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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed at changing office days after booking travel?

31 replies

Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 14:53

I schedule my wfh days carefully and conscientiously depending on what's going on in the office, when numbers of staff are down because of leave or toil or others out at meetings and then I plan the fifteen days a month I have to be in the office. It was formally agreed I could wfh for a set amount of days a month.

I then book my travel tickets (expensive) around this and it fits into my very tight monthly budgeting. I don't have much left over for luxuries really apart from the odd takeaway maybe.

It usually works out OK, but colleagues aren't as considerate as I am and will just book leave or wfh without checking other's calendars. There's got to be a number of trained staff in the office per day.

Anyway, since I arranged my wfh days for the next month and booked my travel tickets, I've been asked to go in to the office for a meeting on a day I was supposed to be wfh. This is going to cost me lots more in travel and time and it's likely to be a meeting I could have just logged on to remotely really. I'm pissed off. Aibu?

OP posts:
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Applecup · 20/05/2026 16:42

Unfortunately things do crop up at the last moment. People book a last minute day off for holiday/appointments/kids' stuff.

Chilly80 · 20/05/2026 16:20

If too many people are WFH what happens?

Perimenoanti · 20/05/2026 16:13

How much do you earn?

20x15 works out more than a season ticket at 250?

What does your contract say about hybrid working?

How are you able to plan your wfh days around staffing levels? I can't tell who is considerate here. Are you saying you are the last person to decide on when to wfh once everyone has made up their mind about any absences?

Erin1975 · 20/05/2026 16:01

You need to buy Multiflex tickets. They are about half the price of a regular fare. You buy 12, they are valid for 3 months and they can be used anytime.

There is also the advantage that if there is no conductor on the train to check tickets then you don't have to use one.

LlynTegid · 20/05/2026 15:50

I would be annoyed in your shoes. Especially if there had always been wfh days since I commenced working for the company.

Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:45

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:44

Wow, that's a lot for a low fare!!

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Yeah that's why I book the tickets in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:45

Stoicandhappy · 20/05/2026 15:28

Why are you booking the train tickets so far in advance if your office days are subject to change?

They don't usually change though. I'm considerate in making sure there is cover in the office before I schedule my wfh days and im usually very flexible in other ways such as scheduling my wfh days around when im needed in the office and I work really hard but it's all very 'meh' from management. They couldn't care less.

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catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:44

Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:42

My fare is usually £20 per day and exchange fee is £10. £10 I don't have really. Last month I was already scraping what I could from the cupboards to eat for a few weeks before pay day.

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Wow, that's a lot for a low fare!!

Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:42

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:30

How much is the fare and what's the refund fee?

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My fare is usually £20 per day and exchange fee is £10. £10 I don't have really. Last month I was already scraping what I could from the cupboards to eat for a few weeks before pay day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:40

MimiSunshine · 20/05/2026 15:39

Is that something they should be doing though?
as in, policy is that annual leave should only be booked if no more than 2 people are already off (so 3 can be off at once) and you have agreed with a colleague(s) that they’ll cover the office that day.

if not and people are allowed to book days off as they choose and the policy or unwritten expectation is that management make sure office is covered / demand bums on seats then they’re not doing anything wrong.

you could try saying colleague hadn’t asked me to cover that for them and I’ve already made my travel arrangements for the month.
but ultimately it doesn’t sound like your boss will care.

Edited
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He won't care at all.

OP posts:
1secretjabber · 20/05/2026 15:40

Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:27

Unfortunately not. They're advanced rail tickets which mean no refund at all or exchange of dates without a fee.

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I book my travel in advance and if I want to change the dates I can do so with a £5 admin fee (plus the difference in the cost of the ticket). It seems to be the case whichever carrier I am using (I book using LNER). I always thought that it was quite a good deal tbh.

Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:40

Yes much cheaper. I was paying around £250 for a season ticket beforehand. Now it's more manageable.

OP posts:
MimiSunshine · 20/05/2026 15:39

Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:25

They don't check what the levels of staffing in the office are though before booking leave or wfh. I'm the only one who does.

Show quote history

Is that something they should be doing though?
as in, policy is that annual leave should only be booked if no more than 2 people are already off (so 3 can be off at once) and you have agreed with a colleague(s) that they’ll cover the office that day.

if not and people are allowed to book days off as they choose and the policy or unwritten expectation is that management make sure office is covered / demand bums on seats then they’re not doing anything wrong.

you could try saying colleague hadn’t asked me to cover that for them and I’ve already made my travel arrangements for the month.
but ultimately it doesn’t sound like your boss will care.

BarbiesDreamHome · 20/05/2026 15:34

What would happen if you just said no, sorry, cant do that day, how about the day after?

Don't explain. It's not your manager by the sounds of it and its fair to offer an alternative.

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:33

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:30

How much is the fare and what's the refund fee?

Show quote history

Edit: exchange fee, not refund fee.

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:30

Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:27

Unfortunately not. They're advanced rail tickets which mean no refund at all or exchange of dates without a fee.

Show quote history

How much is the fare and what's the refund fee?

Stoicandhappy · 20/05/2026 15:28

Why are you booking the train tickets so far in advance if your office days are subject to change?

Theraffarian · 20/05/2026 15:28

Are your travel tickets actually cheaper if you book a month in advance . Our train tickets would be the same price, so although we budget for the amount of days going into the office , never actually buy them until the night before . Days are frequently changed around and having bought travel tickets in advance wouldn’t be a good enough reason for us not to accommodate updated plans .

Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:27

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:21

Can't you get a refund on one of the dates tickets?

Unfortunately not. They're advanced rail tickets which mean no refund at all or exchange of dates without a fee.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:25

Bavariamaria · 20/05/2026 14:56

I don't think you can expect your colleagues to be more considerate other than the office being covered. Can you block out your calendar as at home days, no in person meetings?

They don't check what the levels of staffing in the office are though before booking leave or wfh. I'm the only one who does.

OP posts:
Original poster
Carlie97 · 20/05/2026 15:24

Bavariamaria · 20/05/2026 14:56

I don't think you can expect your colleagues to be more considerate other than the office being covered. Can you block out your calendar as at home days, no in person meetings?

The manager in question won't care. He puts in 'in person's meetings regardless.

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UnDeuxTwuh · 20/05/2026 15:22

@Ablondiebutagoody but she is there in the office half the time; she offered to attend remotely too.

My dh employer had this problem too and they solved it by saying EVERYONE is expected to work in the office every single day. It is only enforced for all-team meetings to stop people saying “but it’s my wfh day.”

catspyjamas1 · 20/05/2026 15:21

Can't you get a refund on one of the dates tickets?

UnDeuxTwuh · 20/05/2026 15:18

@Unexpectedlysinglemum you can’t assume that “working at home is a privilege not a right”

It may be a contractual agreement; some peoples ordinary place of work is Home

Or it may be written in a formal flexible working agreement which has been agreed by management in which case that can only be revisited once annually by either party; it can’t be suspended at a whim.

A well written agreement will spell out who is responsible for what, and when office attendance is mandatory and with what frequency etc.

Ablondiebutagoody · 20/05/2026 15:11

I can't imagine working somewhere where unforseen stuff doesn't happen last-minute. Booking such rigid travel doesn't sound workable.