Boss refuses wife's request to work from home even though it is entirely feasible

spiritus

She works in payroll for a recruitment agency with the main client being a food production plant. She has worked from home in the past. Genuinely, hand on heart, it is a role that could be performed at home but being in a Mexican standoff with your boss usually only ends one way....
And nope-his decision hasn't been put in writing. His verbal response was a bit of a rant to be honest so I'm debating with my wife whether we try again but this time via a polite but clear email. 

squ1rrel5

I came on here to start a new thread but on reading this I am in a similar situation to your wife. 
I had already discussed home working with my boss, and following the news last night I talked to him and said that I didn't feel happy coming in, but he insisted that I travel to the office. I work in healthcare recruitment, and yes we need more workers at this crucial time however there isn't anything that I can do face to face that can't be done online. We have online meetings set up, and can work on these further from home. 
I have been in tears and can't sleep, I am scared to leave my family and am worried that I will get into trouble for leaving the house when I could be working at home. I do have some of this communication in writing so at least if I get stopped I can show it to the police. 
I also have a child at home - due to non-keyworker status, she isn't attending school and even if i was a keyworker I wouldn't take a place from a frontline essential staff member because she can be legitimately cared for by me. 
I don't know what I can say to the boss other than what Boris has said but the message hasn't seem to have got through.
OP, I hope your wife gets some reassurance re home working. 

spiritus

squ1rrel5 said:

I came on here to start a new thread but on reading this I am in a similar situation to your wife. 
I had already discussed home working with my boss, and following the news last night I talked to him and said that I didn't feel happy coming in, but he insisted that I travel to the office. I work in healthcare recruitment, and yes we need more workers at this crucial time however there isn't anything that I can do face to face that can't be done online. We have online meetings set up, and can work on these further from home. 
I have been in tears and can't sleep, I am scared to leave my family and am worried that I will get into trouble for leaving the house when I could be working at home. I do have some of this communication in writing so at least if I get stopped I can show it to the police. 
I also have a child at home - due to non-keyworker status, she isn't attending school and even if i was a keyworker I wouldn't take a place from a frontline essential staff member because she can be legitimately cared for by me. 
I don't know what I can say to the boss other than what Boris has said but the message hasn't seem to have got through.
OP, I hope your wife gets some reassurance re home working. 

Yes. Sounds a very similar situation to my wife. My wife has even worked remotely on many an occasion even doing so when on a two week holiday. When it suits her boss to work remotely then it's fine but he doesn't feel any responsibility to voluntarily allow her to do so now...even for a 3-4 week period.
I think people like you and my wife are being forgotten and I am sure there are many like you.

onwards&upwards

Are eith of you in unions?

squ1rrel5

I'm not in a union, no. I work for a private firm, is this possible? (Sorry for ignorance, I've only had experience of unions when working in public sector). 

Yes, it's frustrating when I've worked remotely with no-issue before. And now when it's more important than ever not to travel unnecessary or mix with other people, he sees it as essential to be in the office. 

I can't see anyway round this at the moment. If I refuse, my only option is to take unpaid childcare leave. 

spiritus

Not in a union either. I don't think most office workers are.
We're drafting an email today and see what happens but I am not very confident.

onwards&upwards

Anybody can join a union, use this tool to find the best one: https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

Usually you can only ask for help with disputes if you are already a member, but maybe they will reconsider that under the circumstances.  Unions may be very important in the next weeks and months as the voice and advocate for workers. 

spiritus

onwards&upwards said:

Anybody can join a union, use this tool to find the best one: https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

Usually you can only ask for help with disputes if you are already a member, but maybe they will reconsider that under the circumstances.  Unions may be very important in the next weeks and months as the voice and advocate for workers. 

Perhaps easier said than done. Yes, anyone can join a union but imagine for a moment how some bosses may react to knowing that a single worker has signed up for a union AND communication about sensitive matters e.g. Corona are being led by a union.
Maybe it is easier when large groups of workers join a union en masse but when a solitary office worker does then it still create tension between the employer and the worker

Humdinger1

Spiritus

If it's not in writing, why doesn't your wife email, outlining her understanding of her boss's stance and asking for clarification if she's misunderstood.  The onus will then be on the boss.  Ask for it in writing in case she's stopped by the police and asked to explain herself. 

onwards&upwards

spiritus said:

onwards&upwards said:

Anybody can join a union, use this tool to find the best one: https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

Usually you can only ask for help with disputes if you are already a member, but maybe they will reconsider that under the circumstances.  Unions may be very important in the next weeks and months as the voice and advocate for workers. 

Perhaps easier said than done. Yes, anyone can join a union but imagine for a moment how some bosses may react to knowing that a single worker has signed up for a union AND communication about sensitive matters e.g. Corona are being led by a union.
Maybe it is easier when large groups of workers join a union en masse but when a solitary office worker does then it still create tension between the employer and the worker

It really really shouldn’t.

You don’t even have to tell your employer anyway. 

Everybody should be in a union.