Work from Home but not be paid?

jonbey

My company has announced that anybody that works from home due to covid19 will only get statuary sick pay. 
They described it as, "people working from home will not get full pay" (but in reality, they won't be paying anything). Sounds like we'll be expected to work a full normal week though. ie. 37.5 hours.
If I refuse to work unless I get paid, will I be putting my job at risk?
I do an IT role and am already set up with remote access, and worked at home for 6 years in a previous job, so it's not like I don't know how to work from home effectively. 
If I am sent into isolation, or if the business pauses operations, will I be able to do freelance work while on SSP?
If on SSP can I claim universal benefits?

Takeaway_Addict

So you could go into work?

TELLIT01

In that situation I would be inclined to say there is a problem with the kit you have at home and you can't connect.  If you are working you should be paid.  The employer is taking the .....

jonbey

Takeaway_Addict said:

So you could go into work?

Could, if OK to leave a 10 year old at home all day.
Been an update though, they have decided some people can work from home on full pay, and my role is one of those.
So phew.
But, there is still the question of If operations shut down - I'll probably wait until then before asking about benefits.

KatrinaWaves

Childcare is not your employers issue

KatrinaWaves

Jsacker said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Childcare is not your employers issue

Generally speaking, that's true (but flexible working requests etc should be treated fairly). 


But the current climate is exceptional in that it looks like there's going to be a government-initiated closure of schools, and probably a closure of daycare centres or any other way that the poster may have handled childcare during the summer holidays etc to allow them to work. Such a comment seems a bit out of place in this exceptional circumstance? In reality, it is probably neither the employer OR employee's issue here, but rather the government's issue. Hopefully both parties get the support that they need (the poster seems to have had theirs solved but many more will be in a similar position).

If and when that happens, then yes. But it has not yet so the comment is not misplaced. 

p00hsticks

jonbey said:

My company has announced that anybody that works from home due to covid19 will only get statuary sick pay. 
They described it as, "people working from home will not get full pay" (but in reality, they won't be paying anything).

Are you aware that it's your employer who pays SSP ? It's not a benefit paid by the government.

KatrinaWaves

p00hsticks said:

jonbey said:

My company has announced that anybody that works from home due to covid19 will only get statuary sick pay. 
They described it as, "people working from home will not get full pay" (but in reality, they won't be paying anything).

Are you aware that it's your employer who pays SSP ? It's not a benefit paid by the government.

As of like 4 minutes ago or whatever, the govt are paying it for companies with less than 250 employees (I know, i cant keep up either)

May not apply to OP, but, worth noting! I'll edit this in five minutes when they change it.

Marvel1

KatrinaWaves said:

Jsacker said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Childcare is not your employers issue

Generally speaking, that's true (but flexible working requests etc should be treated fairly). 


But the current climate is exceptional in that it looks like there's going to be a government-initiated closure of schools, and probably a closure of daycare centres or any other way that the poster may have handled childcare during the summer holidays etc to allow them to work. Such a comment seems a bit out of place in this exceptional circumstance? In reality, it is probably neither the employer OR employee's issue here, but rather the government's issue. Hopefully both parties get the support that they need (the poster seems to have had theirs solved but many more will be in a similar position).

If and when that happens, then yes. But it has not yet so the comment is not misplaced. 

It has, the schools are closing Friday (Wales and Scotland) and was announced before this post.

KatrinaWaves

Marvel1 said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Jsacker said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Childcare is not your employers issue

Generally speaking, that's true (but flexible working requests etc should be treated fairly). 


But the current climate is exceptional in that it looks like there's going to be a government-initiated closure of schools, and probably a closure of daycare centres or any other way that the poster may have handled childcare during the summer holidays etc to allow them to work. Such a comment seems a bit out of place in this exceptional circumstance? In reality, it is probably neither the employer OR employee's issue here, but rather the government's issue. Hopefully both parties get the support that they need (the poster seems to have had theirs solved but many more will be in a similar position).

If and when that happens, then yes. But it has not yet so the comment is not misplaced. 

It has, the schools are closing Friday (Wales and Scotland) and was announced before this post.

Oh sorry I missed where the OP said they were in Wales or Scotland.

Undervalued

KatrinaWaves said:

Marvel1 said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Jsacker said:

KatrinaWaves said:

Childcare is not your employers issue

Generally speaking, that's true (but flexible working requests etc should be treated fairly). 


But the current climate is exceptional in that it looks like there's going to be a government-initiated closure of schools, and probably a closure of daycare centres or any other way that the poster may have handled childcare during the summer holidays etc to allow them to work. Such a comment seems a bit out of place in this exceptional circumstance? In reality, it is probably neither the employer OR employee's issue here, but rather the government's issue. Hopefully both parties get the support that they need (the poster seems to have had theirs solved but many more will be in a similar position).

If and when that happens, then yes. But it has not yet so the comment is not misplaced. 

It has, the schools are closing Friday (Wales and Scotland) and was announced before this post.

Oh sorry I missed where the OP said they were in Wales or Scotland.

  

He didn't!

Given that Scotland and Wales only have about 20% of the UK population between them, there is an 80% chance he isn't!