Have you been back at work? or Are you back at work?

[anewlearner]

My friend has been travelling for a long time. I am not sure if he has finished his trip. I have made up two questions in different tenses below.

(1) Have you been back at work?

(2) Are you back at work?

Which tense is correct? Thanks a lot.

 

[Rover_KE]

(2)

 

[tedmc]

Being back at work is not an on-going action. One is back or one isn't.

 

[Raymott]

Being back at work is not an on-going action. One is back or one isn't.

This doesn't apply to casual workers or independent contractors.

 

[Raymott]

In fact, if a person is an independent contractor, he might answer "Yes" to "Are you back at work?" even if he hasn't done any work yet since returning from vacation. "Yes" means he is available for work.
"Are you back at work?" means (in this context) "Can I ask you to do a job for me?"

 

[jutfrank]

Have you been back at work?

This could be Have you gone back to work?

 

[Tdol]

Have you been back at work?

This could be Have you gone back to work?

Or, have you returned and then stopped going again or simply been back for a short while?