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Original poster

Wfh and being in the office- how often should I go ?

78 replies

Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:20

I wfh have been since I started at the company. I travel up to the office if really needed for workshops/events etc.
I haven't been there for about 7 months but I've been asked to attend meetings about 4 times and I've declined (I can't afford it)
There is a workshop and team building day in the new year just before payday and I'm getting pressure to attend. I don't know what to do.
I've got a new line manager whose team go to the office a few times a week and she's pushing me to be onsite more.
I also live 4 hours from work so need to stay over everytime I go up there.
If you were work at what point would it be a problem?

OP posts:
ChristmasPuddy · 09/12/2023 12:26

I also live 4 hours away from my main office (have a local office here but nobody else in my dept!) and only go when I really have to.

You obviously can’t do an 8 hour round trip “just because”! Maybe one or two days a month at a push but no staying over. It’s all subjective though, there will be some on here that will say they would do that trip once a week - and I know people that do but it’s not for me!

I think you should be attending meetings though and would have expected work to pay for travel.

Was anything agreed when you took the job? Does the company mandate office days or is it choice?

MimiSunshine · 09/12/2023 12:27

Well it depends on your contract. Were you hired on an exclusive WFH one? If so then a bit easier to say, sorry I can only attend if the company pays for my travel / accommodation for specific workshop days.

if not (why take a job 4 hours away from home), it becomes trickier and you’re going to have to be honest and say that you can’t afford to pay the travel costs and if they insist on a certain number of days in the office then you’re going to have to try and negotiate a hybrid contract revision or look for a new job.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:30

My contract states I work from the office but in reality people work from home. People who live locally go in approximately once a week.
They knew I didn't live locally when I started over 2 years ago and it wasn't a problem.
Now we've had a management reshuffle it could be.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 09/12/2023 12:34

No-one can say, it's between you and your employer.

If your contract says you're supposed to work at the office/hybrid, then you need to do that, likely at your expense, which obviously you can't due to the cost and time.

So you need to either ask for your contract to be made a homeworking one, and if you are required to go to the office, your employer pays the cost and possibly the time taken is counted as work rather than commuting time.

Failing that, you either need to move nearer your workplace, or get a new job.

Obviously quite a few factors determine the pros and cons of the above for both you and your employer.

dizzygirl1 · 09/12/2023 12:38

I have a colleague just joined the team and company, they live 4 hours away and come in once a week.
More and more companies are asking employees to be in the office 3 or more days a week. If you are not contracted as WFH then you may be forced to come in more often.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:41

Work will pay expenses but I just can't afford it upfront. It'll be about £500 for me to travel and stay over 2 nights for 1 day at work.
I might need to try to make it work as I can tell its pissing them off especially as people who live abroad will be going.
I don't really want to get another job as most jobs closer will be in London so still 1 1/2 hours away.

OP posts:
FuckingHellAdele · 09/12/2023 12:44

You have an office based contract, and a new manager who is keen to get more people back in the office. I think you'd be mad to push back on the request to do one off events.

Don't give them a reason to feel that they need to start being more strict with it.

Floofydawg · 09/12/2023 12:44

Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:41

Work will pay expenses but I just can't afford it upfront. It'll be about £500 for me to travel and stay over 2 nights for 1 day at work.
I might need to try to make it work as I can tell its pissing them off especially as people who live abroad will be going.
I don't really want to get another job as most jobs closer will be in London so still 1 1/2 hours away.

What's the process for booking travel and accommodation? Where I work it's booked through an agency and charged back to the company so no one pays anything up front.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:47

Unfortunately we pay our expenses and get them back about a month later. I don't have a cc I can put them on and crap credit rating. Unfortunately dh isn't working so can't help and it would need to come out of Dec pay. As its before Jan pay.
Argh!

OP posts:
Floofydawg · 09/12/2023 12:48

You need a credit card.

Heloo · 09/12/2023 12:49

Yes, credit card. And go for the important meetings, but no need to go once a week (yet). If that changes, I’d look for a new job…

Motnight · 09/12/2023 12:50

You need to try and go into the workplace, Op.

ChristmasPuddy · 09/12/2023 12:51

£500!! Where is this office?!

Do you have to stay over, is there no way to get there and home in one day? The train is good for getting boring admin done.

Squiggles23 · 09/12/2023 12:52

OP this feels a bit of an excuse. Surely not £500 for four hours travel and a hotel? I think you just need to tell work you can’t book upfront but if they can book it for you, you will be there.

Clearly you don’t need to go all the time but you do need to make the effort for events/training & the odd thing here and there.

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 09/12/2023 12:53

Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:30

My contract states I work from the office but in reality people work from home. People who live locally go in approximately once a week.
They knew I didn't live locally when I started over 2 years ago and it wasn't a problem.
Now we've had a management reshuffle it could be.

You're lucky they'll pay expenses for travelling to your contracted place of work. That isn't common.

If I were you I'd be keeping my head down, not turning down requests to go into for meetings, and hoping that keeps any more formal "come into the office 2 days a week" policies at bay.

Oblomov23 · 09/12/2023 12:54

Your contract says office based do you have no grounds whatsoever.

LlynTegid · 09/12/2023 12:55

I think that for something such as a workshop you should be attending. And as someone else has said, also keeping your head down.

Think about coming back on the second day in the evening so it is one night away.

Singleandproud · 09/12/2023 12:57

It cannot cost you £500, a train and travel lodge is going to be a fraction of that.

You must have saved a fortune in commuting costs that you would have racked up if you had a local job, going forward you need to save what would be your commuting costs to use for the occasional office visit. For this occasion you maybe able to ask the office to book your travel and hotel for you

Really you need to look at moving either area or job because there is nothing to say they won't change to everyone being office based in the near future.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 12:58

It's £100 for the train. Approx £150 per night hotel and £50 taxis and £50 for food.

OP posts:
SutWytTi · 09/12/2023 12:59

£500 sounds very high. You say it is four hours away - if you went into the office 10-5 couldn't you leave at 6am and get home at 9pm?

mynameiscalypso · 09/12/2023 13:00

If your contract states your workplace is the office and you don't have a formal flexible working agreement, there's not much you can do. It's not your employer's problem that you live so far from the office.

jackstini · 09/12/2023 13:00

Based on your contract you don't currently have a leg to stand on wfh

You've probably dropped a bollock refusing to come in for minimal meetings and not going in at all for the last 7 months (?!) that shows a lack of interest and commitment. Has this been a bit of a head in the sand thing?

Where is the office? £500 seems a lot

You can ask to be moved to a wfh contract, but they might say no and you may need to look for a new job

Also request a different way of covering expenses as the current way is untenable

If they do continue to let you wfh I would show a bit more willingness - go in at least once a quarter and for important meetings. It's important to still show you are part of the team

idontlikealdi · 09/12/2023 13:00

Why do you need to stay over two nights
For one day in the office?

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 09/12/2023 13:02

I'm half heartedly looking for a more local job. But I don't really want to leave. Its a good job, lovely people and generally very flexible.

OP posts:
SutWytTi · 09/12/2023 13:03

If I was going to stay for two nights I would go into the office afternoon Tuesday, all of Wednesday and morning of Thursday - then I would be doing a lot of office time - which will make them happy - for only one round trip.

I'm amazed they pay your expenses given you don't have a WFH contract.

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