Work announced a move from 2 days to 4 days

I don't think that's the issue here though, it's a false accusation that people that WFH all take the piss but many don't have that luxury and have meetings, pressures, deadlines, workloads to get through and calls to answer. It's impossible to disappear off radar for most people.

My dad’s job is like this. He is an absolute expert on something complicated and technical. Essentially he is on call and has to be available to deal with emergencies but the rest of the time he has only a small amount of ongoing work. So it’s completely fine with his employer for him to go visit someone or go for a walk. As long as when they ring, he answers it’s all good. Responsiveness and knowledge is what they pay him for rather than “output”.

They do. As do politicians.

Genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the owners of a lot of these big businesses, have commercial properties as part of their "portfolios". Or shares in bloody Pret a Mange 🙄

Yes - the survey by KPMG

A friend of DD works for JP Morgan - they have to report to the office. Very unpopular but the company can implement it unless you have a work from home/hybrid contract. The friend of DD lives in Edinburgh and is based in Glasgow and has a nearly 2 year old. Flexible working request was rejected.

www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/10/jp-morgan-chase-return-to-office#:~:text=The%20US's%20largest%20bank%2C%20which,days%20a%20week%20from%20March.

You only live 10 miles away. Your husband needs to start being a parent because it seems like you do everything.

I’m interested in this research, haven’t seen it - can you link to it?

edited: wait, do you mean this? https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1890265/majority-ceos-full-return-office-within-three-years-study-shows CEOs wanting something and it becoming a reality are a way apart. Interestingly the article highlights all the same issue as this thread - equity, potential discrimination against people outside of cities and with caring responsibilities, and large proportion of workers who say they’d need a pay rise to make full time in the office work. It’s not that simple to say ‘everyone back’.

Most are estate agents

But that doesn't change that, right now, a business can refuse a flexible working request very easily and they do not need to provide evidence to justify why.

CEOs predict it but it's easy for them to make power moves while in a recession as less people are able to vote with their feet. Outlooks may be different when the economy improves. There is also increased pressure on the government from things like the flexible working appeal as it helps women return to the workforce. But we need leaders that care more about the people than the CEOs lining their pockets.

ACAS will just confirm what the legislation states - they have no influence over a business deciding on a return to office approach. Research has shown that within the next 3 years, the majority of organisations will be office based again.

If they don't I'd seek advice from ACAS.

In practice they don't have to prove anything.

They have to approve the request if they can't show that it would have a negative effect on the business, regardless if anyone's worked there 10 years or 1 day. The fact that she's worked there for a year with only 2 days in the office helps the case, because she's obviously been able to do the job fine under those conditions and therefore it's hard for the employer to say it wouldn't be fine anymore.

Requests are. That doesn't mean they have to accept it. Plus it's easier to get rid of people before they have worked a full two years with that employer.

Flexible working requests are a legal right at any time, what's your point?

What does the 1 year have to do with anything?

So my advice is know your legal right and fight for it!

And my advice is RTFT.

OP has been there 1 year.

I recently won my right via the flexible working request to reduce my office days from 2 to 1, as the company backtracked over the last couple of years. I'd moved 35 miles away when the policy was "whatever works for your team" and I went in once a week, since then had a child and was struggling with drop offs/pick ups at nursery if being away from home for 12 days when commuting. I also frequently get migraines since pregnancy and commuting is a trigger. Initially they closed my request saying I should apply for an exception through the internal company policy, but after much fighting with HR they acknowledged that their internal policy didn't align with the law, and the company could not prove that there would be a negative business impact from me working remotely an extra day. Especially as my office days usually consist of me sitting at a desk doing video calls with people in the US. So my advice is know your legal right and fight for it!

It is so hard nowadays to raise a child in this economy where both parents working full time is the norm and grandparents aren't a given as a help. We should all be supporting each other, not rip into people just because not every job can be done remotely. Remote working helps the environment and allows for jobs to be spread around the country rather than bringing everyone to the city. It should be encouraged.

Neither are children in that case 🤷🏻‍♀️

She isn't asking the employer to look after her pet, they offered her a hybrid job and have back tracked. You get jobs that fit around your life, which is what she did. The employer did not consider the impact of their change on staff. I think it is cheeky to change the parameters and expect the employees to reorganise their life around them, especially with dependants to consider. It is a mutual transaction, not a one way one.

It might be if OP had been there longer than a year...

What? What sort of work is this and why are they employed to do nothing?

I don’t know anyone who does this.