Employer doesn't want me to work from home

[Deleted User]

A quick question which I can't find an answer for. I work in a small office. My employer doesn't want me to work from home, although I did work from home in Spring during the 1st lockdown. The latest info on the gov website says "You can leave home for work purposes, or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where you cannot do this from home." I'd rather WFH as its what's been prescribed, and I believe its the national effort to minimise transmissions. Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home? When I questioned this earlier in the year I was told that they wanted someone in to answer the phone. And would I be fined if I was stopped by the Police if I said I was travelling to work?

bradders1983

Answer to the latter question is no, of course you wouldnt. Nobody is being banned from going into the office.  I did so at least twice a week between March and July.

Thrugelmir

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Anamox

Thrugelmir said:

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Care to show anything backing up this answer or is it anecdotal? 

68ComebackSpecial

Anamox said:

Thrugelmir said:

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Care to show anything backing up this answer or is it anecdotal? 

No legislation to suggest otherwise.

Anamox

68ComebackSpecial said:

Anamox said:

Thrugelmir said:

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Care to show anything backing up this answer or is it anecdotal? 

No legislation to suggest otherwise.

So it's anecdotal and doesn't help the OP with any certainty. 

Thrugelmir

Anamox said:

Thrugelmir said:

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Care to show anything backing up this answer or is it anecdotal? 

Contract of employment. 

Anamox

Thrugelmir said:

Anamox said:

Thrugelmir said:

KitA66 said:

Is my employer able to decide themselves what constitutes work that cannot be done from home?

Obviously yes. They run the business. . 

Care to show anything backing up this answer or is it anecdotal? 

Contract of employment. 

OP, what does your contract say about COVID-19, presumably nothing?

SidJ

As far as I am aware there is no employment legislation to allows an employee to dictate how and where they work from. However, there is plenty that allow an employer to make an employee redundant if they refuse to work as directed when there is a business need

Barny1979

Have you considered any other way, forwarding the phone to work mobile, softphone? Any other staff going in? I presume the office is covid secure though? So nothing stopping you working from the office? Other colleagues working from home who do same job?

[Deleted User]

So peoples views seem to be that yes, go into work even though the work can (and has) been done at home? This doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the latest lockdown info which says "You can leave home for work purposes, or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where you cannot do this from home." As an employee it would have been nice to have had a discussion about it, rather than none at all and be left to wonder what the plan was. My primary concern is to follow the rules and minimise any risk of picking up C19 and passing it onto anyone else.