Home Worker not permitted to work from home during self isolation

Chopstheduck

I work in a home based role as a training coordinator. I’ve always been home based, and I would only go out to attend very occasional meetings or QA visits - neither of which are required during the current pandemic. 

My employer has sent a blanket email to all employees stating that if we travel abroad to a country where we have to self isolate on return, this must now be taken as unpaid leave. 

I don’t actually care about the unpaid bit. I’m frustrated that I’ll be out of the office for 3 weeks, leaving colleagues under pressure when my role is, and always has been home based! 

The company’s stance is that this has to be a blanket rule, as many employees cannot work from home. Their head office is some 2.5 hours from me, and they do have many staff there whose role requires them to be in the office. So they’ve decided no exemptions, even for existing home workers! Can they do this?

Grumpy_chap

Yes, they can do this.
It is your choice to travel abroad and the type of situation you mention will become more commonplace.

bradders1983

My employer has also done this and employs thousands of people, despite many also being at home. Its fair enough tbh.

gettingtheresometime

I guess they're covering themselves for the eventuality that you've visited a country that requires quarantining on return & you would be required to attend a physical meeting

Thrugelmir

Chopstheduck said:

The company’s stance is that this has to be a blanket rule, as many employees cannot work from home. Their head office is some 2.5 hours from me, and they do have many staff there whose role requires them to be in the office. So they’ve decided no exemptions, even for existing home workers! Can they do this?

Blanket rules make sense. Employers have more pressing issues to contend with at the current time than micro managing staff. The risk is known. An employee should be adult enough to decide for themselves whether they wish to take the chance. If anything they'll learn a lot about their own employees. In the event that head count reductions are required. 

Semple

As above, a blanket rule means there's no "what if's" or "buts", it's a simple no you cannot do this whatever the circumstances. 

If you're a home worker and you know that there is zero chance of being called into the office, then take the gamble as you may. But you'd need to consider the consequences that if you had to quarantine upon your return and then was called into the office, what would the repercussions be. 

SpiderLegs

Yep standard in my role too.
cant have you at home working while anyone office based would have to be at home unpaid.