Hybrid Working Policy help needed

I think we work at the same place, just from this policy being in place a year, a form to submit for unforeseen circumstances, and the wording around “the focus is on days not hours”.
Is it big, lots of offices across the country, led by a guy no one really likes?

If so, I think you’re unlucky, as this is very team dependent. I work in an office where no one in my team is based - there is literally no one I would ever need to speak to. I regularly do half days in the office and my senior manager does not care. However, the flexibility they give has always been framed around “it’s fine as long as it works with your team” and it sounds like yours doesn’t.

Same. I think op has misinterpreted the policy and she’s been very lucky to get away with it for a year. If her contract says place of work is office she hasn’t really got a place to stand on.

I'm sorry, I don't understand this. I have two children in (two different!) nurseries who I drop each morning at 7.30 and 7.40. I then drive 1 hour 20 minutes (30 miles) and get into the office for 9am. I then leave at 4.30 and do the pick ups in reverse. Nurseries close at 6pm. Why would you need to leave at 3pm? And expect to do this without a formal arrangement? I'm sorry OP, but you are milking this.

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

Kindly OP - you absolutely were.
You might have thought it was OK for a year but I suspect there's been a lot of mutterings about it after you saunter out at lunchtime and that's why they've now been forced to confirm that by majority they don't literally mean anything over 50%. I mean come on most people would recognise they mean most of the day and in working terms that would be 6+ hours at least

Civil service? My dept has clarified that a day means "majority of the day" eg 51% minimum.

It can be difficult if everyone works flexi though because if everyone is working say 4hrs in the office then depending on start and finish times, there is no guarantee everyone will be in the office together.

This is exactly what happened at my work place. We used to do two days a week but some people would work 12 hour days there and then say "well I did 12 hours on Tuesday so I'm not coming in on Thursday". nope they need to be in on Thursday as there are office based things that need to happen and they should be doing them. Our minimum hours in the office is 6.

Majority of the day to me would mean being in for around 6-7 hours, not going home at lunch time.

You need to wait to travel til 4pm really. Even 3pm is taking the piss a bit it's halfway through the afternoon and as a PP has noted you'd presumably go straight to pick up your DC at 4pm and then get little more work done that day as caring for a preschooler. If it's 45-60 min to get to nursery you need to be staying at work til 4, that leaves a decent margin of time for traffic.
Why have you asked to leave at 3 when you could stay til 4?

I think you were a tad cheeky to think "majority" meant you could get away with working a half day in the office. That said, if you are contracted for a 7.5hr day, then working 8.30am - 4pm covers you, if you then have your 'lunch break' at 4pm (then use it to travel home).

I don't think you should argue to continue to work half-days, that's just unreasonable, even if you are working the afternoon at home. You are contracted for 3 office days, not 3 half days (technically 1.5 office days then).

I personally think you're being unreasonable and cheeky over this, and should work your full office day, as you said, as long as you leave by 4pm, it works for you anyway.

I think you'll find in places like the NHS 7am is an incredibly busy part of the day for many staff. Right through the morning where things can quieten down by the afternoon....it's not one size fits all🤷‍♀️

Are you in a union? If so speak with them. Is this policy tgat states 'majority' specified in your statement of particulsrs/contract.

When do you eat?

Sometimes permanent is best though, because it can’t be taken away. So once you have a flexible working agreement in place, this situation won’t happen again where you’re having to rethink your entire routine.

If your son is in nursery until 5.30, why don’t you just work until 4? It’s taking you 45 mins to and hour to get in and then that leaves you 1.5 hours to get home.