Working conditions

Ariotofmyown

Gsp23 said:

We can update notes at home. 

There is literally nothing that we can’t do at home. Nothing. 

I’ve not come here for criticism. Only to ask if I have any rights to refuse to go in perhaps and still protect my job. I don’t feel safe. I’m asthmatic, as is my partner.the guidance is work from home where possible and it’s possible - as we do it on an alternate week basis. So it can be done. Given the new strain I don’t feel it’s safe to go in. Simple as that. 

As a personal observation if you were looking for tea and sympathy on this forum then really it's the wrong place to be posting material. If posters disagree with what you are saying then they will not hesitate to tell you this. If you don't like being challenged about the content or import of your material then this is a learning for yourself. 

Gsp23

Thanks
we Have asked - and it’s just the generic essential services bs they keep giving. 

Why I think it’s unsafe - many staff are visiting family homes in the community. Up to 4 a day and more. Then coming back the office. There’s no Ventilation, seats are socially distant though only just. Kitchen and toilets are communal. People are not bothered to wear masks and use sanitisers (if you can find any - I have my own), people are actively deleting the track and trace app and a fortnight ago 3 people on the office contacted it, many more isolated. 

Our neighbouring local authority have worked from home since the first lockdown doing the same jobs as us. 

Since I posted I’ve contacted the union and am not the only one to have the concerns. They are going to talk to our heads of service. 

I just wondered if anyone had similar experiences and recommendations when banging their head against a wall. 

elsien

I have to say, the whole office can't be as concerned as you are if they are refusing to wear masks, or use sanitiser and deleting the app. That seems a bit of a contradiction otherwise. In those circumstances I'd be providing my own sanitiser as well as telling my colleagues they are idiots. Do you have risk assessments for being able to visit people at home safely - I'd be surprised if that wasn't in place with a local authority? 

Potbellypig

Gsp23 said:

We can update notes at home. 

There is literally nothing that we can’t do at home. Nothing. 

I’ve not come here for criticism. Only to ask if I have any rights to refuse to go in perhaps and still protect my job. I don’t feel safe. I’m asthmatic, as is my partner.the guidance is work from home where possible and it’s possible - as we do it on an alternate week basis. So it can be done. Given the new strain I don’t feel it’s safe to go in. Simple as that. 

With those kind of negotiation skills, I'm struggling to see why they can't accommodate. 

74jax

Are there some who want to go in? 
I'm guessing if they are comfortable going in, not wearing masks etc then they are. This may be why it is happening.

If you ALL moved to be 2ms away, sent emails asking why, contacted union etc I am sure more would be done. But if some are saying its OK, then I can see the employers view - even if I do think you should be at home personally. 

bartelbe

My advice is to put your concerns, politely and in a formal manner in an email. Make sure you mention health and safety and other such key phrases.

Managers hate that because once something is in writing and receipt is officially acknowledged. If anything goes wrong, they potentially take the blame. I had an issue at work and communicating verbally achieved nothing. The moment I put my concerns in writing, it was incredible how quickly action was taken.

They knew if my concerns led to me being hurt, which was a possibility, there was a paper trial that proved they were aware of the issue and had done nothing about it.

Iamdebtfree

Gsp23 said:

Thanks
we Have asked - and it’s just the generic essential services bs they keep giving. 

Why I think it’s unsafe - many staff are visiting family homes in the community. Up to 4 a day and more. Then coming back the office. There’s no Ventilation, seats are socially distant though only just. Kitchen and toilets are communal. People are not bothered to wear masks and use sanitisers (if you can find any - I have my own), people are actively deleting the track and trace app and a fortnight ago 3 people on the office contacted it, many more isolated. 

Our neighbouring local authority have worked from home since the first lockdown doing the same jobs as us. 

Since I posted I’ve contacted the union and am not the only one to have the concerns. They are going to talk to our heads of service. 

I just wondered if anyone had similar experiences and recommendations when banging their head against a wall. 

I don't have any useful advice for you, just wanted to say that what you're describing is absolutely ridiculous and I completely and totally get you and sympathize with you. Jesus christ almighty, now is not the time to sit in stupid offices risking your one and only life because some idiot boss tells you to. Now is the time to think SURVIVAL!!

Marvel1

I have been in the office through out it all, imo, get on with it.  Don't like it, quit, plenty of people who lost their jobs would happily take your place!

Apintplease

I have had to go in throughout and I have to rely on those I work with to play by the rules

They arent

This week we have two out of 10 self isolating having been at the sae social over Christmas 

Thing is my work can not be done at home, I have to go in. Whilst my boss is the best and says if I dont want to go in he will furlough me, that would put too much pressure on those that are left so in I go again tomorrow

I cant control what everyone else is doing, I can only control what I myself do


So I take lunch on my own, dont be up close to anyone for a natter, wear a mask and keep the wipes and hand sanitiser at hand. - I dont sit on the throne for example until Ive wiped it and the sink taps with a dettol wipe. I dont share my equipment and when I want a cuppa or go to the rest room, out come the wipes again - kettle, fridge, chair, table 

TBagpuss

Ultimately it is the employers calla so whether they consider that you can realistically work full time from home and their responsibility to ensure that the workplace is safe, if you do need to come in.

You can flag up the things you are concerned about, and also that your *specific* work can  (in your view) be done entirely without coming in.

You could also ask about alternatives - for instance, if the main purpose of coming in is to update notes (as opposed t a certain level of  coverage being needed) could you ask to stagger your hours so some of you were in (say) 7-2 and some 2 - 8 so there were fewer people in at any time, or for people to work half das in the office which again would allow lower numbers at any give time. 

Since you are on a three week rota presumably there are only 1/3 the normal number of people in at any time - does that allow for you all to be 2m apart?