WFH to proactively avoid Coronavirus?
Discussion
I suppose Coronavirus threads are the new "Brexit thread" on PH, so apologies, but was just wondering about something.
My boss was away all last week (either France or Italy, im not sure) and emailed me first thing yesterday to say "I’m somewhat under the weather with a very heavy cold today" so was working from home.
Today he said hes feeling a bit better but still staying at home, and intends to come in tomorrow. I emailed him back suggesting he doesn't return until hes sure hes not contagious, but heard nothing back.
I don't tend to panic over the latest killer virus, but even if this is a just a common cold that he has, i'd rather not catch it because colds always seem to hit me hard (50% of the time develop into sinus infections) and cant help thinking it would weaken my immune system somewhat, which I don't want if the Coronavirus is spreading in the UK.
I should also point out that I work for a Japanese company, and in the last 2 weeks, 2 of the guys that sit around me have come back from separate trips to japan, and many of the others have been on flights all around the globe.
At what point does an employee have the right to isolate themselves from potential contamination by saying they will work from home, if other employees/their managers insist on coming into the office knowingly ill?
Alternatively, should the management team be authorising and/ or FORCING any staff that are ill (with anything) to work from home until 100% recovered?
By the way - 100% of my job can be done via my laptop at home, I have no specific need to be here. However, my boss doesn't like working from home (either himself, or his reports).
My boss was away all last week (either France or Italy, im not sure) and emailed me first thing yesterday to say "I’m somewhat under the weather with a very heavy cold today" so was working from home.
Today he said hes feeling a bit better but still staying at home, and intends to come in tomorrow. I emailed him back suggesting he doesn't return until hes sure hes not contagious, but heard nothing back.
I don't tend to panic over the latest killer virus, but even if this is a just a common cold that he has, i'd rather not catch it because colds always seem to hit me hard (50% of the time develop into sinus infections) and cant help thinking it would weaken my immune system somewhat, which I don't want if the Coronavirus is spreading in the UK.
I should also point out that I work for a Japanese company, and in the last 2 weeks, 2 of the guys that sit around me have come back from separate trips to japan, and many of the others have been on flights all around the globe.
At what point does an employee have the right to isolate themselves from potential contamination by saying they will work from home, if other employees/their managers insist on coming into the office knowingly ill?
Alternatively, should the management team be authorising and/ or FORCING any staff that are ill (with anything) to work from home until 100% recovered?
By the way - 100% of my job can be done via my laptop at home, I have no specific need to be here. However, my boss doesn't like working from home (either himself, or his reports).
A friend of mine was emailed on Sunday evening advising him to WFH for two weeks, a bit tenuous but here goes; a school is closed this week as one of the teachers has tested positive for the virus, the teacher went skiing over half term to Northern Italy, one of the guys he shares a bank of desks with in the office, his daughter had a party and her mate is from that school and has that teacher.
Realistically it is unlikely he or the guy he shares an office with have it, but their employer has been overly sensible and put all those in the immediate area on WFH for two weeks.
I would be requesting your boss WFH for 2 weeks, worse thing is he works out how useful it can be to be able to work that way and loosens up the policy for the office a little.
Realistically it is unlikely he or the guy he shares an office with have it, but their employer has been overly sensible and put all those in the immediate area on WFH for two weeks.
I would be requesting your boss WFH for 2 weeks, worse thing is he works out how useful it can be to be able to work that way and loosens up the policy for the office a little.
With Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and mobile phone and laptop I can work away happily at home without any issue.
Actually means the company gets “more of me” as I’ve no commuting time.
On a different thread one chap with a chip was bleating I’ll not allow work to use MY tinternet, they didn’t like it when suggested he paid work the savings he/she would incur from zero commuting
Actually means the company gets “more of me” as I’ve no commuting time.
On a different thread one chap with a chip was bleating I’ll not allow work to use MY tinternet, they didn’t like it when suggested he paid work the savings he/she would incur from zero commuting
Jesus H. So in this tenuous WFH period you're also going to avoid contact with any other human? And if in the meantime the virus goes into full on pandemic state then what? And then when you finally emerge from your "bunker", assuming there is still some element of humanity left the virus will still be out there. They're saying any sort of vaccine is at least 18 months off. Isolate until then?People really need to get a grip!
C0ffin D0dger said:
Jesus H. So in this tenuous WFH period you're also going to avoid contact with any other human? And if in the meantime the virus goes into full on pandemic state then what? And then when you finally emerge from your "bunker", assuming there is still some element of humanity left the virus will still be out there. They're saying any sort of vaccine is at least 18 months off. Isolate until then?People really need to get a grip!
C0ffin D0dger said:
Jesus H. So in this tenuous WFH period you're also going to avoid contact with any other human? And if in the meantime the virus goes into full on pandemic state then what? And then when you finally emerge from your "bunker", assuming there is still some element of humanity left the virus will still be out there. They're saying any sort of vaccine is at least 18 months off. Isolate until then?People really need to get a grip!
So what happens at weekends? Is he not allowed out? Can he not go to the pub, or the gym, or a restaurant? What's the difference?
It makes absolutely no sense to me.
daddy cool said:
Today he said hes feeling a bit better but still staying at home, and intends to come in tomorrow. I emailed him back suggesting he doesn't return until hes sure hes not contagious, but heard nothing back.
Planning to get promoted are we? Get the boss out of the way, wink wink 
98% of those that contract the virus will either not know they have it, be a mild dose, or just be like a cold.
I can WFH as much, or as little as I want, and not bothered if I catch the virus - I am healthy with no underlying issues.
However, wife works in a care based company and although office based, comes into contact with those that do give care to elderly and vulnerable patients - I would hate for me to pass it on to her and she passes it on to one of their clients..... its realistically possible.
I can WFH as much, or as little as I want, and not bothered if I catch the virus - I am healthy with no underlying issues.
However, wife works in a care based company and although office based, comes into contact with those that do give care to elderly and vulnerable patients - I would hate for me to pass it on to her and she passes it on to one of their clients..... its realistically possible.
Tomo1971 said:
98% of those that contract the virus will either not know they have it, be a mild dose, or just be like a cold.
I can WFH as much, or as little as I want, and not bothered if I catch the virus - I am healthy with no underlying issues.
However, wife works in a care based company and although office based, comes into contact with those that do give care to elderly and vulnerable patients - I would hate for me to pass it on to her and she passes it on to one of their clients..... its realistically possible.
Apparently from OST Morton’s it show that there is scarrring I’d the lungs “sclerosis” of the lungs. So even a survivor will have indefinite lung damage. As such you’d clearly be bothered ie breathless walking up stairs I can WFH as much, or as little as I want, and not bothered if I catch the virus - I am healthy with no underlying issues.
However, wife works in a care based company and although office based, comes into contact with those that do give care to elderly and vulnerable patients - I would hate for me to pass it on to her and she passes it on to one of their clients..... its realistically possible.
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