To put in a flexible working request because I live so far away?

no absolutely not….no reason needed…l.I’m nhs…..there is no box in which to put a reason when a request is made on the application form…it’s assumed that it’s to do with work/life balance……but no manager will ask…..it either works for service need or it doesn’t..,,generally speaking we are granted our requests…..we have people working 8 to 4….or compressing full time hours into 9 day fortnights or 4 days…..or working 7.5 hrs but in between taking an hour out to pick up school children…..it makes for a happy team and staff retention

So just take a lower paid job I. Your own town….I mean travelling 4 hours a day on top of your working hours……what sort of life is that?
I travel 15 mins door to door on the days I go into work……the furthest I’ve ever travelled is 25 mins each way……no way would I do what you do

@Outtherelookingin

Surely the reason has something to do with it ?

The reason is completely irrelevant and the employee doesn't have to supply a reason.

The employer can only reject a a request on business grounds.

A good employer will support flexible working request, where possible, because generally it leads to better employee wellbeing, better productivity and better retention.

Definitely put in a request to wfh, if it is refused ask to do longer days and one day off?

And look for a new, less boring, job.

You can ask (it seems perfectly reasonable in your circumstances) and they should genuinely consider it. The only reason they may be hesitant is that once they allow flexible working it quickly becomes entrenched and staff become very resistant to actually attending their workplace. I find this very disappointing tbh because flexible working is awesome if people just don't take the piss!

You sound reasonable though and hopefully your employer hasn't already been burnt by this, in which case you could probably work something out.

No. It doesn’t. You don’t even have to give a reason if you don’t want to.

Every worker in the UK now has the right to request flexible working and the employed must show a real business reason (listed in the new legislation) to turn it down. And if you appeal, you tend to win. There are obviously certain jobs and roles where it simply isn’t possible, but they’d be able to show that.

The reason has no impact whatsoever. It is purely down so whether or not they have a business need to say no, and you can’t show it isn’t relevant or you can do it anyway etc.

Can't see if you have answered, so apologies if I missed it - why do you live so far away?

Alright calm down 😄 why would they grant a request then? Surely the reason has something to do with it ?

Agree with this.

No, they’re not. The reason has nothing to do with it. At all. They don’t grant the request because of the reason your give. People just need to stop commenting because they’ve no idea what idiotic nonsense they’re spouting.

There is a lot of crap on this thread.

You can make a flexible working request for any reason. The "worthiness" of that reason shouldn't be a factor in your employer's decision to agree to the request or not (though, of course, some employers won't necessarily follow the law).

The business can refuse your request if they have good business reasons for doing so. They can't refuse simply because they don't think you have a good enough reason for asking.

Think about the objections that they might be likely to raise and see if you can preempt them by putting workarounds into place. Then put in your request.

I've just given someone with the same problem the chance to work 2 long days in the office a week, so 3 shorter days at home. He needs to be flexible for the team though, but that was worked into the agreement.
You should approach it with solutions, so what will you do, eg work longer days, or someone else diverts phones to your mobile, xyz people can help by doing things you can't do as not in the office but you'll do abc instead as you can do that from home
Good luck!

Your best bet would be to educate yourself on your rights as an employee.
Flexible working (from Gov.uk)

She has three partners, so it takes up more time than just one!

And the company isn't particularly forgiving - they know she's an excellent worker and they get their money's worth out of her, so when she made the business case for her rejigged schedule, they accommodated it for the good of their profits!

It sounds like there is no reason for you to be in the office if when you are there you are not having meetings, seeing clients or having any interaction for colleagues.

Put in your request.

Long term I would say that if it is rejected you are better off finding a new job.

It makes no sense to travel 2 hours to work for no reason and struggle financially because you spend so much money on travel.

If you do make a request, I suggest you offer to come in on a Friday as one of the days, it may look better.

What's a poly relationship?! They must be a very forgiving company to grant the request based on purely home life reasons but thats good for her.

So, you already work from home 2 days a week?
Everyone else also does 3 days in the office, and 2 days from home?
Why was the 3 days in the office put in place?
On the face of it, it sounds like you should be able to do another day at home.

My sister put in a flexible working request (pre recent legislation) to give her more time to invest in the nurturing of her poly relationship and it was granted!

Shes an excellent worker and an asset to the team, so I'm not surprised, but I would love to have been a party to some of the discussions that must have taken place among her managers!

This is a good point, I requested compressed hours at a previous job and they only agreed to it as I asked up front for a 2 month trial. They liked that idea and everyone was happy at the end of the 2 months and it's now permanent.

Is the three days in the office a company policy or your manager's preference? What is her take on it as she is probably going to be involved in the review once a formal request is made? Do other colleagues feel the same as you?

If you get her onside you could perhaps start coming in less as a trial prior to making a formal request. You could also suggest you have a team day so the whole team is in on one day if you have the space at work for it. So you are in less but it's more useful when you are there.

I think that's fine, request it and explain in detail why and make it clear you'll be more productive at home and not just base it on your personal reasons. Your personal reasons are fair - I'd explain due to cost of living issues you're actually having to cut down on meals etc due to the cost of this travelling. Make it really clear you're struggling. But also get yourself on LinkedIn- start applying for new roles closer to home and/or remote in case they say no.

Best of luck op 🤞

Unfortunately I’ve seen some rather…creative…advice on that board as well. I imagine it’s from when threads hit active.