Will need to leave job

[fia101]

I know I'm thinking ahead too much but it's keeping me awake.

My work doesn't do official flexible working of any kind. Women who do have flex working from years old arrangements being edged out.

Boss currently allows me on informal ad hoc basis to work one day from home. I must go to her start of every week to discuss it. Nothing in writing and no guarantee as don't want precedent set. It's a pain but something I have to do especially with young kids and 3 hour round commute.

Bloke just started in my very very small department. Has moved into my office (previously only me). He mentioned today to me whether working from home possible as he's noticed me doing it and he has a young child.

Great that he does the childcare but I fear if he raises wfh with boss that's the end of my informal arrangement as definitely won't want precedent set.

The wfh informal arrangement is only thing that makes work bearable. They hate parents. There aren't many other firms I can work at due to small jurisdiction I'm in.

Is there a reason you can't get childcare on that one day of the week?

If you think you may have to look elsewhere anyway, why not present a united front and see if you can get something official? Be honest, tell them you love working there but if your day working at home was cut you couldn't do it.

I’m a bit puzzled. We have official flexible working and can work from home with agreement. But could not use our work from home day to cover our own childcare. They would assume if you are caring for a child you are not fully available for work. I would agree with other pp, it would be better to have mutual discussion and get something official rather than this ad hoc situation.

There could be a way to present what the lawss and best practice are for this
Also to promote what you provide and how the business will be at a loss if they lose you ?
Nothing ventured

Do some research and prepare a case

Good luck !

As Els1e says, if on that day you are working from home, are your children in childcare anyway to enable you to work effectively? If so, you may have to simply resign yourself to going into the office that day too.

Thanks everyone - my kids are in school and childcare 5 days a week. I don't look after them when I wfh.

I leave house at 7 and get home at 7 5 days a week. Frequently work late at home and weekends.

One day wfh makes work bearable because because it means I get to have dinner with my kids once a week. I'm home when they're getting ready for bed usually.

I work my socks off day I wfh.

Definitely will look at presenting my case. I had a great colleague who was great at what she did but they wouldn't allow her half a day off a week. They let her leave without a fight as they are so against flex working of any type.

I keep hearing about agile working and wonder why my firm has made the decision to go completely against this trend.

Thanks all

A lot of companies are reducing their WFH policies and don’t understand some of the benefits of it. I think it’s absolutely absurd but it’s just an annoying trend :(

My company wound back their WFH policy whilst I was on maternity leave. Asking to WFH was paramount to taking a days holiday with how many hoops you hadn’t to jump through :(

OP, if the job doesn't fit with the lifestyle you would like you can't blame the employer. You need to find something closer to home and/or with shorter hours.

Couldn’t you keep evidence of all the work you manage to get done at home and present the case that it actually benefits the company?

Worth fighting for I think. I’m freelance wfh these days and the thought of hauling myself through traffic to sit in an office and do work seems mad. Obviously I don’t know what you do and if your absence affects colleagues adversely, but get your case together before you just resign.

There isn't reason not to have part time or flex working though. Many law firms do. I can do my work from home easily.

I have to log in and record 7 hours of chargeable time everyday with a written narrative for every 6 minutes of time. I bill that at the end of every mont to client. Work can clearly see what I'm doing each day and how productive I am.

I live in the countryside so no chance of getting a job closer to him and if I moved to city I lose my childcare which includes extended family plus my husband works 6 miles from home so his commute would be longer.

My work are making cuts left right and centre. Not replacing secretaries who leave, cutting back on milk - it's not that the firm is in trouble but that the shareholders want more money in their pocket.

Perhaps that is fair enough.

I work a lot of hours over and above my contracted hours for no over time or time in lieu. Wage is in £30ks so not like I'm living it up.

I'm just sad.

You need to make an official, formal request for flexible working under the relevant legislation. Employer would then have to prove it wasn't practical to allow it which will be difficult if this is your usual work pattern, ad hoc or not. Don't delay as your colleague may get in first and scupper your chances. Talk to your union or look at ACAS website.

Good idea - thanks for the advice

You can put in a request for flexible working to formalise your wfh day. Since you are already doing it informally, your employer can hardly say that it would not work for the business.

7am-7pm is not unusual in law unfortunately. It's my same day. Fact is most law firms expect more than 7 hours a day. My chargeable hours were 7 hours chargeable, 2 non chargeable. I was expected to do more. My contracted hours were 9 hours with the usual clause about overworking. By having you in the office they will get more than 7 hours.

The other fact is that whilst a lot of law firms have readily available policies, their are total bollocks. The firms reject the applications under those policies for business reasons and if anyone complains, they are bought out and offered deals. Sad but true.

If you are keen for more flexibility, try looking at public sector organisations. You'll never be as well paid as in private practice, but the hours genuinely really are 7,5 hrs a day and flexible. I work with some very happy solicitors.