My employee doesn’t want to return to work – what can I do? – advice by Alan Price, CEO of BrightHR

As more businesses re-open across the UK and we head towards normality or a version of it, employers may face situations where some employees feel reluctant to return to the workplace after working from home for a long time. Employers will need to determine why the employee is reluctant to return, and once this has been established, the right kind of conversation can then be had with them – keeping their specific circumstances in mind, as well as government guidance and the needs of the business. Notably, while these three things don’t always need to marry up with one another, government guidance should always take precedent.

As it stands, government guidance across the UK remains that staff should work from home where possible and where this is not possible, Covid-secure measures should be implemented in the workplace to reduce the spread of the virus. Employers are also being encouraged to implement mass in-house testing so that asymptomatic cases of coronavirus can be detected and communicate these measures to the reluctant employee – e.g. in the form of sharing the company’s Covid risk assessment and testing policy with them. By doing this, a return to the office can be prioritised if homeworking is no longer feasible.

Employers should be careful not to force staff to return to the workplace as this could lead to a decline in staff retention and/or morale. Employers should instead consult with employees to address when the company proposes they return, giving ample notice, and discuss any issues they may have about returning. These issues may well be resolved by highlighting the measures being taken by the company to ensure that the workplace is Covid-secure – e.g. implementing social distancing measures, mass on-site testing etc. It may also be helpful to prioritise bringing back the reluctant employee after they have had their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine if this is something they wish to take up.

Suppose after all is said and done, the employee still refuses to return to the workplace on the proposed return date without prior agreement. In that case, employers may be able to class this as a period of unauthorised absence. Unauthorised absences can result in disciplinary action being taken against employees who unreasonably refuse to return to work or other necessary action in compliance with company policy – the likelihood of which should be made clear to employees in the interest of full disclosure.

To avoid this, employers may wish to consider alternative options where possible, such as taking up annual leave, continuing homeworking until government guidance changes, or another more suitable adjustment.