New manager want me in the office. I wfh-help!

Make sure you have another job before you hand your notice in. You are in the right here.

I've found the original job spec and it's a remote position as well as emails before I started with HR confirming its remote with occasional visits to the office.

Yeh, but that's not the contract is it? Her contract states office.
Also HR did confirm in writing that she does need to go into the office occasionally, so... 🤷‍♀️

OP says here…..

“Stressedgiraffe · Yesterday 15:59
I've found the original job spec and it's a remote position as well as emails before I started with HR confirming its remote with occasional visits to the office.”

And in the interests of the company, they’re unlikely to risk a constructive dismissal case, if a quick word with the Line Manager can shut it down.

OP I haven't read everyone's responses but have read your updates. Sorry your manager is being 'tricky', to put it politely!

I did want to say that a lot of people seem to be commenting based on what is stated in your written contract. A contract isn't just purely enforceable based on what's written down. If it is clear that both parties intended something different to what is written, then what is written is unlikely to be the 'reality' of the contract.

Hope ACAS can help further on this point but if you have evidence that you were hired to work remotely, have attended office only 2-3 times per year and claimed expenses for those visits, I would hope that demonstrates that from the outset you and employer both intended for you to be on a remote contract.

Good luck!

I think the suggestions above to talk to an employment lawyer and ACAS are good. This new manager sounds like she is essentially redeploying you to a different post. If that's true, who is going to be doing the current niche post you were headhunted for? Surely it would not only be making you redundant and redeploying you but would leave them without anyone in this role as they couldn't make you redundant if the post still existed ?
She does sound as though she is determined to make her mark and you are the person she is choosing as an example. I do wonder whether HR / the rest of management would be in agreement though if they lose your niche skills due to her handling of wfh and projects. It surely has repercussions on the company if your current role is abolished? And in your current role as you said you are better suited to wfh as you can take meetings early in the morning and late due to other time zones.

Hi, I would speak to the new manager and HR manager regarding this to find a suitable solution. Ask them why they want you to come in and explain the situation, I.e distance, money, travel etc. Also ask them if working remotely is impacting the work you are doing. Because if you’re more productive WFH it would only be beneficial for them.
all the best.

Her job was recruited as wfh . And where did you read that utter stupidity that wfh is destroying the economy , the daily fail ?

As others have said, it all depends if your contract is wfh.

It isn't. Her contract states she is to work in the office.

She sounds like the type of woman that if she wants to manage someone out she would stop at nothing to do so….just to get her way and prove to herself that she can and that you are not going to get in her way of doing so

Prepare for this to get a bit nasty, she will probably start picking holes in your work etc

Good. It's imperative you get clarification on your legal position before talking to your manager or HR.

Though your latest update is interesting and significant. For all the breathless comments about redundancy, liking it or lumping it etc, some people are just much scarce than others. I wondered if this might be the case, actually. So that does raise the issue of whether the organisation would be particularly pleased with your manager doing this.

As others have said, it all depends if your contract is wfh. Once a month to go into the office seems a dream! Think of the commute and time there as time and money saved for not having to go into the office you may well be Contracted for every day? X

i hate to point of the obvious but it clearly does matter in this case or else there wouldn’t be an issue…😂

Not being allowed to drive for medical reasons (which are your own business and I am not asking you to detail) is a disability. Probably would get you a Freedom Pass if you lived in London, for example.

Good luck with the advice a lawyer or ACAS can provide.

do you...not understand what the word 'remote' means? 😂

it's irrelevant whether the office is five minutes travel from her home, five hours or 2 days, remote=do not have to come to office!

Quote from OP

No, her 4th post said this:

I've found the original job spec and it's a remote position as well as emails before I started with HR confirming its remote with occasional visits to the office.

Her contract said her job is in the office. HQ told her there would be occasional visits to the office. But the OP is expecting to NEVER go into the office...?

An office 5 hours away is an office 5 hours away…remote or not my lovely!

In Op’s fourth post.

This so sad and so unfair. Constructive dismissal sounds great, but actually isn't, you get a small payout, and you still need to then get a new job. How is that a win?

It was wfh and now one manager decides it isn't. Even if the contract doesn't specify it is wfh, she's been doing it, after a certain number of weeks it becomes ….. suggests it is inferred, has become ‘custom and practice, after x time.

None of this helps Op, even if she gets a payout, she's still almost lost her job, because this new manager wants bums on seats.

In her fourth post, Op found the original job details and it said remote.

Her contract says HQ.

I don't think custom and practice would cancel out a clear written contractual term?

Edited as I didn't see your later posts. It's obviously a bit more complex than that. I'd talk to the employment lawyer. If you have house insurance with legal expenses insurance that might be worth looking at too?

Sorry but contract says HQ. So it is not an easy one.