Working in an office - rights during covid?

bobblebob

We have a member of staff at work whose job cannot be done at home, its manual job so needs to be in the office. For the handful of staff that are in the office, we had passed and got all the paperwork to say we're "covid secure"

One member of staff is now refusing to come into the office, claiming he has vulnerable dependants so doesnt want to risk catching covid. However he still wants paying for basically not coming to work.

If someone's job cannot be done at home, and the office is covid safe, surely they cant refuse to come in AND still be expected to be paid? Everyone could claim what this person is claiming

DCFC79

bobblebob said:

We have a member of staff at work whose job cannot be done at home, its manual job so needs to be in the office. For the handful of staff that are in the office, we had passed and got all the paperwork to say we're "covid secure"

One member of staff is now refusing to come into the office, claiming he has vulnerable dependants so doesnt want to risk catching covid. However he still wants paying for basically not coming to work.

If someone's job cannot be done at home, and the office is covid safe, surely they cant refuse to come in AND still be expected to be paid? Everyone could claim what this person is claiming

They either use holiday or take it as unpaid built it depends on the employer and what they say about it.

Let management deal with it and you focus on your job.

General_Grant

DCFC79 said:

bobblebob said:

We have a member of staff at work whose job cannot be done at home, its manual job so needs to be in the office. For the handful of staff that are in the office, we had passed and got all the paperwork to say we're "covid secure"

One member of staff is now refusing to come into the office, claiming he has vulnerable dependants so doesnt want to risk catching covid. However he still wants paying for basically not coming to work.

If someone's job cannot be done at home, and the office is covid safe, surely they cant refuse to come in AND still be expected to be paid? Everyone could claim what this person is claiming

They either use holiday or take it as unpaid built it depends on the employer and what they say about it.

Let management deal with it and you focus on your job.

Is the OP part of "management"?

Thrugelmir

Offer the employeee unpaid leave or allow them to take acccrued holiday. 

Brynsam

DCFC79 said:

bobblebob said:

We have a member of staff at work whose job cannot be done at home, its manual job so needs to be in the office. For the handful of staff that are in the office, we had passed and got all the paperwork to say we're "covid secure"

One member of staff is now refusing to come into the office, claiming he has vulnerable dependants so doesnt want to risk catching covid. However he still wants paying for basically not coming to work.

If someone's job cannot be done at home, and the office is covid safe, surely they cant refuse to come in AND still be expected to be paid? Everyone could claim what this person is claiming

They either use holiday or take it as unpaid built it depends on the employer and what they say about it.

Let management deal with it and you focus on your job.

I think you'll find OP is management, from the wording of the post.

One of the best recent explanations of the problem I could find online was this: https://www.lewissilkin.com/en/insights/coronavirus-faqs-on-staffing-decisions-when-reopening-workplaces

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, there doesn't seem to be any simple answer.

[Deleted User]

I've been working physically in a workplace since June 29th and never, ever seen or known an inspector confirm the place as covid19 secure. Is it council operated? I even get to empty bins, wash out bathroom and load the company dishwasher with no idea particularly where dirty plates and cups have really come from. I've never worn a face mask in work but first interview this month commanded the remain of it throughout. Turn up or no wages strength needed. But I don't know I looked at one job handling financial details in setting up dd's working in a council tax office (where it was said due to financial details handling you couldn't possibly expect to work from home due to the nature of financial handling) yet to applying to work as a kinda and even slightly more well paid collections agent where after 4 weeks FCA training which is temperature checked and pretty strict health sanitary wise daily, it is with the view to home you go. It seems different rules throughout.

Tealblue

Deleted User said:

I've been working physically in a workplace since June 29th and never, ever seen or known an inspector confirm the place as covid19 secure.  

No surprise there, then - it's the employer's responsibility. 

Deleted User said:

I even get to empty bins, wash out bathroom and load the company dishwasher with no idea particularly where dirty plates and cups have really come from. 

Hopefully you have the good sense to wear gloves. Why no mask? Very silly and risky.

unforeseen

If the workplace is covid secure there is absolutely no reason why the employee should not attend work. 
Vulnerable people at home is not a good reason. Even extremely vulnerable people at home is not a reason. Lots of people in those groups are now back at work.
Has the employee been on furlough and got used to the easy life and just wants it to continue? 
As said above, offer him unpaid leave or to take whatever leave he has remaining. He wants to self-isolate from choice and there is no help available for people who do that. Thlack of money will eventually make him see sense

DCFC79

Brynsam said:

DCFC79 said:

bobblebob said:

We have a member of staff at work whose job cannot be done at home, its manual job so needs to be in the office. For the handful of staff that are in the office, we had passed and got all the paperwork to say we're "covid secure"

One member of staff is now refusing to come into the office, claiming he has vulnerable dependants so doesnt want to risk catching covid. However he still wants paying for basically not coming to work.

If someone's job cannot be done at home, and the office is covid safe, surely they cant refuse to come in AND still be expected to be paid? Everyone could claim what this person is claiming

They either use holiday or take it as unpaid built it depends on the employer and what they say about it.

Let management deal with it and you focus on your job.

I think you'll find OP is management, from the wording of the post.

One of the best recent explanations of the problem I could find online was this: https://www.lewissilkin.com/en/insights/coronavirus-faqs-on-staffing-decisions-when-reopening-workplaces

Unfortunately, as is so often the case, there doesn't seem to be any simple answer.

I couldnt tell if OP was management.

TELLIT01

DCFC79 said:

I couldnt tell if OP was management.

Nor me.  The OP simply says there is a member of staff...  They don't say it is a member of staff they have responsibility for.  It's open to interpretation.

bobblebob

No im not management. Reason im asking is him not doing his job means me and others have to take up the slack which isnt fair

Public sector office which apparently has to have a covid secure certificate to stay open