During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us have adapted to working from home. Now that government restrictions are easing, some employers are reopening business premises and asking employees to return to working from the office. 

It’s normal to have mixed feelings about this change. Over the last 18 months, life has changed for a lot of people, and the way we work may feel very different to before the pandemic. Whether you’ve been on furlough, started a new job during lockdown, or are nervous about returning to your usual place of work, our team is here to help.

In this blog post, we at Citizens Advice Manchester will help you to understand your rights as you return to work, so you can feel prepared and positive about picking up life in the office. 

Returning to the workplace

If you’ve been working from home during the pandemic, you may be wondering if your employer can request that you return to the office. If your contract of employment states that your usual place of work is the business premises, it can be classed as a ‘reasonable management request’ if your employer asks you to return, and you are contractually obliged to comply. 

However, many employers are incorporating flexible working arrangements into their coronavirus recovery plans. If you wish to keep working from home, or would like to return to the office part of the time, it’s a good idea to speak with your employer first. Our advisers can help you find out about your options, including your right to submit a flexible working request.

Keeping safe at work

Your employer is legally and contractually obliged to make sure you’re safe while you’re working. There is guidance available for employers on ensuring that the workplace is Covid-safe. This may include completing extra risk assessments, additional cleaning, and social distancing between individuals in the workplace. Some employers may ask that staff and customers continue to wear masks, although this is no longer mandatory.

If you’re worried about your safety from coronavirus while working, you should speak to your employer and share your concerns. Our team can help you to understand your rights if you are unhappy with your employer’s response.

Support if you’re disabled

If you have a disability, the law says that your employer may need to consider making ‘reasonable adjustments’ to help you to do your job. Reasonable adjustments can be changes to policies, working practices or physical layouts, or providing extra equipment or support. What’s reasonable for your employer to do depends on your individual situation, for example the size of the organisation you work for.

If you’re worried about returning to the workplace because of your disability, it’s a good idea to speak to your employer and find out what reasonable adjustments can be made. You may also be able to get support from the government’s Access to Work scheme. You can contact us to find out more about your rights and entitlements at work.

If you need further help or advice on understanding your rights, you can contact our Adviceline free on 0808 278 7800 or explore our website to find out ways to get advice online.