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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are they breaking the law?

43 replies

Sunshinerainbowslollipops · 27/09/2017 22:24

Aibu to think the following is a shit situation and DHs employers are taking the piss? DH works full time and applied for flexible working, this was one day a week to work from home, personal reasons as to why this is helpful (hospital appointments for me etc, means he can drive me in lunch break). Anyway, the company is set up well to mean this is possible, other employees do so, there is no reason for it not to work (i.e. He doesn't need to be in the office, could understand you can't work from home if you work in retail or similar). It was agreed as long as he was not needed in the office. Fine he thought, big meetings, specific training etc etc all reasonable but there is ALWAYS something. The flexible working agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on as there is always something they say he is needed to come in for. Think booking interviews on this day (4 other days of the week to choose from, meetings to discuss non essential matters again could be arranged on the 4 other days). It's driving me mad. Does he stand anywhere legally on this? I thought businesses had to grant flexible working unless good reason not to and there isn't a good reason and so it was granted but it just seems box ticking as he is NEVER able to work from home. Any advice? Does he just have to accept that his flexible working doesn't exist? Frustrated as why did they agree it when what they meant was yes you can work from home one day a week unless you are needed in the office and we will ensure that you are indeed always needed in the office so will never work from home... Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

LonginesPrime · 27/09/2017 23:29

On a practical note, I've found that I've had a better response when I'm pushing back by:

not apologising for the fact I wont' be able to physically attend x meeting;

saying I'm happy to dial in or catch up separately the next time I'm in, and to feel free to allocate tasks to me and drop me a line;

not offering an explanation of why I want/need to work from home; just state it as a fact - I used to be scared of the silence but I've found no-one actually asks why because why would they care?

as PPs have suggested, blocking out my diary so people don't assume I'm in the office and put things in my diary.

MumsOnCrack · 27/09/2017 23:34

Has he formally requested it? I had to complete a form which was then signed by my manager and HR. Then, if someone asked and I refused, I'd refer to that paperwork. If there isn't anything in writing then I'm not sure what you can do. If there is then I cannot see how they can enforce his working?

MumsOnCrack · 27/09/2017 23:35

I had to explore what impact it would have on the business including cost, shift working etc. Once they've signed then it's a formal agreement and that's that?

evensmilingmakesmyfacehurt · 27/09/2017 23:37

I work from home on a Wednesday. I just block my diary out so people tend to contact me and see if I can make a meeting rather than just booking it in and assuming I'm in the office. I'm happy to dial in if they are and otherwise we just move things out to another day.

On the other hand. If there is a business requirement for me to be in (client meetings etc). I will ensure I am around if needed in the office. These things work both ways

Brokenbiscuit · 28/09/2017 06:36

Once they've signed then it's a formal agreement and that's that?

But according to the OP, the formal agreement was only that he could WFH as long as he was not needed in the office. So I can't see how that's going to help them.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 28/09/2017 06:40

Nope, the company does not have to grant flexible working.

It is not against the law for them to refuse simply because they just don't want someone to work from home.

elfinpre · 28/09/2017 06:42

I think it would be clearer if he actually had the day off and worked four days than had a day wfh.

I have this and clients are fine with it. The only person who regularly "forgets" I'm not in on a Friday and causes me to have to stay late or give up my Friday is one of my bosses as he is a massive disorganised twat. Companies can and should make part time working work as there are huge benefits for them in retaining talent, getting better productivity and less sickness.

Magpie24 · 28/09/2017 06:46

When I work from home if a meeting goes on for that day I request a dial in so I can join from the phone. People are used to it now and understand it's the same as me being there.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 28/09/2017 06:48

If there are appointments he needs to take you to, he needs to say.... the reason for my WFH on Friday is because of ny wife's appointments. She has one tomorrow which has been arranged on the assumption that I can drive here there. I can come and see so and so about XYZ but it will mean me driving home and back to my wife's appointment which I am happy to do if the meeting is crucial...

NewDaddie · 28/09/2017 06:49

The problem isn't the employer it's that your husband is not pushing back. As far as I'm aware there isn't some legal 'aha' legislation that absolves dh from having a spine.

As pp said make sure he marks away from the office in his diary.

Dh should make the effort to suggest new meeting times himself or reschedule meetings.

Dh should organise his work so that he is obviously doing an individual task. Work from home can be a contentious issue with resentment from colleagues so make sure people know he's doing actual work not getting 'extra holiday'

StealthPolarBear · 28/09/2017 06:55

Are your appointments always Friday? Just wondering if he could say OK but if I need to be in tomorrow I will wfh on Monday (or whatever)

LaContessaDiPlump · 28/09/2017 07:01

Your husband needs to push back on this; they agreed in principle to 1 day a week WFH, so there is no need for this palaver. The company are taking the piss with it because they can. He needs to stop letting them.

FluffyWhiteTowels · 28/09/2017 07:03

In a lot of teams if someone asks to wfh on a Friday it causesbtaised eyebrows and as said previously is more disruptive than a midweek day.

But if all your appointments are only a Friday and every Friday it must be challenging for you if he's not there to drive you. can you change your appointments ?

Bumdishcloths · 28/09/2017 07:12

If I was going to request WFH, the last day I would request would be Friday because it just looks like you're taking the piss for a longer weekend. Can he not request compressed hours with an extra day off in the week?

SingingMySong · 28/09/2017 07:55

Also we have a policy that the WFH-er's phone number must be visible on their calendar on that day so anyone can reach them. Not sure how this would work with your appts - I guess he would have to block out the lunchtimes while he's driving but make sure he is contactable, at times clearly visible to anyone at work, for 7.5 hours of the day.

WFH in my office means still very much being contactable and in communication with the office. If your DH does this and raises his "virtual profile" while he is WFH that might help convince his boss. Respond to and send emails, phone in to meetings, pro-actively ring people he needs to speak to.

Allthebestnamesareused · 28/09/2017 08:12

In your DH's opinion these meetings could be done on other days of the week. What he means though is that he is free on other days of the week. He doesn't know if the other participants are also free on other days too.

Perhaps Friday is the only the day the boss (or the others) have free for that meeting.

Original poster

Sunshinerainbowslollipops · 28/09/2017 09:34

Thanks very much everyone! Friday was suggested by his employer as the best day so I arrange my consultant appointments on that day, as I have a choice of 2 days when the consultant is in. It was a formal agreement, had to go through a huge amount of paperwork and effort and it was written in contract to WFH on a Friday unless needed in the office. But why bother when they make sure he is needed in the office every friday. For example, last week they arranged an interview he needed to sit in on and copied him in. In the email chain the recruitment consultant says that the person can do any day or time to fit with what is convenient. So they go for Friday!!! He wrote and said it's his WFH day and he has availability every other day but apparently it's booked so that's that. He is looking for a new job anyway as the company is shit. They blackmail and make him feel guilty about a period of time when I had a major op and was in hospital for 8 weeks and he needed to care for our baby. He worked from the hospital and home and did everything in his power to work and now they say they were flexible in the instance. They weren't at all. They were a nightmare.

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 28/09/2017 15:29

Yes thsy do sound shit

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