Can an employer force you to work in the office?

wendb69

My son works in admin for a Maintenance company - so, if you have a leak in your flat, he will arrange for one of their engineers to come out.
There are 6 of them in a small office.   The 2 bosses had covid a few weeks ago.   One of the staff had covid too.    My son and 2 others have not had Covid yet.  1 of the other staff is self isolating because his wife has it.
The bosses have said that they will not be working from home.   Although they did for some weeks back in March.  
He has told them today 'dont start asking to work from home, as requests for this will be stamped out very quickly'.

What do they do?

[Deleted User]

They either go into work, or don't turn up and deal with the consequences, which are likely to involve finding new employment.

Thrugelmir

What protection measures are in place? 

[Deleted User]

Ultimately it’s down to the employer to decide if your son can work from home or not. As long as he takes all precautions possible. 

Morrigan_2020

The government guidance is that they should be working from home if at all possible, in reality if employers won’t actually do it there’s not very much an employee can do about it except resign.

Jeremy535897

The latest Government publication says:
● Work - you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home, including but not limited to people who work within critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing that require in-person attendance

Grumpy_chap

Is "maintenance" within the "construction" category?
Could be if it is building maintenance, though quite a stretch as well.
The guidance does also say "Where it is necessary for you to work in other people’s homes - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople - you can do so. "  This would seem to include a maintenance company.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#summary-what-you-can-and-cannot-do-during-the-national-lockdown

Jeremy535897

Grumpy_chap said:

Is "maintenance" within the "construction" category?
Could be if it is building maintenance, though quite a stretch as well.
The guidance does also say "Where it is necessary for you to work in other people’s homes - for example, for nannies, cleaners or tradespeople - you can do so. "  This would seem to include a maintenance company.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#summary-what-you-can-and-cannot-do-during-the-national-lockdown

It doesn't need to be, as "construction" is only an example (including but not limited to).

Andy_L

Jeremy535897 said:

The latest Government publication says:
● Work - you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home, including but not limited to people who work within critical national infrastructure, construction or manufacturing that require in-person attendance

and before that it was "To help contain the virus, everyone who can work effectively from home should do so." (my bold)

Apintplease

Dont this time around employers who are expecting staff to still work from an office have to do a risk assessment?

Barny1979

Nope, if the building is Covid secure and an individual would rather go in for mental health benefits.