So I am a private business owner, live in a town of 1,000 people. Today I had my first employee “tell me” they not coming to work until this calms down. Said employee is in full out freak mode but claims they can get the work done from home, while I am of the opinion they won’t get a damn thing done other than watch the news and panic more. Should I tell employee they should take a sabbatical if they don’t want to come in, as we are in a small company and less than 10 in office and I don’t believe we are at a high risk. They are good worker, but have lost mind over this, don’t want to lose them but don’t think I should pay someone to sit at home and “work”. Definitely trying to be understanding but also know I can’t afford large drop in productivity while paying same salary. Any opinions?
Employee Issues
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Better be careful with forcing them to come in during this. Maybe let them try to work from home and see if the work gets done before taking further steps?
My opinion is that we have to to find a way to let everyone work from home with a job that does not require them to be in the office. Most of our personnel do all of their work by phone, email, or online. Our jobs as members of management though require us to verify that productivity levels are maintained by personnel working from home & that those individuals are held accountable if productivity levels are not acceptable.
I don't like the fact that your office environment is less than 10 people
and this person is trying to convince you that they are in a high risk situation. Now, if someone in your office has had fever recently then that would be entirely different. At the end of the day Mississippi is an employment at will state. Also, I'd hate to have to look for a job in this locked down economy. So that employee should be considering that also.
I think you have the most leverage, but consult your attorney first.
and this person is trying to convince you that they are in a high risk situation. Now, if someone in your office has had fever recently then that would be entirely different. At the end of the day Mississippi is an employment at will state. Also, I'd hate to have to look for a job in this locked down economy. So that employee should be considering that also.
I think you have the most leverage, but consult your attorney first.
Do you have anyone regularly cleaning the office? That might calm their concerns if you have a janitorial service come in for a deep clean, and keep it up regularly until this all blows over. The company I work for has the normal collect garbage / clean bathrooms service every day, but now they are spraying & wiping down door knobs, tables, etc. We've got forehead thermometers available, no visitors allowed, DO NOT come in if you feel sick or have been traveling (even if it was non-business travel), no meetings unless absolutely necessary - and then we try to spread out.
I think just showing you care and are putting in the effort to keep everyone safe & healthy will keep most people calm. But there's certainly some that are going to freak out.
I think just showing you care and are putting in the effort to keep everyone safe & healthy will keep most people calm. But there's certainly some that are going to freak out.
Whether it is 10 or 3 nobody has any control over where everyone else has been. That is why everyone really needs to stay home of at all possible
They need to stay home.
The gov will make this decision for you soon. But if people would start making that decision now, on their own, the government forced one may not last as long. That employee will be staying home. Its a matter of if you want to act quickly and do it now (hopefully that will help speed up the return) or wait till it gets bad enough you are forced. Its not really avoidable though.
Its either take less losses now or try to wait and take more losses. The smart thing would be to stop now if possible. If you industry isn't one that is urgent and necessary that is. If its a grocery store or something that would be different..
The gov will make this decision for you soon. But if people would start making that decision now, on their own, the government forced one may not last as long. That employee will be staying home. Its a matter of if you want to act quickly and do it now (hopefully that will help speed up the return) or wait till it gets bad enough you are forced. Its not really avoidable though.
Its either take less losses now or try to wait and take more losses. The smart thing would be to stop now if possible. If you industry isn't one that is urgent and necessary that is. If its a grocery store or something that would be different..
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Are they exempt or nonexempt? What are the demographics? What does their job mainly consist of? I would have the employee email you what they plan to work on with some solid deliverables over the next two weeks and have them agree that it is doable in email. Come April 1, proof is in the pudding and you can refer to my first questions for the next step.
All very insightful and honest answers, thanks for the advice given. One thing I try to do is take advice from others before making any decision.
You said they won't get anything done at home, yet you said they're a good employee and you don't want to lose them. Good workers are good workers. They'll handle the work regardless of location.
Your situation sounds a lot like mine. I’ve got everybody working from home, minus myself and one person to answer phones. What I do every day is create an agenda for everyone that’s working from home. Usually I’ll make it the night before. Then around lunchtime I’ll have them email me with their progress. At around 4, I expect a follow-up email. Honestly, the office has been more productive over the last few days, and I haven’t had to deal with people knocking on my door with questions every 15 minutes. Give it a try.
I think this is probably the best answer. But I’d be prepared for all your employees to want to work from home if you let this 1 person do it.
Good luck with everything. I don’t envy your position right now. Small business owners are being put in a no win situation and I wish you the best of luck!
I have no idea whether your employee can do his job from home, but if he can, I think you are a cock sucker and I would never want to work for you if you don't allow him to try to work from home. He may have asthma or high blood pressure or something that would put him at higher risk than normal.
You don’t even know me yet you call me cock sucker. Boy you are a tough one behind a key board, you 17ing *****.
who are you to think you can can put others at risk just because your a boss. I would say your an ******* and I do know your type.
To piggy back on what Kired said
Let them know you understand their concern, and add in a couple new policies like everyone must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer as soon as they enter the building and not allow any visitors during this time to further limit the risk. Simple stuff that besides being beneficial may also help calm them down. And do what others in this thread have said and give them very clear expectations of what they must accomplish while at home.
Let them know you understand their concern, and add in a couple new policies like everyone must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer as soon as they enter the building and not allow any visitors during this time to further limit the risk. Simple stuff that besides being beneficial may also help calm them down. And do what others in this thread have said and give them very clear expectations of what they must accomplish while at home.
Well he’s not just the boss... he did say he was the owner. While I do think the OP should give the guy a chance to work from home, the employee is not forced to work there.
If the employee has the ability to work from home(infrastructure), then of course you should allow it.
Explain that already set goals/quotas/expectations must continue to be met and let them work from home.
I can't imagine a scenario where, at this point, someone who could work from home would be denied the opportunity.
I do understand that not all jobs or companies are set up to work remotely. In that instance, I would consider working staggered shifts an option, if that could still support the business.
This was my take, too. Good workers are good workers and the whole idea that people just slack off at home isn’t always true. I had to work from home a few years ago and actually got more done than when I was in the office.
Just 2 cents from a remote worker. Some people are actually way more productive at home. Secondly, my company is close to 2,000 people and they just closed our headquarters until mid April. We are a software company, so that is likely different than yours but The idea remains... if they are a good employee then I would say 3 things: 1) if you hired them and think that, then micromanaging them by asking for reports every few hours is insane, 2) I agree that the govt is likely to make that decision for you soon and 3) you can’t control what people do outside work so if you have an asymptomatic employee that infects others then you’ll regret being so concerned about remote working.
Trust your employees and honestly if they are freaking out, they aren’t going to be productive and will likely struggle mentally during this anyway.
Wait a minute. The employee can work from home and you are not letting them? I assumed this was a job they couldn't do at home
That changes everything. If they can work from home and you are not letting them, then you are an *******. Dangerous and foolish.
That changes everything. If they can work from home and you are not letting them, then you are an *******. Dangerous and foolish.
Employment Partners in my Firm...
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Doing a webinar tomorrow on these issues. One at 8:30 cst and one at 2:00 cst. for access follow the instructions below. Go to:
https://burrandformanllp.globalmeet.com/CarolinePage
1. When asked “How would you like to join the Meeting?” Choose Continue in Browser (Chrome is the recommended Browser)
2. Enter your email address
3. Do NOT enter password, but select “Continue as Guest”
4. Type in your First and Last Name
5. Choose Use My Phone
6. Enter your phone number including area code and Roll Call will call you
7. Press 1 on your phone
*If you are asked to download the plugin, please download. If RollCall “Call me” doesn’t work you can dial in:
Dial Conference Access Number: (866) 761-8675
Participant Pin Code: 748758#
Hope it’s helpful if you attend.
Question for the attorneys: In 12 months, are we going be seeing TV commercials saying "forced to work during the Coronavirus outbreak? Did you or a loved one suffer needlessly due to dangerous HR practices at your company? Call the law offices of Dewey, Suem, and How for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation."
If we have employers that are refusing to allow employees to work from home when they can....then we should see those lawsuits. I hope we do.
If you have employees who can work from home, you should be a decent employer and tell them they have to.....for them to have to ask is shameful.....for you to refuse is plum ******.
Well this thread ended up as I guess I figured it would. Went from asking for genuine advice and getting calm, honest answers, to being called am *******, **********, hoping I get sued, and such. I will not disclose what my business is, but it involves office work as well as work onsite. It involves customer and labor interaction.
For the reasonable ones that gave good advice, thank you, I have actually decided to close our office to those who don’t want to come. I hope all of you that called a reasonable person that is scared to death his family company of 25 years may go under while having two young children at home are proud of yourselves for being the internet badasses you feel you need to be, to make sure to let someone know how big a piece of **** they are for asking for advice. Just figured I’d say a final thank you for the responses in my usual middle of the night, stress and worrying wake up session. I will not be responding to this thread anymore, god bless you all.
For the reasonable ones that gave good advice, thank you, I have actually decided to close our office to those who don’t want to come. I hope all of you that called a reasonable person that is scared to death his family company of 25 years may go under while having two young children at home are proud of yourselves for being the internet badasses you feel you need to be, to make sure to let someone know how big a piece of **** they are for asking for advice. Just figured I’d say a final thank you for the responses in my usual middle of the night, stress and worrying wake up session. I will not be responding to this thread anymore, god bless you all.
It is pitiful how they are acting. I bet not a one of those bitches run a business. It's easy to say let people stay home and work when they are not the ones having to foot the bills.
Well, technically, I didn't call you a **********. I said you are if your employee can do his job from home and you don't allow it. I stand by my statement.
This is is not exactly a good place to resolve your problem, but at least you can get more confused with our professional advice! I would make every arrangement possible for this employee and any other to work at home. Just one diagnosis in your workplace could be disastrous for you. Your business could become the source of the virus and folks in your community could end up blaming your company. This virus requires proactive measures. Reactive measures mean it is too late for your workforce. Finally, if you decide to deny your employee the chance to work from home there may be some serious legal repercussions, especially if others contract the virus. Be proactive and consult with your attorney.
I am glad my business is healthcare you can’t ignore. And yes my employees have to work at my office. I certainly understand if someone wants to quit. I have one employee that does billing that could work from home if she had adequate internet. She does not. So she is in office alone. Good luck to you. I certainly understand where you are coming from!!
If possible is the key. You just can’t manufacture surgical equipment from home. Our company needs to make hay while sun is shining because a possible shutdown is looming.
Of course one should stay home if the situation warrants due to potential exposure or peripheral issues. Some Office folks are able to work from home so now we’ve got the “fairness” police creating discontent.
The situation is a mess, being managed day to day as best we can.
Of course one should stay home if the situation warrants due to potential exposure or peripheral issues. Some Office folks are able to work from home so now we’ve got the “fairness” police creating discontent.
The situation is a mess, being managed day to day as best we can.
Consult your attorney, but ours always says that Mississippi is a "work at will" state, as most are in the southeast. You can hire and fire for any reason you please, or for no reason. Anyway, that's what he says.
How are your other employees who are coming in going to react? Will this cause bad feelings? Can all of them work from home? Are you prepared for them all to work from home? If productivity goes to crap can you financially handle it? Can you measure productivity on a daily basis?
Considering the situation, an unpaid sabbatical seems reasonable. I would not pay a salary for doing nothing. A business is not a damned charity.
How are your other employees who are coming in going to react? Will this cause bad feelings? Can all of them work from home? Are you prepared for them all to work from home? If productivity goes to crap can you financially handle it? Can you measure productivity on a daily basis?
Considering the situation, an unpaid sabbatical seems reasonable. I would not pay a salary for doing nothing. A business is not a damned charity.
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