Boss Denies Remote Work Due To Employee’s Hay Fever Condition

Boss Denies Remote Work

Boss Denies Remote Work Due To Employee’s Hay Fever Condition

In the realm of workplace dynamics, the decision to take a sick day can be a challenging one. The fear of spreading germs to colleagues or clients is a valid concern, and often, employees opt for the safer alternative of working from home, if they feel well enough to do so. This is a common practice that many employers endorse as it helps maintain productivity while safeguarding the health of the workforce. However, a recent incident where an employer denied an employee’s request to work from home due to hay fever has sparked a debate about workplace flexibility.

The incident unfolded in Nottinghamshire where an employee, suffering from hay fever, requested her boss to allow her to work remotely. She was taken aback by the blunt reply she received. The employer insisted that she should either report to the office or take a sick leave, refusing to acknowledge hay fever as a valid reason for working from home. This exchange was captured in a screenshot and shared on an Instagram page, The Aussie Corporate, stirring up a storm of opinions on the matter.

The employee had initially messaged her boss saying, “Morning, will be working from home today. Hay fever got me bad last night so I’m still a snotty/coughing mess. Got plenty of partners private and implementations to keep me going in terms of workload today.” However, the response from her boss was far from understanding.

The boss replied, “Morning, I am sorry you’re suffering from hay fever, I just want to let you know that I’ve been informed by (name hidden) previously that team members are not allowed to work from home for reasons such as this. It’s been previously explained to me, that if a team feels they are well enough to work from home, then they are well enough to work from the office. “You’ll either need to come into the office for the day and work, or alternatively take today off as sick leave. Please let me know what you decide to do?”

The employee, puzzled by this response, shared the screenshot on social media, asking for opinions on whether this response was reasonable or not. This incident has sparked a broader discussion on the importance of workplace flexibility and the need for understanding individual health issues.

In today’s digital age, where the best sit stand desk can be a home office staple, the refusal to acknowledge hay fever as a valid reason for remote work seems out of touch. With the health benefits of an electric stand up desk, or even a TV lift to facilitate better posture during long working hours, it is clear that productivity can be maintained outside of traditional office settings.

Many employees are now looking for ways on how to choose the best standing desk or the best electric height adjustable standing desk to facilitate their work from home setup. The incident serves as a reminder that employers should be more understanding and flexible, especially when it comes to health issues.

In conclusion, the incident underscores the need for empathy and flexibility in the modern workplace. As we continue to navigate our way through the digital age, it’s crucial that employers recognise the importance of flexible work arrangements and the role they play in maintaining employee health and productivity. Whether it’s investing in an electric height adjustable standing desk or granting a work from home request due to hay fever, these small steps can go a long way in fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

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Guy Director
Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Ergomotion Director since 2005.

Google Reviews

Ergomotion

Google Reviews

Shelley Jensen 07/09/24

Google
Guy (the owner) delivered the desk and set it up quickly. He then gave me a lesson on how to use it and how to get the most out of it. Arrived on time and was absolutely lovely to deal with throughout the whole process. Highly recommend.

clifford sneider 06/09/24

Google
Guy was fantastic and the desk is amazing

Jo Manning 08/08/24

Google
I bought an adjustable desk from Guy a couple of years ago, got great service and good price. Recently we had a tiny issue which could not be fixed over the phone. Guy was more than happy to come out and look at it 2 days later. All fixed! I really appreciated his patience with me and accommodating us so quickly. Great old fashioned service and piece of mind. I love it. I know where to get my second desk when needed. Thank you Guy. Jo Manning

Deborah Hunt 25/07/24

Google
ergomotion were fantastic to deal with. excellent customer service and a great product.

Andrew Pieterse 14/06/24

Google
Great service and really quick shipping. It is great to know that you are getting quality parts from a Scandinavian manufacturer with your standing desk purchase rather than the cheap knock off stuff you get from other major brands. Reasonably priced for the quality too!

Janette Clarke 20/05/24

Google
Guy was very accommodating with meeting him at a time that suited me. He assembled the desk prior to me collecting so I only had to carry it inside with help (it's pretty heavy). The desk is great, the storage racks underneath with the 6 x built in powerpoints was worth the extra money. I have a functioning & tidy workplace.
Guy was brilliant, I highly recommend.
Janette

Nickel 10/05/24

Google
Have now purchased 2 stand up office desks off Guy, benchmark sales service from him, all via email, so easy; from quote to plug in, only matched by the strong quality of these machines, solid and stable. If only everything in life was this easy and reliable.

Jennifer Fadriquela 23/03/24

Google
I purchased an EDesk this month from Ergomotion, and it was a remarkably smooth transaction. Guy was eager to answer all my questions before my purchase. As a first-time buyer of a standing desk, I truly appreciated how he addressed my queries with thorough details and provided options within my budget.

The delivery process was also smooth, despite a slight delay in the ETA. Guy ensured I received all necessary updates from the courier/removalist.

I've been using the desk for a couple of weeks now and I'm satisfied with it. It's sturdy on all height adjustments and the motor works as expected. I also like oak finish because it's clean-looking and suits my room setup.

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and I'll definitely recommend Ergomotion to someone looking for their desk needs.

Josh Oliver 04/02/24

Google
I've had an ergomotion desk for 10 years. It's still as good today as it was brand new. Over the years Guy has always responded promptly to any guidance I've needed (mostly help putting the desk back together after removalists take it apart).

Michael Cheung 18/01/24

Google
Great service from Guy and the team at Ergomotion! Helped with all my queries and was able to source a standing desk part for me when many others weren't able! Highly recommend!
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