Can you refuse to work from the office?

It all seems a bit ridiculous to me. If you’ve been asked to work in the office, just go to the office. If you’re asked to work from home, guess what? You work from home. This has never been an issue before now, so why is this becoming such a huge situation? The pandemic was an extraordinary time, where working from home wasn’t an option, it was a must. We’re lucky enough to be seeing the back end of this pandemic, which means now is the time to return to the normality we all craved during those tough lockdown months—particularly in 2021 when, it’s fair to say, we were all incredibly bored of our own four walls.

In any other line of work, if you refused to attend the workplace when asked, you’d find yourself the subject of relevant disciplinary procedures. Why is this any different? I’m sure someone will claim ‘it saves me so much money a month’, but you’re actually causing the economy to lose money, too. Civil servants who would have visited local sandwich and coffee shops when working from the office will probably make a meal at home; these businesses are desperate to see a return of customers after a terrible couple of years. If they don’t see a profit they’ll simply go bust.

The transport network will become less profitable as they’ll receive fewer passengers if UK Plc works from home. Office space meant to house these civil servants will prove a waste of taxpayers’ money, too, if no one goes there. Whether it’s rented or not, there will still be electricity and water standing charges to pay.

I appreciate that we’re experiencing a cost-of-living crisis and that getting to the office is another drain on these workers’ finances. Working from home, however, may fix your personal finance but it won’t do much for the wider economy. You don’t need to have studied economics at any level to understand that; it’s common sense that we, as Brits, seem to be losing. By taking away workers from city centres and business parks, you will directly affect the local businesses that only survive because of this footfall.

I’m not pledging my allegiance to any political party by opposing working from home for the masses. It’s just irritating to hear complaints from people who are in the most protected job there is when you don’t have that same freedom.

Where their employees work should be up to the business to decide. As an employee in the public or private sector, it’s your job to follow this; if you don’t like it, find a job that suits you better.