[AuxTown]

Workers should have a say in the conditions of their employment, including location.

Workers can have their voices heard but if their employer doesn't agree then it's end of story. This whole argument is the epitome of entitlement. People thinking they know best despite the fact there is significant data in many departments to suggest otherwise. Not to mention the fact the feds have to deal with public perception and, like it or not, some of these decisions to return to the office are being made for that reason. Not saying it's justified; just that it is one of many practical realities this large and diverse employer has to contend with.

It's strange to me that employees seeking respect and recognition as a key stakeholder in arbitrary-seeming RTO decisions—considering that commuting imposes direct costs to employees' time and finances—are belittled here as a vested interests, while the loudest voices calling for RTO, who are literally seeking to volunteer other peoples' time and money into supporting some businesses over others, are given a free pass.

I am saying that people who made arguably dumb decisions (like moving 1.5 hours further from their workplace assuming they would never be asked to come back in) are claiming bullshit medical concerns as their reason to not return to the office.

To be clear, I am all for teleworking in the right setting. What I am against is the assertion that these office environments are unsafe to return to and that it is up to physicians to give people a pass to stay home. This is between them and their employer and shouldn't be further burdening an already taxed healthcare system IMO.

Interesting. I am surprised there is so little sympathy for those claiming safety concerns. It seems like we will be re-starting other restrictions. If Covid is still something we need to contain surely a public servant can stay home for 2 days a week which I find punitive as either a job can be done from home effectively or it can't no?

The VAST majority of COVID spread has, thankfully, not occurred in workplace settings. That includes some high risk ones like service workers and people working with active COVID cases in the hospital. Many large studies have shown schools and family gatherings to be much more problematic. In fact, the feds have invested a ton of money and time into making their workplaces some of the safest.