I may have to return to work but I have a dependant.

bflare

I am sole carer for my 13 year old Son & my Company allowed me to work from home when my Son's School closed. I am an office based employee & I am able to carry out all of my duties from home & I was given my works PC to bring home. Shortly after I was allowed to work from home the majority of other employees were sent home with their work PC's. There are various senior managers who are not a fan of employees working from home. There has been a mention that the company is looking at getting employees back into the office shortly. I can understand this if working from home is causing problems for the company or the Government has relaxed the rules but it appears there isn't a justifiable reason to do a U-Turn. Personally I wouldn't feel safe returning for various reasons. Although, I have not been told that I am in the high risk category I do have mild heart valve regurgitation & so does my son. Also, if I had to return to work I would have no other option than to leave my Son at home for the 10 hours that I would be away for.

I have looked at various information websites & it appears that companies can do what ever they want as the working from home advice is only guidelines. If the Company decided to ask me back in is there anything I can actually do?

 

Janie_Zebra

I don't know about being forced to return,  however if that is the case you could ask to be furloughed because of your care commitments.  That is what I have done (different type of employer).

All the best x

Mrsn

Apart from applying for unpaid leave then no there really isn’t a lot you can do. WFH at the best of times is hard to get the employers to agree too and it’s clear yours have only seen this as a very very temporary measure.

I’m assuming neither of you have been given a letter to shield which means unfortunately making sure there are strict hygiene procedures in place for both of you to help minimise the risk going forward. 

Sorry 

Undervalued

Janie_Zebra said:

I don't know about being forced to return,  however if that is the case you could ask to be furloughed because of your care commitments.  That is what I have done (different type of employer).

All the best x

You can ask but they don't have to agree.

Undervalued

bflare said:

I am sole carer for my 13 year old Son & my Company allowed me to work from home when my Son's School closed. I am an office based employee & I am able to carry out all of my duties from home & I was given my works PC to bring home. Shortly after I was allowed to work from home the majority of other employees were sent home with their work PC's. There are various senior managers who are not a fan of employees working from home. There has been a mention that the company is looking at getting employees back into the office shortly. I can understand this if working from home is causing problems for the company or the Government has relaxed the rules but it appears there isn't a justifiable reason to do a U-Turn. Personally I wouldn't feel safe returning for various reasons. Although, I have not been told that I am in the high risk category I do have mild heart valve regurgitation & so does my son. Also, if I had to return to work I would have no other option than to leave my Son at home for the 10 hours that I would be away for.

I have looked at various information websites & it appears that companies can do what ever they want as the working from home advice is only guidelines. If the Company decided to ask me back in is there anything I can actually do?

 

Short answer is no I'm afraid. As has been said you could ask for unpaid leave but they don't have to agree. You can also take paid leave, assuming you have some available and the employer agrees.

Ultimately it is the company's decision if working from home is satisfactory. You clearly feel it is but, as you say, some of the managers don't share that view.