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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
2chocolateoranges · 23/04/2025 07:55

What does your contract say?

a lot of these hybrid jobs were created due to covid and we are well passed that phase in our lives.

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.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/04/2025 07:53

Yes OP its not acceptable for them to expect you to work without a proper workstation, they should be able to sort this out very quickly, your manager is being very crap here.

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.

RampantIvy · 23/04/2025 07:52

It depends on your contract. Where I work all the staff with hybrid contracts have to be in 4 days a week now. I just go into one day a week because I have a WFH contract.

I can see that this must be happening everywhere because the traffic on my commute is getting much heavier.

Punzel · 23/04/2025 07:52

That’s annoying. I think you could say there’s no suitable place at the moment but I also think if you’ve got to go in (I can’t advise on that) then you should block out some diary time to go in and get the room sorted. Speak to facilities and organise your equipment/get it cleaned etc.
The being on your own thing is weird, presumably you’ll stand up and walk around? People do work in individual offices and you yourself had your own office.

Motheranddaughter · 23/04/2025 07:51

Can’t you get the room sorted out

Doggymummar · 23/04/2025 07:51

I would say that I will come in once occupational health arrive to do my DSE and have signed the workstation off and not before.

Emotionalsupporthamster · 23/04/2025 07:51

You need to have a DSE compliant desk set up, but the fact that you’ll be in the room on your own for the time being is neither here nor there.

BlondiePortz · 23/04/2025 07:51

So who do you work with at home?

Tryingtohelp12 · 23/04/2025 07:50

Well you are presumably sitting in an empty room at home so I don’t think you can use that.

A lot will boil down to your location in your contract, although you might be able to argue working practice

SkiAndTravelTheWorldWithMyDog · 23/04/2025 07:48

Surely you are on your own with no interaction with others when you are working from home.