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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask to work from home permanently?

39 replies

Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 15:53

I work from home two days a week, and in the office 3 days a week. 9-3 school hours. On my work from home days I am much happier and more productive. I am a book keeper and work in an office with a general manager. Everything I need to do my job is via email. I have been signed off work post covid due to fatigue, but decided I was well enough to work from home. My life feels completely different! I find the lights and the (small amount) of noise in the office draining. I suspect I may have mild autism. I feel like I’m fighting in a fog when I’m in the office. I don’t want to explain that to them though. But I would like to permanently request to work from home. How do I go about this? Has anyone else done this and had success? Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Butterbeanbutterbo · 12/11/2025 16:38

Something to think about in terms of employer perspective: In my organisation permanent work from home means that is their place of work and therefore we have to pay all transport once they leave their home on any non work from home day eg for training in the office. There are also implications for insurance (I think it is something like: they have to change home insurance to cover business use and employer has to pay); and utilities including broadband (employer has to pay towards).

Tammygirl12 · 12/11/2025 16:29
  • the burden of additional costs
  • an inability to reorganise work amongst existing staff
  • an inability to recruit additional staff
  • a detrimental impact on quality
  • a detrimental impact on performance
  • a detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand
  • insufficient work available for the periods the employee proposes to work
  • planned structural changes to the employer's business

think the business argued quality and performance (lack of team work, access to other employees, training, impact on customers etc)

Holdonforsummer · 12/11/2025 16:27

Have you considered you might love your at-home days because you work in the office the other days? I think a combination is really good as it makes you really appreciate the work from home days. If you were at home every single day, you might not find it such a bonus?

Tammygirl12 · 12/11/2025 16:26

Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:17

Tammygirl12 what business case did they base their refusal on? It seems they need a genuine reason or you can appeal.

We argued didn’t suit the needs of the business. Picked one of the reasons on the acas list.

GreyCloudsLooming · 12/11/2025 16:22

You need to think of how your working from home will benefit the company. Don’t present it as a way that just benefits you.

Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:18

To be honest before covid I was so tired I often thought about quitting, although as a lone parent to a teenager this is not an option.

OP posts:
Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:17

Tammygirl12 what business case did they base their refusal on? It seems they need a genuine reason or you can appeal.

OP posts:
SnappyOchre · 12/11/2025 16:15

What benefits you and you alone might not necessarily be a valid business decision if it has an impact on the wider cohort of workers. I would suggest you reduce a bit but retain at least some office days to show a bit of willing.

Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:15

There’s something about being in the office that makes me feel completely wiped out. I’m not sure what though

OP posts:
Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:14

I would be happy to come in for meetings. It’s so difficult as this has made such a difference to my life and happiness that I’m considering looking for another job. But ideally I would rather do this one from home.

OP posts:
Tammygirl12 · 12/11/2025 16:07

I managed someone who did this request and it was a super awkward meeting as we couldn’t approve it.
Once an employer locks in a 5 day a week contact at home, it is so hard to get them to come in for training or team days or emergencies etc. so hard to the point it can be technically impossible. Can you ask for an extra 1 day at home, that’s much more likely to be reasonable

Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 16:07

I’ve had a look on ACAS and it says they would need a valid business reason to refuse. But I’m still skeptical it’s as easy as it sounds to get approval?

OP posts:
vellichoria · 12/11/2025 16:05

I am guessing you'd need to check company policy on this and maybe speak to someone from HR? I can imagine that the process for doing that and the likelihood that your request would be approved varies by company, so whatever people tell you here may not apply to your company.

Original poster
Numberjacks1 · 12/11/2025 15:55

Also I’m really good friends with the general manager so would feel a bit guilty for leaving her “alone”. But it would make me so much happier (and less exhausted despite the 15 minute commute) I just seem to feel wiped out by a (part time) day in the office. From home it’s like I’m on fire with my work! And I’m so much more motivated! I know my manager mentions she really hates working from home as it’s isolating, but I’m finding the opposite.

OP posts: