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Original poster

Work announced a move from 2 days to 4 days

292 replies

Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 14:54

Hi all. I'm looking for some suggestions of what avenues I might have.

I started a job just over a year ago. It is company that I worked for some time ago, but had to leave due to personal circumstances, which was with regret. I was thrilled to be offered the job. I applied and received the offer where I was told at both I was obligated to be in the office twice a week.

I left a job that was entirely remote (well, with the exception of trips in to London maybe once a month) to take up this role, accepting two days in person because I was excited by the role. Pay incidentally, is much the same, above the average, but only HRT if a decent bonus is paid. I now pay to park in a city centre twice a week and drive maybe 10 miles or so to get there.

I have child that is full time in nursery and my husband works long days. He is the main breadwinner in a job that is very well paid, think 6 figures, but only just. This means that I do the majority of nursery drop offs and pickups, however, he helps where his hours allow. We also have a dog. He is great at home on his own, but I only resort to that one day a week as a try to work my other day when my husband is off or on a shorter day.

So now, out of the blue, my firm have announced they expect people in the office 4 days per week. This will not work for me. Days will be too long, I'll be £60pw on parking, plus I will need to employ a dog walker 4 days a week. The salary no longer looks decent when you consider this.

I've heard about flexible working requests, and heard that these are considered on a case-by-case basis, but does any HR-y posters have any thoughts on the merits?

Would you be weighing up other options? Speaking to my manager, or holding my cards close to my chest?

I really don't want to leave this job, but I don't have the energy to be a mum and husband to do this, and the salary will no longer be competitive.

OP posts:
Setyoufree · 24/06/2025 17:03

Pre covid a 4 days a week in the office rather than 5 would have been rare. 4 days is increasingly normal now.

I'd suggest find a way to share pick up drop off with your husband. It's very doable if you work as a team - have done it when both working full time, kids in school/nursery, 1h + commute each way for both of us.

AnonymousBleep · 24/06/2025 17:00

Sidebeforeself · 24/06/2025 16:59

You keep saying your employer has done this “on a whim” but you cant possibly know this. You need to look at this from their perspective too before putting your case to them otherwise it will look like you are dismissing their business reasons.

That depends on whether they've stated their business reasons, rather than doing this on a whim. The OP hasn't told us what their business reasons are for the change in policy.

TopsyTurvyDays · 24/06/2025 16:59

Mumofoneandone · 24/06/2025 16:41

As you have an email stating that your job would be hybrid with 2 days in the office only and you accepted on those conditions, I believe that does form part of your contract. (Even with actual contract stating office is main working place). To make any changes to your contract the company would have to negotiate with you.
If they would compromise would you maybe do 3 days in the office.
Could you ask what has changed for them to change WFH/office based arrangements.
If, as you say colleagues you need to liaise with aren't even in the office, what is the business need/reason for you being in the office.

In addition, I think it would be reasonable to say that the additional costs incurred require a salary increase to cover.

Sidebeforeself · 24/06/2025 16:59

You keep saying your employer has done this “on a whim” but you cant possibly know this. You need to look at this from their perspective too before putting your case to them otherwise it will look like you are dismissing their business reasons.

SassyTurtle · 24/06/2025 16:56

Gloschick · 24/06/2025 16:55

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. He works an hour away in a new consultant post (which presumably is likely to be permanent). Maybe use this opportunity to move nearer his work whilst your dc is still in nursery, and you can move jobs to one near his / fully wfh.

Yeah, agree with this.

Gloschick · 24/06/2025 16:55

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. He works an hour away in a new consultant post (which presumably is likely to be permanent). Maybe use this opportunity to move nearer his work whilst your dc is still in nursery, and you can move jobs to one near his / fully wfh.

AnonymousBleep · 24/06/2025 16:55

Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 16:45

Yes. When you get an email from the hiring manager saying something along the lines of "It was great to meet with you today Everanewbie, and we believe that you have the right skills for the role and your personality is a great fit for the office culture. We would like to offer you the role with a salary of £. We work a hybrid week where you will be expected to be in the office two days per week, with the remaining 3 days per week from home, however, you are welcome to come in more often if you prefer." I thought it was a fair assumption to take someone at their word. Maybe not.

Show quote history

I would also assume this! I didn't realise that employers can offer you a job on particular terms, then just change those terms to suit themselves. I've worked remotely for nearly a decade now and recently looked at companies offering hybrid work but I'd need a payrise of a minimum of £5K to justify the extra commuting/dog sitting expenses - and that wouldn't really be giving me any extra cash at the end of it. It's just not worth it.

If it was me, I'd write a polite letter saying that you accepted the job on the agreed terms (copy in your offer letter/email) and as the goalposts have now shifted, is there any flexibility on this? Ask them politely to justify why they've suddenly changed direction. And I'd also look for another (remote) job. It's their loss in the long run.

SassyTurtle · 24/06/2025 16:54

This is why you should never leave a fully remote job for a hybrid one. Hybrid literally doesn't exist! Its a way and form to lure people in like yourself, bait and switch. I guarantee now in 6 months it will be 5 days office. £10 bet if you're up for it? Start searching for a remote job and applying. Make sure its in your contract.

Picoloangel · 24/06/2025 16:53

I would just lay out what you’ve said here and explain that you had never anticipated having to go in more than 2 days per week and that you would not otherwise have taken the job. I’d leave the dog out if it and your parking charges etc because these are, in effect, your problem. I think the suggestion of a 12 month grace period is a good one - you could explore your options in the interim.

I don’t wfh and get why people on here are cynical
about it when we have thread upon thread of advice to buy mouse jigglers and all know people who have e completely abused it, but I think your position re childcare arrangements makes it different. You may have been naive - and I think you were - but the reality is that this job sounds as if it will become logistically and economically unviable (is that even a word?!) Tell them that but expect them to refuse. After that you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it or whether you need to look for another job. Going forward though you’re v unlikely to have a guaranteed hybrid pattern forever and you’ll run the risk of this happening again.

PrincessofWells · 24/06/2025 16:53

Have a conversation with ACAS because I'm reasonably sure they are attempting a unilateral change of contract.

Peacepleaselouise · 24/06/2025 16:52

I’d leave to be honest. If you’re experienced then you don’t have to be treated this way. You have skills other companies will want.
I left a job when a new senior manager came in and didn’t value staff. They very much are regretting having lost all the staff that knew what to do… so now they are having to do a lot more work. Sometimes companies have to learn the hard way.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/06/2025 16:51

I do expect them to honour the terms that they were presented as and not shift the goal posts on a whim

You could try speaking to ACAS, OP, but I suspect the employer will point to the contract and insist the pattern of 2 days pw in the office was only ever intended to be temporary - hence why the contract said what it did

I agree with PPs about requesting a flexible arrangement, but remembering they don't have to grant it I really wouldn't emphasise child/dog care since that might kick off a justified "not our problem" response

And if the business need really does concern collaboration that's not necessarily "bullshitty" - especially if experience has taught them that WFH is damaging it

Pessimist · 24/06/2025 16:51

@Everanewbie Understand the reasons you'd be pissed off for this (I am lucky to work fully remotely bar 1 day a quarter). I'd probably be looking for a different job BUT, in the mean time you could try:

  1. asking for a flexible working request - maybe working 5 longer days in 4 (if you have family/support to help with nursery run)
  2. asking if you could do 3 days instead of 4 in the office and emphasise caring responsibilities.

You're legally entitled to make 2 flexible working requests per year.

MeowCatPleaseMeowBack · 24/06/2025 16:50

I've just handed in my notice for the same reason. It took me a week to find a new job with proper flexible working policies and it wasn't my only option. Current place is now offering my old working pattern to get me to stay but I don't trust them to do it again, so off I go. Vote with your feet.

NescafeAndIce · 24/06/2025 16:48

If you were able to do a 4-day in-office week, presumably you'd have been looking at a much larger pool of potential jobs as well OP, so you might have found one nearer/ better pay /generally more flexible rather than going for only ones that were mainly WFH.

You've been forced into a position you haven't chosen - it's not fair.
I like the suggestion of requesting it on a temp basis and review in a year. Worth a discussion so you know you tried ?

Original poster
Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 16:46

SixteentoOne · 24/06/2025 16:40

Good, objective advice here. https://www.acas.org.uk/flexible-working

Thankyou!

OP posts:
Original poster
Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 16:45

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 24/06/2025 16:33

There's your answer. You have been naive in thinking the two days in would last forever. 4 days in is still hybrid. Check the exact wording of the offer, etc.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes. When you get an email from the hiring manager saying something along the lines of "It was great to meet with you today Everanewbie, and we believe that you have the right skills for the role and your personality is a great fit for the office culture. We would like to offer you the role with a salary of £. We work a hybrid week where you will be expected to be in the office two days per week, with the remaining 3 days per week from home, however, you are welcome to come in more often if you prefer." I thought it was a fair assumption to take someone at their word. Maybe not.

OP posts:
BBQBertha · 24/06/2025 16:45

Very tricky, but ultimately your contract is what stands. Why didn’t you ask for the WFH aspect to be included in your contract before you signed it? I have someone in my team who lives 2 hours away and hates coming into the office because of the commute. It’s as if he didn’t know where the office was when he took the job… I think there’s going to be an increasing trend towards more days in the office as people realise WFH allows for a lot of skiving!

Mumofoneandone · 24/06/2025 16:41

As you have an email stating that your job would be hybrid with 2 days in the office only and you accepted on those conditions, I believe that does form part of your contract. (Even with actual contract stating office is main working place). To make any changes to your contract the company would have to negotiate with you.
If they would compromise would you maybe do 3 days in the office.
Could you ask what has changed for them to change WFH/office based arrangements.
If, as you say colleagues you need to liaise with aren't even in the office, what is the business need/reason for you being in the office.

Original poster
Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 16:41

Parker231 · 24/06/2025 16:31

DH was a GP when DT’s were at nursery but still did nursery and school drop offs. Many others in the NHS will be working under a flexible working request.

Show quote history

He's an hour away and a first year consultant at a hospital that is an hour commute away. He generally does a 2-3 of the 10 nursery drop offs/ pick ups per week, sometimes more if clinics end early. As upsetting as it might be, this will end up with me retaining the status quo, or me looking elsewhere. Luckily, my skills are reasonably in demand, and I will certainly want arrangements in a contract.

OP posts:
marshmallowmix · 24/06/2025 16:41

It’s getting more difficult with wfh in many places now I think…my place is pushing for more days in the office.

I’m a temp so am leaving soon as I’ve covered sickness leave but I’d not like the new regime…

No one is happy to move to 4 days at my place but bosses said leave if you don’t like it…

Original poster
Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 16:34

KitsPoint · 24/06/2025 16:20

My employer (large professional services firm in London) has required us to be in 3 days a week since the pandemic, but they do entertain flexible working requests.

I know someone who works 4 days a week and does 2 days in the office, 2 from home, and someone else who does mornings in the office then travels to and works from home so she is there when her teen gets home from school.

Reasons they are sympathetic to for flexible working requests are childcare/caring responsibilities, or health related issues (which may or may not it stray into reasonable adjustments for disability). I doubt the dog thing would be considered but that said we are doing that stupid bring your dog to work thing so who knows. (sorry, am not a dog-lover).

Reasons they are not sympathetic to:

  • the fact you may have a long and/or expensive and/or inconvenient commute (unless this feeds into the caring responsibilities point).
  • any suggestion that you work just as well or better at home.

I don’t know if other employers take the same approach or not.

I would ask for a permanent flexible working arrangement in the first instance. There should be guidance online about how to frame this. I would refer to the fact that you joined on the understanding you could work 2 days a week but try not to sound whiny about it (not saying you would, just saying it’s possible).

So say you joined on this understanding and on that basis you can make your childcare responsibilities work. But that you understand the business landscape has changed and that companies are increasingly understanding the benefits of in-office working. Unfortunately this doesn’t work for you but if you are happy to explore ways in which you can increase collaboration with colleagues even if you continue to WFH as you are now. And try to come up with some suggestions.

Thank you so much for this. Excellent suggestions.

OP posts:
Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 24/06/2025 16:33

Everanewbie · 24/06/2025 15:00

The actual contract has the office down as the normal place of work. Here is where I have perhaps been naive. However, the role was advertised as being hybrid, and my offer email explained the hybrid 2 days in pattern.

Show quote history

There's your answer. You have been naive in thinking the two days in would last forever. 4 days in is still hybrid. Check the exact wording of the offer, etc.

Crikeyalmighty · 24/06/2025 16:32

I get why you are annoyed about this OP - I think it’s something people need to be really wary of and if it’s an integral part of why you would accept a job it needs to be contractual- I can’t tell you the number of people who moved to 2 and 3 hours away for cheaper housing and a different lifestyle around pandemic time and now find they are expected in to the office 3 and 4 times a week rather than the permanent wfh they thought would stay - but nothing contractual!! It’s an expensive lesson unless you can walk into something more local paying similar

I myself found out many years ago when 7 months pregnant that the whole department was moving from Bankside London to Woking ( and we lived in north London) - so basically I had to go back to Woking for 8 weeks ( with a 13 week old - those were the days of very short maternity leave) whilst hunting for a new job back in London -