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AIBU?

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Original poster

My manager is making me come in the office 4days a week

312 replies

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:43

Since beginning of my role (which was coming out of covid), I've been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh. I had my own office but had to give it up for other staff that were in full time. Manger agreed for me to wfh and come in once a week - worked perfect!

In my recent supervision manager said he wants me in 4days a week "business need" and that there will be a room available to share with a couple of other staff. I've gone in and that room isn't set up, currently its dusty with extra office furniture/ equipment, basically being used storage room for now. I made a point to my manager and said could I continue wfh until the room is sorted, he refused and said to set up in that room somewhere in the corner for now.

AIBU here thinking I am within my right to refuse to be there until I have a proper work station set up, as required for my role? Not to mention sitting in an empty room for 8 hours with no interaction effects my mental wellbeing

OP posts:
ZippyDoodle · 23/04/2025 08:25

What does your contract say?

I suspect you might not be able to fight this. If so, if there is a facilities team and IT team I would get them to set the room up for you. Show willing by going in and working on your laptop for a day or so but if it’s weeks then I would tell your boss that you have neck pain and back pain and will need to work from home until it’s sorted.

If the job no longer suits then just look for another one. In light of this change, do you think you might be at risk anyway? Lots of companies are going to axe people to cover the NI increase.

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/04/2025 08:24

Where have you been basing yourself for your current 1 day a week? Can you not continue with that but for 4 days whilst the office is set up?

Also, you will soon be getting colleagues in the office for you when its set up so won't be isolated?

I would ask if whoever is responsible for moving furniture can put me a desk and a chair in this new office and set my computer up. Then I'd try and make the best of it.

Alternatively, you could go through your contract and union to fight the coming into the office 4 days but I suppose that depends on your contract and how much you want to stress yourself with that

Smallmercies · 23/04/2025 08:24

LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/04/2025 07:57

why are people suggesting OP cleans and sorts this room, thats not her job! She needs a DSE compliant workstation which her company should have no issue providing. This is a case of a bad manager asking her to come in with nothing ready.

There's absolutely no reason why OP can't do a bit of work to get the room to her liking.

SquirrelMadness · 23/04/2025 08:21

I think a lot of people voting on this thread will be people who are jealous of those who are able to work effectively from home.

I would also request a DSE workstation referral and while that is happening I would start looking for a new job with better hybrid arrangements. I don't think they can force you to work in the corner of a dusty office without a proper assessment. I also wouldn't want to work for an organisation that requires me to change my working patterns without explaining why.

ColinOfficeTrolley · 23/04/2025 08:18

You need to read what your contract says. All this mental health stuff is bs. You just CBA going in an extra day, let's be honest.

If your contract does not specify the days in the office and the days WFH, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

Yes, you can argue that you need a proper workstation, but once that is provided, unless stipulated in your contract, you'll have to suck it up.

LittleBitofBread · 23/04/2025 08:15

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:43

Since beginning of my role (which was coming out of covid), I've been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh. I had my own office but had to give it up for other staff that were in full time. Manger agreed for me to wfh and come in once a week - worked perfect!

In my recent supervision manager said he wants me in 4days a week "business need" and that there will be a room available to share with a couple of other staff. I've gone in and that room isn't set up, currently its dusty with extra office furniture/ equipment, basically being used storage room for now. I made a point to my manager and said could I continue wfh until the room is sorted, he refused and said to set up in that room somewhere in the corner for now.

AIBU here thinking I am within my right to refuse to be there until I have a proper work station set up, as required for my role? Not to mention sitting in an empty room for 8 hours with no interaction effects my mental wellbeing

You say you’ve been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh, but also that you’ve been coming in once a week - which is it?
Anyway, I wouldn’t work in an office setup that was a corner of a dusty storage room. It needs setting up properly and an assessment.

Picklepower · 23/04/2025 08:14

Pretty essential information always left out on three WFH threads... What does your contract say?@

Addictedtohotbaths · 23/04/2025 08:12

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:54

Both husband and I wfh and have interactions throughout the day, whereas being in the office room is isolating. My role is unique in the service and so I dont have a team. With other staff its judt really a hi and bye on the kitchen.

Edited

I agree if you’re going to be isolated all day what’s the point of making you come in. I’d rather be isolated in my own home.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 23/04/2025 08:12

It doesn’t matter what we think, it’s what your contract and employer wants you to do.

I’d be asking for a timeline as to when your desk situation is going to be sorted and if no timeline is given, then I’d formally request via email for a DSE workstation referral.

MidnightPatrol · 23/04/2025 08:09

Why does your workplace have no one else in it, if it’s business need for everyone to be in four days a week?

Where are all your colleagues?

My read of this is ‘I don’t want to go in four days a week’, in which case maybe try to negotiate for less?

Roselilly36 · 23/04/2025 08:08

Where does your contract state is your place of work?

Ponoka7 · 23/04/2025 08:08

@Needtosoundoffandbreathe you honestly don't see the advantages of being able to sign off for an hour to, go to the dentist/GP/local health centre. Or to go to a school etc meeting/play, let the boiler repair etc person in, rather than have to take a morning/day off? Not everyone works in places that make it easier to get those things done.
We are only wanted in the workplaces because there is less being spent on public transport, in coffee shops/food vans, on all the things we are blamed for eating. We also then spend less on grooming/clothes etc. The increase in road traffic accidents and the health impacts via stress, is collateral damage. It's a business decision by those at the top, whose investments rely on us spending.
The OP needs to be provided with a work space, that is clean and uncluttered. Dusty places need vacuuming and airing, not just a duster and plants (on the non existent desk).

FaceOrf · 23/04/2025 08:07

The point of OP saying she will be in an empty office with no one else is because she may as well be at home - if she was going to be interacting with colleagues it may be worth going in but not to be alone just as she would be at home!

Chaseandstatus · 23/04/2025 08:06

I would sort the office out myself and get on with it. Much better to have a positive attitude than to be whinging and looking at the negatives. Then if you really hate it, look for another job.

ThinWomansBrain · 23/04/2025 08:05

LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/04/2025 07:57

why are people suggesting OP cleans and sorts this room, thats not her job! She needs a DSE compliant workstation which her company should have no issue providing. This is a case of a bad manager asking her to come in with nothing ready.

surely that depends on the size of the organisation?

Unicornsbumhole · 23/04/2025 08:05

You had your own office but are now complaining about being in an office on your own.
I don't understand the reluctance to go back to office working, it's what the business has felt it needs so that is what it has required.
Don't like it, get a new job but good luck getting another WFH job!

Zanatdy · 23/04/2025 08:04

I don’t think you can refuse. Many companies want staff in more now. I go in most days, much prefer it to sitting in my flat all day.

ThinWomansBrain · 23/04/2025 08:03

If there's a spare desk in the new office maybe someone will come and join you

AllyCart · 23/04/2025 08:02

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 23/04/2025 07:57

Or make the OP look like a total arse.

And what is this big advantage of wfh re: flexibility and productivity?

Show quote history

Agree.

I'd be telling the employee to make appointments in their own time or take annual leave for them if they started playing silly games like that.

CaptainFuture · 23/04/2025 08:01

arethereanyleftatall · 23/04/2025 08:00

I probably wouldn’t say ‘interactions with my husband’ op as your reason for why you want to work at home…

Well as long as they're on official breaks?....

arethereanyleftatall · 23/04/2025 08:00

I probably wouldn’t say ‘interactions with my husband’ op as your reason for why you want to work at home…

VerbenaGirl · 23/04/2025 07:58

In the Supervision, did you ask which business needs weren’t being met when you were WfH that would if you were in? I don’t think the mental well-being argument has any legs in this situation. However, you could ask that whoever is responsible for workstation assessments for health & safety to make sure the workstation is suitable.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 23/04/2025 07:57

Unbeleevable · 23/04/2025 07:52

Personally I’d buy a couple of plants, take in a duster and just get on with it. Job hunt if you like.

I would also make sure all my dental appointments, medical appointments etc land on the extra day I’m in the office. And say to boss “I will need to leave at x because I have a dental checkup/smear test/contraceptive review at 2pm sorry only appointment I could get.”

That will help remind manager there’s a big advantage of wfh for employee flexibility and employee productivity.

Or make the OP look like a total arse.

And what is this big advantage of wfh re: flexibility and productivity?

LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/04/2025 07:57

why are people suggesting OP cleans and sorts this room, thats not her job! She needs a DSE compliant workstation which her company should have no issue providing. This is a case of a bad manager asking her to come in with nothing ready.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 23/04/2025 07:55

What does your contract state about working from home/hybrid working?

I get you're pissed off about having to come into the office more frequently, but there's probably more to it than you realise. What are your relationships with other staff like? How visible is your role? Get what help you can to make the work station in the allocated room set up properly. You sound as though you're making excuses not to come in.