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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to continuously request hybrid working and think management are being unfair

57 replies

HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 18:37

I work for a relatively small company. We have three offices over the country and yet only one of our offices works on a hybrid basis - I think this is unfair.

Just to clarify my role is admin. My role can be done the same from home as in the office and all offices have the same structure, we are all exactly the same just in different locations.

All staff at one of our offices work hybrid (60 home 40 office) - capacity of the office is not an issue, their office is actually larger than ours with less staff. Their manager simply said they work better when at home with less distractions (as we would too as it can get very loud).

However in the office I work in, and the other office we have, all admin must work in office 100% but ALL other staff including managers can work from home whenever they please and even have set days to be at home etc.

I personally feel the company are treating employees unfairly, but I don't think theres anything whatsoever that can stop them doing this - unless there is?!? All employees should be treated the same IMHO but they are not.

Every single time I bring it up they make ridiculous excuses. I've asked to WFH before when childcares been a problem (over half terms etc) and they've said 'no as you will be caring for your child'. I can slightly understand that. But when I have questioned the fact the other office WFH and we cannot they have said we need more staff before we can WFH ... makes no sense? They've said some newer team members would need training to WFH, but yet we have no manager in office as they WFH, so they don't get anymore support being in office they'd still have to call the manager.

Anyone know where I stand with this? Do I keep requesting it for our team or just leave it as theres nothing I can do? Surely employers should have to treat all employees the same?

OP posts:
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Spirallingdownwards · 27/10/2024 08:43

HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 20:17

all other members of the team have had their requests rejected also, all childless. They simply won’t allow us but will allow our other offices admin to wfh. I did not say ‘can I work from home because I want my kids with me’ they go to school and nursery.

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There is allowed to be disparity between offices in different parts of the countries especially if one area has recruitment and retention issues.

Submit a formal request as suggested previously and they will state their reasons in writing. If you then belive you have an issue you will be able to challenge it.

But at the moment an it's not fair whine won't get you anywhere. Do the request formally and by the book

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 27/10/2024 08:40

You need to make a formal flexible working request (in writing). They can just for you off if you are not applying formally. See .gov website for a template. I would say job can be worked from home as others in the company are doing so.

Heronwatcher · 27/10/2024 08:34

Sorry I think YABU. No one I know who WFH does so routinely with kids there under about 12. It’s simply impossible and bad practice. Very occasionally people might have an afternoon with some childcare if the child is unexpectedly ill, but absolutely not on a regular basis. Plus my own experience of those very occasional times when I have had to work with a child at home is that I’ve got nothing done and it’s been extremely stressful for everyone. Likely your company has realised this isn’t workable and those that are doing it at the moment may have a pre-existing agreement which the company is trying to phase out.

I think if you have childcare and you can point to people in similar roles to you who are working successfully from home you might have a much better case.

Barney16 · 27/10/2024 08:11

Look for another job. The working from home hub on FB is really good.

AquaPeer · 27/10/2024 08:10

VeryCheesyChips · 27/10/2024 07:58

Oh come on. This isn’t what discrimination acts are for.
You said it yourself ‘IF’ they are all women. It would be entirely a coincidence in this instance and not bloody discrimination.

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I think that poster has misunderstood anyway. It isn’t all admin staff - it’s all of one office out of 3 offices. Presumably all 3 offices have a mixture of roles in them.

VeryCheesyChips · 27/10/2024 07:58

Ozanj · 26/10/2024 19:50

If the admin staff not being allowed to wfh are all women you can claim discrimination. Talk to a union.

Oh come on. This isn’t what discrimination acts are for.
You said it yourself ‘IF’ they are all women. It would be entirely a coincidence in this instance and not bloody discrimination.

HalloweenHaribo · 27/10/2024 00:24

I've asked to WFH before when childcares been a problem (over half terms etc) and they've said 'no as you will be caring for your child'. I can slightly understand that.

Only slightly?

Lol.

Catlover77 · 27/10/2024 00:18

Submit a formal flexible working request. Specify clearly what you require and how any impact to the business will be mitigated. They will have to hold a meeting with you within 28 days to discuss your request or any alternative proposals, and issue an outcome within 14 days. They can cite specific business reasons to reject your request. You can appeal the decision and your appeal will be heard by a more senior manager. There is now the statutory right to submit two requests per year.

Hoglet70 · 26/10/2024 22:43

I would be so pissed off if my fellow admin person reckoned she was working whilst babysitting her kids at the same time.

YourLastNerve · 26/10/2024 21:41

Is it really only admin staff not allowed to wfh?

Is there anything about your role that differs from what others do that is being used to justify you not being able to do it effectively at home?

YourLastNerve · 26/10/2024 21:39

I've asked to WFH before when childcares been a problem (over half terms etc) and they've said 'no as you will be caring for your child’.

This right here will be why they are saying no. Wfh is not an answer for needing childcare and if you think it is, you wfh is probably going to be an issue.

Wfh doesn't mean you don't need childcare. When I'm working from home my kids are at the childminder after school.

HesusCuckingFrist · 26/10/2024 21:39

purplebeansprouts · 26/10/2024 21:37

"Just work admin" can be quite well paid if it's the right admin. Don't be so sneery

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Unlikely to be more than 30k max I would have thought. So not worth £1500 nursery bill.

purplebeansprouts · 26/10/2024 21:37

HesusCuckingFrist · 26/10/2024 21:27

Is it really worth putting your poor child in 5 days a week nursery when you just work admin? I'd go remote part time and cut the nursery hours.

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"Just work admin" can be quite well paid if it's the right admin. Don't be so sneery

HesusCuckingFrist · 26/10/2024 21:27

HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 20:12

Wow seems like not many people have understood the point of my post. It’s about them saying one rule for one office and another for mine. They previously allowed other staff before I joined to wfh when needed due to lack of childcare. I was under the assumption they would treat me the same. I pay £1500 for my youngest to go to nursery 5 days a week. The childcare I mentioned in half term is a lot of decent clubs don’t run my full working hours. So I was going to get a friend to drop my daughter (who’s 11) home for the final part of my work day and I was completely transparent with my work. She requires minimal care for this short period of time and I can do my full job role on my own laptop. Purely a processing role.

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Is it really worth putting your poor child in 5 days a week nursery when you just work admin? I'd go remote part time and cut the nursery hours.

HesusCuckingFrist · 26/10/2024 21:26

If you're only admin there are a million remote admin jobs put there, just leave.

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 26/10/2024 21:25

Your responses on this thread - defensive, full of assumptions, not able to see why this decision has been made - just underlines why management have made the decision they have, and why you haven't got anywhere in your negotiations.

You need to understand that this was a business decision by them, and you need to try and negotiate your request on business terms.

Any sort of "one rule for them and one for us" mentality just makes you seem really silly, and misses the point. You need to frame your request in a way that makes it clear that they - not just you - will benefit from your wfh.

Original poster
HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 20:17

Hankunamatata · 26/10/2024 19:48

You shot yourself in foot citing childcare. Wfh isn't for childcare. That's exactly one of the reasons not to allow wfh

all other members of the team have had their requests rejected also, all childless. They simply won’t allow us but will allow our other offices admin to wfh. I did not say ‘can I work from home because I want my kids with me’ they go to school and nursery.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 20:14

ADDITIONALLY- there are men in the office who have set working from home days that their partner is at work so they care for their kids at home and do their work from home. Toddler aged that are screaming in the background when you call them about work.

So one rule for them one rule for us. It’s frustrating.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelloWorld2577 · 26/10/2024 20:12

PennyCrayon1 · 26/10/2024 19:52

Urgh I hate the ‘kids at home while I’m working’ mob. Pay for childcare like the rest of the world and stop taking the utter piss.

Wow seems like not many people have understood the point of my post. It’s about them saying one rule for one office and another for mine. They previously allowed other staff before I joined to wfh when needed due to lack of childcare. I was under the assumption they would treat me the same. I pay £1500 for my youngest to go to nursery 5 days a week. The childcare I mentioned in half term is a lot of decent clubs don’t run my full working hours. So I was going to get a friend to drop my daughter (who’s 11) home for the final part of my work day and I was completely transparent with my work. She requires minimal care for this short period of time and I can do my full job role on my own laptop. Purely a processing role.

OP posts:
Skybluecoat · 26/10/2024 20:03

Are you a trade union member? They might be able to help you with this.

If they won’t budge, just get another job. Loads of hybrid/wfh admin jobs where I live.

PennyCrayon1 · 26/10/2024 19:52

Yes. Claim discrimination. See how good your working relationships are after that.

PennyCrayon1 · 26/10/2024 19:52

Urgh I hate the ‘kids at home while I’m working’ mob. Pay for childcare like the rest of the world and stop taking the utter piss.

Ozanj · 26/10/2024 19:50

If the admin staff not being allowed to wfh are all women you can claim discrimination. Talk to a union.

Hankunamatata · 26/10/2024 19:48

You shot yourself in foot citing childcare. Wfh isn't for childcare. That's exactly one of the reasons not to allow wfh

VeryCheesyChips · 26/10/2024 19:48

Just get a WFH job then?
You had a child knowing you needed childcare and took an office based role. It’s your responsibility to sort anything in the middle or look for alternatives.