Refusal of a task

Mickey666

TWIGLET1234 said:

So to confirm, my point was more to what the consequences are of my refusal to work from the office. 

That's impossible to say.

However, while YOU know your intention is to resign at the end of the month your employer does not know that, so from their perspective you might be seen as an awkward employee that needs dealing with, somehow.

But, if you were to hand in your notice immediately the the employer's perspective would almost certainly change.  You may still be an awkward employee but you would no longer need to be dealt with and the easiest option for the employer would be to simply accept your resignation and let you work your notice. 

As far as they would then be concerned, any problems you may be causing them are going to go away when you leave, so why bother spending any further time and effort on you?  Their focus would likely change to finding a replacement for you - if indeed they even intend to replace you.

Marvel1

Noticed a lot lately that since people had to work from last year, now employer says to go back the office, people don't like it and don't want too! Wonder why, sounds too laid back and feet up situation.

moneysavinghero

Sea_Shell said:

Worst case scenario could be them also withholding salary due, which you'd have to take them to court to reclaim.

Only you know how low your employer may stoop.

Which would be quite an easy win in court for the OP.

moneysavinghero

Sncjw said:

It is a bit of a health and safety issue. If there were a fire and your trapped no one may realise until too late. 

Is that not the case for every person who works from home (unless their partner also works from home), not just for one person who has to work in an office alone for one day? And as it sounds like a small office, if one them is trapped then most likely both of them are trapped anyway.

Sea_Shell

moneysavinghero said:

Sea_Shell said:

Worst case scenario could be them also withholding salary due, which you'd have to take them to court to reclaim.

Only you know how low your employer may stoop.

Which would be quite an easy win in court for the OP.

Well yes, but still a PITA to have to deal with in the meantime, if it happened.

They wouldn't be the first employer to do something unscrupulous with a "see you in court" attitude.

[Deleted User]

Marvel1 said:

Noticed a lot lately that since people had to work from last year, now employer says to go back the office, people don't like it and don't want too! Wonder why, sounds too laid back and feet up situation.

It is not they don't like, but anxiety sets in.
On my day off this week gone, listening to one of those day time programmes, it had a caller who was this way after home working and at what will be 19 months later, coping with being asked to return to the office.
At the end of it, people who don't want to return risk losing their job potentially.

TWIGLET1234

Marvel1 said:

Noticed a lot lately that since people had to work from last year, now employer says to go back the office, people don't like it and don't want too! Wonder why, sounds too laid back and feet up situation.

When I was office based my hours were 9-3 with a half hour lunch break. I’m now doing 9-5 with an hour break and productivity is higher. It’s simply not a case of laid back and feet up in my situation. Also not really fair to judge. Everyone feels differently and as another commenter said, there’s anxiety relating to going back to the office especially when it was always a toxic environment 

Anyanka1

If the real reason for your choice to resign is the bullying issue, don't you think your employer should be made aware of that and deal with it?  Were that not the case, would you be happy to go into the office however inconvenient it might be to you?  It is your designated place of work, after all, isn't it?

I am sure working from home suits the vast majority of people better than having to travel to work but the current circumstances are extraordinary.  Surely, if you intended to remain in your current position, you must have envisaged returning to an office based role at some point.

If you are certain you wish to resign, I suggest you just do so as others have and stop worrying about whatever perceived unpleasantness might ensue; why should you care?

Have you considered the possibility your employer might be relieved at your decision?  You may be making a mountain out of a molehill.  If you are so unhappy, just resign and put yourself first.  They will cope without you; no-one is indispensable and what do you care if the company goes down the tubes after you leave so long as your pension is still paid, if applicable?

TBagpuss

moneysavinghero said:

Sncjw said:

It is a bit of a health and safety issue. If there were a fire and your trapped no one may realise until too late. 

Is that not the case for every person who works from home (unless their partner also works from home), not just for one person who has to work in an office alone for one day? And as it sounds like a small office, if one them is trapped then most likely both of them are trapped anyway.

It's not just about being trapped by fire - it's also bout issues such as trips or fall, concerns about third parties coming into the office etc - it's a reasonable H&S measure to ensure that there is someone else who could call the ambulance / police if needed.

Employers do have to do a H&S assessment if you are working from home but my understanding is that they are only responsible for things within heir control or directly related to your work - so if you don't have a suitable work space and therefore have trailing wires to your PC, they might be liable if you trip and fall over a wire, but they are are not responsible if you leave a teatowel on top of the stove and burn the house down, or if you get coshed by a passing burglar.

My view of this scenario is that the employer  has given a reasonable instruction - they are not seeking to make any permanent change but are requiring OP to go in for those particular days. Refusing could certainly be seen a misconduct, and while I think it is unlikely that it would be seen by most employers as gross misconduct justifying summary dismissal that would depend on circumstances and exactly what OP said or did when she refused!  I think it would certainly be something were the employer's reasonable response could be to dismiss, assuming of course that they followed a fair procedure in coming to that decision. 

TELLIT01

moneysavinghero said:

Sncjw said:

It is a bit of a health and safety issue. If there were a fire and your trapped no one may realise until too late. 

Is that not the case for every person who works from home (unless their partner also works from home), not just for one person who has to work in an office alone for one day? And as it sounds like a small office, if one them is trapped then most likely both of them are trapped anyway.

No it's not the same.  Employers are responsible for staff within the office, but can't force office H&S standards within somebody's own home.  I know of a case where somebody working overtime collapsed at their desk and wouldn't have been found until the following Monday had they been working alone.  One suggestion I have heard made is that if it is necessary for somebody to work alone in an office either the employer or the employee calls the other every hour to confirm things are OK.  I don't know if that is permissible under current H&S legislation.