

Employers are seeing the benefit to them ($$$) and are making it a permanent thing without offering any support to employees (like it or lump it approach).

In fairness, some employers are being decent at least about furniture and fittings, whether allowing people to take chairs and monitors home, or giving an allowance for fit-out costs. I've heard of allowances from €300-€1000.

For me as a public servant, there is none of that. I took the monitors in March without asking, as others had done before me, as I wasn't going to spend months hunched over a laptop screen. I've lost what was the spare bedroom, so I can't even have a fight with the missus and go off and sulk now. I'm tripping over the start of the Xmas presents in the 'office' now. I've had to buy a desk and chair myself, and I'm faced with substantial extra heating costs over the winter. I've put on 7kgs in weight, mainly as a result of having unrestricted access to a well-stocked fridge all day.

It just isn't working for me, and for a minority of others. I see people hunched over the kitchen table, or stuck in a box room in a shared house for their entire day, workday and evening.

We were all prepared to be flexible in the emergency situation that arose, but we're well past emergency now. Employers need to provide office space for those staff for whom work-from-home doesn't work.

Snotty

Idbatterim wrote: »

when you lads say a shed, does it have any windows etc, there would be nothing worse than being like a prisoner with no natural light in a tiny space!!!

With window.
If you are getting the shed from a shed maker, you can always get more or bigger windows. When I got my shed it came with 2 windows on one side, the guy did offer to put in more and if I supplied a pvc window or door, they would add it in too, there were a couple on donedeal for very cheap and kind of sorry I didn't take him up on the offer

Snotty

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

In fairness, some employers are being decent at least about furniture and fittings, whether allowing people to take chairs and monitors home, or giving an allowance for fit-out costs. I've heard of allowances from €300-€1000.

For me as a public servant, there is none of that. I took the monitors in March without asking, as others had done before me, as I wasn't going to spend months hunched over a laptop screen. I've lost what was the spare bedroom, so I can't even have a fight with the missus and go off and sulk now. I'm tripping over the start of the Xmas presents in the 'office' now. I've had to buy a desk and chair myself, and I'm faced with substantial extra heating costs over the winter. I've put on 7kgs in weight, mainly as a result of having unrestricted access to a well-stocked fridge all day.

It just isn't working for me, and for a minority of others. I see people hunched over the kitchen table, or stuck in a box room in a shared house for their entire day, workday and evening.

We were all prepared to be flexible in the emergency situation that arose, but we're well past emergency now. Employers need to provide office space for those staff for whom work-from-home doesn't work.

I'm shocked you're a public servant...

newirishman

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

In fairness, some employers are being decent at least about furniture and fittings, whether allowing people to take chairs and monitors home, or giving an allowance for fit-out costs. I've heard of allowances from €300-€1000.

For me as a public servant, there is none of that. I took the monitors in March without asking, as others had done before me, as I wasn't going to spend months hunched over a laptop screen. I've lost what was the spare bedroom, so I can't even have a fight with the missus and go off and sulk now. I'm tripping over the start of the Xmas presents in the 'office' now. I've had to buy a desk and chair myself, and I'm faced with substantial extra heating costs over the winter. I've put on 7kgs in weight, mainly as a result of having unrestricted access to a well-stocked fridge all day.

It just isn't working for me, and for a minority of others. I see people hunched over the kitchen table, or stuck in a box room in a shared house for their entire day, workday and evening.

We were all prepared to be flexible in the emergency situation that arose, but we're well past emergency now. Employers need to provide office space for those staff for whom work-from-home doesn't work.

That's the nub of it. They can provide an office space: it is called office.
Few hundred quid for a chair, desk, screens "should" be paid/provided by the employer when asked to WFH. Health and safety and all that.
If you don't have space for it, no spare room, shared apartment etc., don't expect the employer to get you a bigger apartment or an office-shed for the garden.
Of course, if access to the office is restricted/impossible, and you can't put a proper work space in your home, your options are limited.
- sue your employer
- change job
good luck in each case. Harsh, but true.

AndrewJRenko

Snotty wrote: »

I'm shocked you're a public servant...

Some days, I'm shocked meself.

newirishman wrote: »

That's the nub of it. They can provide an office space: it is called office.
Few hundred quid for a chair, desk, screens "should" be paid/provided by the employer when asked to WFH. Health and safety and all that.
If you don't have space for it, no spare room, shared apartment etc., don't expect the employer to get you a bigger apartment or an office-shed for the garden.
Of course, if access to the office is restricted/impossible, and you can't put a proper work space in your home, your options are limited.
- sue your employer
- change job
good luck in each case. Harsh, but true.

Harsh but untrue, actually.

There are other options.

There is the option of the collective power of the trade union movement working to ensure that their employees are not disadvantaged.

There is also the option of a Workplace Relations Commission formal complaint about the unilateral changes to the conditions of employment.

There is also the option of a formal complaint to the Health & Safety Authority of the employer's failure to provide a safe working environment.

ethical

ETBs are providing lots of 'office comforts' for their "stay at home workers" incl.of laptops yet their frontline staff are "packed into tight spaces" with little escape and in many cases NO basic facilities such as laptops etc,........great life really if you can get it!

Del2005

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Some days, I'm shocked meself.



Harsh but untrue, actually.

There are other options.

There is the option of the collective power of the trade union movement working to ensure that their employees are not disadvantaged.

There is also the option of a Workplace Relations Commission formal complaint about the unilateral changes to the conditions of employment.

There is also the option of a formal complaint to the Health & Safety Authority of the employer's failure to provide a safe working environment.

It's ironic that the unionised jobs seem to have the worst employer care for their employees. I know another person working in a unionised company and they are getting nothing to protect themselves and they are front line, they don't supply any PPE or disenfranchised for the staff.

I work for a terrible multi national that doesn't allow unions. Anyone who has to be in site has access to as much PPE and disinfectant as they want and anyone working from home can get most of their office couriered to them or can expense what they need to be safe.

The WRC is going to be busy after this.

Mrs OBumble

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It just isn't working for me, and for a minority of others. I see people hunched over the kitchen table, or stuck in a box room in a shared house for their entire day, workday and evening.

We were all prepared to be flexible in the emergency situation that arose, but we're well past emergency now. Employers need to provide office space for those staff for whom work-from-home doesn't work.

In principle, I agree with you: I'm mad as hell that I'm apparently expected to provide my employer with office space long term, for the princely sum of 3.20 per day. My partner is pretty damn unhappy that he doesn't have a living room during the day.

I'm also pretty pissy with certain sell-out colleagues who are telling management how great WFH home is and that it's the future of work. I've been told - by them - that I should move to a larger place (but like hell am I giving up a Part 4 tenancy in the current rental market). Even if I was in a unionised environment, the power of the union is collective - and most people don't agree with me and wouldn't support me.

But pragmatically - I cannot refuse. If I try, my current employer is likely to make me redundant. Any future job I get is likely to include it as a condition of employment that I provide a suitable office space (and I'm gonna be in trouble if they come inspecting it!)

And you're absolutely right about the likely flood of claims for musculo-skeletal issues - so much so that I expect the government will find some legal way to absolve employers of responsibility, at least for a year or two of pandemic response time.

Personally I'm hoping that a juicy GDPR breach and subsequent compensation will jolt a lot of companies into re-thinking - but we will need to wait for Covid-19 to settle down.




And to return to the OP - by all means ask your employer to contribute, or at least to loan you some furniture- but don't expect a positive response. Many will just say "nope".

Jimson

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

In principle, I agree with you: I'm mad as hell that I'm apparently expected to provide my employer with office space long term, for the princely sum of 3.20 per day. My partner is pretty damn unhappy that he doesn't have a living room during the day.

I'm also pretty pissy with certain sell-out colleagues who are telling management how great WFH home is and that it's the future of work. I've been told - by them - that I should move to a larger place (but like hell am I giving up a Part 4 tenancy in the current rental market). Even if I was in a unionised environment, the power of the union is collective - and most people don't agree with me and wouldn't support me.

But pragmatically - I cannot refuse. If I try, my current employer is likely to make me redundant. Any future job I get is likely to include it as a condition of employment that I provide a suitable office space (and I'm gonna be in trouble if they come inspecting it!)

And you're absolutely right about the likely flood of claims for musculo-skeletal issues - so much so that I expect the government will find some legal way to absolve employers of responsibility, at least for a year or two of pandemic response time.

Personally I'm hoping that a juicy GDPR breach and subsequent compensation will jolt a lot of companies into re-thinking - but we will need to wait for Covid-19 to settle down.




And to return to the OP - by all means ask your employer to contribute, or at least to loan you some furniture- but don't expect a positive response. Many will just say "nope".

Sell out colleagues really? WOW

WFH is great and is the future and long may it continue!!

Surely you can put a small desk in your bedroom and let your partner have the living room.

I paid 50 quid in woodies for a 6ft folding table, brought office chair home along with laptop Docking Station etc. All sorted and the 50 quid table is great.

No issues whatsoever!

nofools

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

In principle, I agree with you: I'm mad as hell that I'm apparently expected to provide my employer with office space long term, for the princely sum of 3.20 per day. My partner is pretty damn unhappy that he doesn't have a living room during the day.

I'm also pretty pissy with certain sell-out colleagues who are telling management how great WFH home is and that it's the future of work. I've been told - by them - that I should move to a larger place (but like hell am I giving up a Part 4 tenancy in the current rental market). Even if I was in a unionised environment, the power of the union is collective - and most people don't agree with me and wouldn't support me.

But pragmatically - I cannot refuse. If I try, my current employer is likely to make me redundant. Any future job I get is likely to include it as a condition of employment that I provide a suitable office space (and I'm gonna be in trouble if they come inspecting it!)

And you're absolutely right about the likely flood of claims for musculo-skeletal issues - so much so that I expect the government will find some legal way to absolve employers of responsibility, at least for a year or two of pandemic response time.

Personally I'm hoping that a juicy GDPR breach and subsequent compensation will jolt a lot of companies into re-thinking - but we will need to wait for Covid-19 to settle down.




And to return to the OP - by all means ask your employer to contribute, or at least to loan you some furniture- but don't expect a positive response. Many will just say "nope".

This is all getting weird fast.

You don't get the job unless you have a home office and are marked on your "professional presentation".

TCP/IP_King

So - back to the original question - can you buy a shed and use it as a business premises so you can keep your job
Yes - if you're an independent contractor and take responsibility for all of the subsequent employment regulation etc etc + all of that paper filling work stuff
No - if your employer is just a clueless cheapskate freeloader and expects their employees to do all of their thinking for them. Tell them you will be turning up at 9:00am in the morning unless they tell you otherwise.

TheRealPONeil

[QUOTE= blah blah .. No issues whatsoever![/QUOTE]

The issue here is complete chancers taking advantage of workers in a vulnerable circumstnace - ala Uber and that 1 gig economy valley bull ****.

mrslancaster

Another option

https://www.coppolacabins.ie/products/value-range/dorset/or

California Dreamer

WFH from home since March. Employer also very kindly gave me a 20% paycut. Also 'sold' the idea of working from home that I would save on commuting costs.

I had the space and fitted out the box room and its fine with the exception of a screaming 3 year old from time to time.

On the plus side I don't get out of jocks and t-shirt for half the day.

I floated the idea about a new chair, monitors etc but was laughed at.

AndrewJRenko

Jimson wrote: »

Sell out colleagues really? WOW

WFH is great and is the future and long may it continue!!

Surely you can put a small desk in your bedroom and let your partner have the living room.

I paid 50 quid in woodies for a 6ft folding table, brought office chair home along with laptop Docking Station etc. All sorted and the 50 quid table is great.

No issues whatsoever!

Is it really that difficult to understand that what works for you doesn't work for everyone? Not everyone has space for the folding table. Not everyone has fifty quid spare to subsidise their employer.

Public servant here. We were allowed to take monitors, and chairs from our office to work from home. Laptops were also provided on request and new laptops are now being rolled out to every staff member at the moment.

Some people just want to ruin it for everyone else. We are in the middle of a pandemic, yet some are moaning about wfh being "non-negotiated"? Planning cases for the WRC when its over?

Would you GTFO. The public health supercedes your need to complain and your employer is not responsible for your lack of appetite control, either.

I'm sure many of those who lost their jobs would be happy to swap with you.

samo

I got a Clane steel shed 10ft x 8ft (around 1650e) but it was a long lead time and waited 4 months for it! Also around 500 for proper electricity wiring/lights and then TP links for WiFi.

Finally, boarding it and insulation- around 600 but it does get cold now these days.
So all in all 2.6k, plus IKEA for the furniture, not cheap but it’s making a huge difference in terms of sanity.

JDxtra

There are many sides to this. For example, a large employer I know well have now given up the lease for part of their building. Companies are seeing that there are real cost savings to be had here and they can just get "free" office space in employees homes indefinitely.

That same company offered no laptop, no phone, no screens etc. to support employees working from home. All employees got was a forced pay cut. The company remains profitable and have not suffered due to the pandemic.

Agree, employees need to be flexible to get through the pandemic and be thankful to have that employment - however some companies are using this to their own financial advantage going forward.

Jimson

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Is it really that difficult to understand that what works for you doesn't work for everyone? Not everyone has space for the folding table. Not everyone has fifty quid spare to subsidise their employer.

Its 50 euro, not 5 grand. If you can't afford a spare 50 euro its time to move jobs or upskill to a better job.

No sympathy. Oh poor me i live in a shoebox and can't afford a spare 50 quid ffs.

And about sharing rooms ffs Mrs o bumble, if your that paranoid about GDPR get a pair of Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones for your partner and you can both share the room, unless your too paranoid he might turn them off and listen yo your conversation. Oh dear god the horror!

Anyone will come up with any sort of excuse just to get back to the office.

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

Public servant here. We were allowed to take monitors, and chairs from our office to work from home. Laptops were also provided on request and new laptops are now being rolled out to every staff member at the moment.

Some people just want to ruin it for everyone else. We are in the middle of a pandemic, yet some are moaning about wfh being "non-negotiated"? Planning cases for the WRC when its over?

Would you GTFO. The public health supercedes your need to complain and your employer is not responsible for your lack of appetite control, either.

I'm sure many of those who lost their jobs would be happy to swap with you.

Thanks for your fraternal support. That will be remembered when management come after you for some of your benefits that have been hard-earned by negotiation over many years.

But you seem to have missed the point here. Nothing that I've suggested will 'ruin it' for you and nothing will worsen the pandemic.

I haven't suggested that WFH is pulled from everyone to suit my personal needs. I'm well aware that I'm in a small minority, and that most people are quite happy with WFH.

What I am suggesting is that having a small minority of staff for whom WFH doesn't work AND having largely empty offices sitting vacant at the same time doesn't make sense. There must be a solution where the small minority can get back into the office and work from there, while the majority remains in WFH.

AndrewJRenko

Jimson wrote: »

Its 50 euro, not 5 grand. If you can't afford a spare 50 euro its time to move jobs or upskill to a better job.

No sympathy. Oh poor me i live in a shoebox and can't afford a spare 50 quid ffs.

I'm not looking for your sympathy. I'm looking for your recognition of the current law which states that employers cannot change terms and conditions unilaterally.

That's the law.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Thanks for your fraternal support. That will be remembered when management come after you for some of your benefits that have been hard-earned by negotiation over many years.

I'm not going to support you when I think you're wrong, just because I'm also a public servant. As for holding that against someone in future negotiations - Its that kind of attitude that gives unions a bad rep. Petty comment.

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

But you seem to have missed the point here. Nothing that I've suggested will 'ruin it' for you and nothing will worsen the pandemic.

I haven't suggested that WFH is pulled from everyone to suit my personal needs. I'm well aware that I'm in a small minority, and that most people are quite happy with WFH.

What I am suggesting is that having a small minority of staff for whom WFH doesn't work AND having largely empty offices sitting vacant at the same time doesn't make sense. There must be a solution where the small minority can get back into the office and work from there, while the majority remains in WFH.

You're completely deluding yourself if you think that public servants taking cases to the WRC for "non-neogiated WFH" being imposed on them during a worldwide panemic won't make them gun-shy of future claims.

Which will have a knock on affect of getting applications for extended WFH approved for those who want it, while you'll be back in your office not giving a toss about that.

If office based work is essential to business needs, you can request an exemption that allows you access to your building. It has to be approved at A/Sec level, but its not impossible. If its not essential to business needs, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait it out like everyone else.

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not going to support you when I think you're wrong, just because I'm also a public servant. As for holding that against someone in future negotiations - Its that kind of attitude that gives unions a bad rep. Petty comment.

You've some neck accusing others of petty comments after your "Would you GTFO" and your 'sure aren't you lucky to have a job' nonsense.

But what specifically is wrong about expecting your employer to provide a safe, furnished, heated place of work when they have safe, furnished, heated offices sitting empty?

Deleted User wrote: »

You're completely deluding yourself if you think that public servants taking cases to the WRC for "non-neogiated WFH" being imposed on them during a worldwide panemic won't make them gun-shy of future claims.

Which will have a knock on affect of getting applications for extended WFH approved for those who want it, while you'll be back in your office not giving a toss about that.

If you believe this very stretched point yourself, then the obvious solution to avoid any need for WRC claims would be for you to support your colleagues who need their employer to provide them with a safe, furnished, heated workplace.

But I don't quite get your twisted logic that claims about getting back to the office would impact staff who don't want to get back to the office?

Deleted User wrote: »

If office based work is essential to business needs, you can request an exemption that allows you access to your building. It has to be approved at A/Sec level, but its not impossible. If its not essential to business needs, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait it out like everyone else.

Office based work is not essential for business needs for me. It is essential for personal needs for me, and for a small number of other people who don't have space, or don't have safety, or don't have heating.

How long am I going to expected to provide rent-free space to my employer, heated and furnished at my own expense? Is it 3 months or 3 years or for the remaining years up to my retirement?

gordongekko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

How long am I going to expected to provide rent-free space to my employer, heated and furnished at my own expense? Is it 3 months or 3 years or for the remaining years up to my retirement?

100% agree with this. It's time companies start paying for a proper home office set up for people.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You've some neck accusing others of petty comments after your "Would you GTFO" and your 'sure aren't you lucky to have a job' nonsense.

But what specifically is wrong about expecting your employer to provide a safe, furnished, heated place of work when they have safe, furnished, heated offices sitting empty?


If you believe this very stretched point yourself, then the obvious solution to avoid any need for WRC claims would be for you to support your colleagues who need their employer to provide them with a safe, furnished, heated workplace.

But I don't quite get your twisted logic that claims about getting back to the office would impact staff who don't want to get back to the office?


Office based work is not essential for business needs for me. It is essential for personal needs for me, and for a small number of other people who don't have space, or don't have safety, or don't have heating.

How long am I going to expected to provide rent-free space to my employer, heated and furnished at my own expense? Is it 3 months or 3 years or for the remaining years up to my retirement?

I think yours it the logic that is twisted. We are in the middle of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, and right now, the safest place to work, is at home. I for one, am glad that my employer didn't wait to individually renegotiate every contract with every employee before deciding it was in the best interest of the public health to reduce the risk of contracting Covid19 by allowing me to work from my own home.

So, Good luck with your WRC claim.

If your claim is musculo-skeletal related, make sure you also advise your employer of the extra pounds you mentioned that you've piled on as a result of WFH (I guess they should also have provided a time-release lock for your fridge to help you keep your nose out of it) and let them check that whatever device you use for your copious boards posting, is ergonomically set up, and not contributing to your issues.

blackbox

gordongekko wrote: »

100% agree with this. It's time companies start paying for a proper home office set up for people.

This might be going too far, but there is definitely no reason why they shouldn't lend employees office equipment such as monitors and chairs that are currently not being used.

beauf

blackbox wrote: »

This might be going too far, but there is definitely no reason why they shouldn't lend employees office equipment such as monitors and chairs that are currently not being used.

I think people were expecting to return to the office part of the week.

In which case they would turn up in the office and their equipment would be at home.

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

I think yours it the logic that is twisted. We are in the middle of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, and right now, the safest place to work, is at home. I for one, am glad that my employer didn't wait to individually renegotiate every contract with every employee before deciding it was in the best interest of the public health to reduce the risk of contracting Covid19 by allowing me to work from my own home.

You're right, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Not the start of a pandemic, the middle of the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, we all got with programme and did the good corporate citizen thing of being flexible for our employer, no problem there. It was indeed appropriate that the employer didn't wait to individually negotiate.

But we're not at the start of a pandemic now - we're in the middle, with 3-6 months or possible 3-6 years if the vaccine doesn't come through.

We have largely empty offices, still being managed, maintained, heated, staffed for security purposes for a small number of essential staff, with loads of space for the very small number of staff for whom WFH isn't safe.

What are you afraid of?

Deleted User wrote: »

If your claim is musculo-skeletal related, make sure you also advise your employer of the extra pounds you mentioned that you've piled on as a result of WFH (I guess they should also have provided a time-release lock for your fridge to help you keep your nose out of it) and let them check that whatever device you use for your copious boards posting, is ergonomically set up, and not contributing to your issues.

The only thing they should be providing is an office space, same as they always did.

beauf wrote: »

I think people were expecting to return to the office part of the week.

In which case they would turn up in the office and their equipment would be at home.

Some employers have provided extra monitors for home, a fairly low cost overall.
Personally I'd be happy to use the laptop one day a week at home, and leave the big screens in work.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You're right, we are in the middle of a pandemic. Not the start of a pandemic, the middle of the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, we all got with programme and did the good corporate citizen thing of being flexible for our employer, no problem there. It was indeed appropriate that the employer didn't wait to individually negotiate.

But we're not at the start of a pandemic now - we're in the middle, with 3-6 months or possible 3-6 years if the vaccine doesn't come through.

We have largely empty offices, still being managed, maintained, heated, staffed for security purposes for a small number of essential staff, with loads of space for the very small number of staff for whom WFH isn't safe.

What are you afraid of?


The only thing they should be providing is an office space, same as they always did.


Some employers have provided extra monitors for home, a fairly low cost overall.
Personally I'd be happy to use the laptop one day a week at home, and leave the big screens in work.

Yes. The middle of a pandemic. Its far from over yet

What am I afraid off? Catching Corona Virus from someone who thinks its over.

If the employer was to allow "some" people back to work who are not essential, then it would be open to abuse - and would be open to some managers to abuse by insisting staff who are not needed in the office and do NOT want to return to office based work, into returning. This was already happening, the last time they tried to open up.

Now is NOT the time to be whinging about your terms and conditions, Andrew. You could have it a lot worse.

Get with the programme.

Mrs OBumble

Jimson wrote: »

Sell out colleagues really? WOW

WFH is great and is the future and long may it continue!!

Surely you can put a small desk in your bedroom and let your partner have the living room.

I paid 50 quid in woodies for a 6ft folding table, brought office chair home along with laptop Docking Station etc. All sorted and the 50 quid table is great.

No issues whatsoever!

It's great that your accommodation is large enough that you were able to do that.

Mine isn't: If I did that, the only way to get from the door to the window, wardrobe or one side of the bed would be by crawling over the bed. Not gonna happen. I deliberately rented a small, well-located apartment that's fine for two people to live in. I did not expect to have to provide my employer with office space - and I cannot afford to do so. I have priced what it would rent an office within 2km of my home. Cost is horrific.

In a previous job, to be allowed to work form home for a couple of evening meetings over three weeks, I had to sign a form saying I was providing an ergonomic workstation with lots of other things, right down to daily rubbish removal from the premises. It's likely that many people doing WFH will asked to do similar, especially if they want it to be long term and not just a pandemic response.

California Dreamer

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

In a previous job, to be allowed to work form home for a couple of evening meetings over three weeks, I had to sign a form saying I was providing an ergonomic workstation with lots of other things, right down to daily rubbish removal from the premises. It's likely that many people doing WFH will asked to do similar, especially if they want it to be long term and not just a pandemic response.

Personally I cannot see that. Look at the money that companies have saved in the last 8 months in energy costs alone. This whole WFH is a gift for a lot of companies.

AndrewJRenko

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes. The middle of a pandemic. Its far from over yet

What am I afraid off? Catching Corona Virus from someone who thinks its over.

If the employer was to allow "some" people back to work who are not essential, then it would be open to abuse - and would be open to some managers to abuse by insisting staff who are not needed in the office and do NOT want to return to office based work, into returning. This was already happening, the last time they tried to open up.

Now is NOT the time to be whinging about your terms and conditions, Andrew. You could have it a lot worse.

Get with the programme.

So just like everything else in the workplace, managers would need to manage the return to the workplace for staff who can't wfh. Just like the manage access for essential staff at present. All that is required is a shared diary or spreadsheet. It's not hard really.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So just like everything else in the workplace, managers would need to manage the return to the workplace for staff who can't wfh. Just like the manage access for essential staff at present. All that is required is a shared diary or spreadsheet. It's not hard really.

Completely ignores the points made about the potential for abuse by managers who just want arses back in seats even if non-essential, and even though we know it was happening before this lockdown, when earlier restrictions were lifted.

Ok then.

Now whose lacking in "fraternal support".

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

In a previous job, to be allowed to work form home for a couple of evening meetings over three weeks, I had to sign a form saying I was providing an ergonomic workstation with lots of other things, right down to daily rubbish removal from the premises. It's likely that many people doing WFH will asked to do similar, especially if they want it to be long term and not just a pandemic response.

I've been working from home at least one day a week, for over a year, long before Covid19 happened. If it wasn't a requirement before Covid19, I doubt it will be a requirement after it.

Never been asked for any of this, and certainly nothing to do with rubbish collections - never heard of that even from private sector friends who've worked from home for years. Not necessary in this day of paperless offices, anyway.