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Original poster

Angry my manager has taken away WFH perk?

233 replies

ZaHaK · 15/09/2025 01:09

Am I unreasonable to be angry that my manager has taken away my wfh perk whilst I’m on maternity?

I have put in a proposed flexible work plan.

I used to do Tuesday - Thursday on site and Friday morning at home.

I requested to do less hours so I can drop the kids off to school and pick them up and keep my wfh Friday morning hours.

He’s rejected it and basically cornered me into just doing Tuesday- Thursday on site but I don’t want to reduce my hours too much so I’ve had to add an hour in the morning which means rushing my kids to breakfast club and nursery.

I am annoyed because on my last maternity 6 years ago, I applied for another job in another department which guaranteed wfh and my manager promised me more flexibility and wfh when I able to to keep me in his team.

But I feel like he’s used this maternity as an excuse to take it away from me. It’s not in my contract, it was an agreement between me and him.

What would you do? I feel like emailing him to say I am disappointed in him. Not many of our team like him but I used to rate him quite highly on the surveys etc because he always let me be. But I am really disappointed. I should have gone to the other team.

OP posts:
Ladyzfactor · 15/09/2025 01:50

If I was another member of your team and saw that you got a perk that was routinely denied to the rest of us, and that it was never in your contract but just a deal between you and your boss I would be beyond upset and would go to HR.

Original poster
ZaHaK · 15/09/2025 01:41

FirstFallopians · 15/09/2025 01:36

Nope nope nope, YANBU.

I would love to know what his thought process is for unilaterally changing an employee’s longstanding working arrangements while she’s off on maternity, and if he took advice from HR before he responded to you. Especially as it could be interpreted that it’s been done in retaliation to your flexible working request.

What’s his view on the rest of the team and their working from home? Has he pulled this “perk” for everyone, or just you?

Is there a local HR rep/ team? If you could maybe approach them and tactfully ask for a copy of your employer’s flexible working policy/ family friendly policies and let them know the content of your conversation with your manager in a “can I just run something past you…?” kind of way. I work in HR and I’d have my head in my hands if an employee contacted me with this.

He CC’ed HR into the emails replies from himself when I only approached him so they are aware and he’s covered his back.

I am the only person with this perk - rest of team don’t have this perk even when they have requested.

I am not sure what HR can do when it’s an agreement -between me and him and it’s not in my contract.

OP posts:
suburberphobe · 15/09/2025 01:39

So sorry OP you are going through this.

Corporate life is still not on board with working mothers. even in 2025 FFS!

FirstFallopians · 15/09/2025 01:36

Nope nope nope, YANBU.

I would love to know what his thought process is for unilaterally changing an employee’s longstanding working arrangements while she’s off on maternity, and if he took advice from HR before he responded to you. Especially as it could be interpreted that it’s been done in retaliation to your flexible working request.

What’s his view on the rest of the team and their working from home? Has he pulled this “perk” for everyone, or just you?

Is there a local HR rep/ team? If you could maybe approach them and tactfully ask for a copy of your employer’s flexible working policy/ family friendly policies and let them know the content of your conversation with your manager in a “can I just run something past you…?” kind of way. I work in HR and I’d have my head in my hands if an employee contacted me with this.

justasking111 · 15/09/2025 01:32

Depends how indispensable you are. My daughter stood her ground with a new boss who wanted four days in the office instead of three following maternity leave so they wouldn't have to go in. Got to the wire , two days before she finished her contract COVID lockdown. Boss begged her to stay because of the anticipated shit show. Turned out no-one was allowed in the office. Post COVID new boss didn't try to push it again.

So @ZaHaK do you feel lucky?

Original poster
ZaHaK · 15/09/2025 01:25

But the perk would have still been there if it wasn’t for my maternity. I feel like I’m being punished for having a baby.

one kid will be in breakfast club, the other in nursery

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 15/09/2025 01:24

You've had the perk for six years so your children are now older and able to cope with breakfast club.

Look out for another job in the flexible department.

FreyjaOfTheNorth · 15/09/2025 01:15

You’ve answered your own question - it was a perk. It was not in your contract.