What Would You Do?

[sp1814]

Your boss tells you that if you don't come into work, you'll be first in line for the sack if the company needs to shed staff when things return to normal.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/09/manager-at-major-uk-food-supplier-says-staff-who-stay-at-home-may-be-sacked

Would you stay home, or go into work?

[Zacs-Master]

‘ Bakkavor has since apologised and said that Madden is now on “leave”.’

[sp1814]

Thanks Zac-Master, but it's a general question about what you would do in a similar situation.

[Bobbisox1]

That’s a bit thumb screw isn’t it, ask him for that in writing sp

[Bobbisox1]

Arh sorry it’s the guardian, I think I’d go to work but them I’m a wuss

[Theland]

Stay home.
Risk of death or unemployment?
No brainer.
Of course I would put a scare into the boss !

[jno]

likewise, Heathrow has told staff that if they don't accept a voluntary pay cut they may face dismissal. Sounds like a very military interpretation of volunteer ("I need three volunteers, you, you and you").

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/08/heathrow-workers-voluntary-pay-cuts-airport-coronavirus

[sp1814]

I can understand that though. A pay cut may be the difference between a company staying afloat and collapsing losing all jobs.

But I think there's a difference between that and threatening staff who don't come in because they're self-isolating.

It's that problem with people going to work a) because their job cannot be done from home and b) needing money for food/rent/bills etc.

[Theland]

Yes ^^^

[MallyJ]

Take that question to my union very quickly

[Theland]

Arrange for the boss to wake up with a horse's head in his bed.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd start putting my CV together for use in the near future.

[Canary42]

Obviously he's right that some workers will use this as an excuse to skive off (there will always be a few) but to penalise the genuine cases as a result is vicious and unnecessary.

This sort of Manager is a result of the general increasing trend in this country for over 30 years now where managers are recruited from MBA candidates with no experience of working environments who have to fall back on unsuitable academic solutions to any problem.

A good "old-fashioned" manager who has come up through the ranks and has extensive experience will in over 99% of the cases be able to separate the genuine from the slackers.

Unfortunately many large organisations nowadays fill management roles from wet-behind-the-ears Business Graduates whose text-book solutions just lead to more and more useless bureaucracy and the Company begins the downward spiral as it becomes Management top-heavy.

[cassa333]

I think to get paid when self isolating you need a letter from the Dr or something.

Where I work we have been told we don’t get paid for self isolating unless we fall in the at risk category and that’s only if we have confirmation.

We have a couple of over 70s and two pregnant (not the over 70s obviously) and tbh I don’t know if they are being paid or not but one woman was off for two weeks as she has T2 diabetes but she isn’t in the at risk section so had to come back.

I think it’s different to that company saying you’ll be first sacked though. And not forgetting if you have to make redundancies you have to follow proper procedures.

[pixie374]

I'd stay home if I thought there was a genuine risk. It's very easy to get a job, not so easy to replace family members.

[tomus42]

Personally I'd stay home and use the time in isolation to look for another job.