Annoyed at colleague re flexible working

[ThatsNotMyCherry]

I’m a parent who has returned to work from maternity leave and I’ve had a flexible working request approved (1 day working from home). I know my boss doesn’t really like it but he’s accepted it. My bosses boss has recently decided to let everyone wfh a few days a week as staff morale is low and a few people have asked for flexible working. A colleague who is a good friend was recently aggressively attacking the idea to a group of us (including our boss) and I felt a bit upset as she knows I do it and would really appreciate more flexibility if it became available. Another colleague who I’m also friends with joined her and starting saying how ‘ridiculous’ people who want to work flexibly are. AIBU to think it’s a bit insensitive?

I think some people need to get into the 21st century. We are dealing with a climate crisis on this planet, and the ability to work from home significantly reduces fuel emissions. It also improves productivity, improves staff morale and reduces sick absence. The idea that staff are "taking the piss" unless they are sitting in rows in an office is both old-fashioned and a confession of ineffectual leadership. Colleagues who make snide remarks, suggest that others are getting an easy ride and band together to bitch about it in corners should be told to grow up or be subject to disciplinary proceedings. There is absolutely no justification for behaving in that way.

Also WFH works for some workplaces, but not others. I physically can't do my job from home (I need to be in a hospital). But even some office-based workplaces don't suit WFH easily if it relies on a lot of team discussions etc whereby not being in the office means you get quite segregated out of the team / daily developments.

Yes, if meetings are formally scheduled you can skype in but in a team where lots of informal ad hoc catchups and discussions happen it’s difficult to be kept in the loop.

Almost everyone I employ has flexible working and can work from home. The only ones who need to be in the office every day are the admin team and even then we have core hours between 10-4 so there's a bit of leeway for them about starting and finishing times.
I don't care if someone has children or not, if they are caring for elderly people or just want to condense their hours so they can slob out in front of Netflix every Friday. All I care about is that the work is done, that their diaries are kept up to date and that they are where they say they are.

I think that coronavirus will probably demonstrate that WFH can work as companies who are resisting it will see that it leads to happier staff, more motivated staff and more productive staff!

my team think junior team members need face to face support and that it can’t be done over email/IM

That sounds logical to me, as does the improved "bonding" they feel you have through seeing each other, so maybe while it works well for some, they just don't consider WFH's appropriate in your particular workplace?

I'm afraid I think you're BU to object to the comment made - after all, these things need to be discussed - and I wonder if, rightly or wrongly, some resentment's built up because they feel an exception's being made due to you being the only parent on the team?

It's a minefield - and I say that as someone who benefits from wfh. Takes trustworthy, proactive employees and trusting, proactive management. It causes huge controversy if not dealt with appropriately and applied equally. There's one chap in our small company who goes around constantly saying everyone should work from the office. It does somewhat stick in the throat of staff like me who commute long distances to work and have caring responsibilities - and I've been there the longest, since the company was set up and I was promised flexibility providing I accepted the job offer.

my team think junior team members need face to face support and that it can’t be done over email/IM

How true is this? I agree face-to-face is best, but it's not always possible. Most of our juniors are in a different country. They get support by group chat, email, phone, IM, video conf, screen-sharing, good documentation and each other, but face-to-face from seniors just isn’t always possible, especially with pandemic travel bans in place.

plenty of companies taking specific advantage of WFH to overstaff smaller offices - i.e more people than seats, requring WFH. Of course it doesn't always work - Mondays are rammed as people are in the office for catchups, weekly meetings etc, and Fridays' are a ghost town. But it makes financial sense for lots of offices too (as well as being useful for workers)

I do think the tools we have available aren't good enough for mass WFH though - teleconferencing via computer is barely any better than it used to be with a phone, and screen share isn't a great way to collaborate vs standing around a whiteboard or just seeing proper body language etc. But its ok for day to day stuff

We have similar issues in our office and I always find it ridiculous quite frankly. Your arrangement is your arrangement but people often get resentful (especially when it's due to people having kids when they haven't) and it can leave a really sour mood to the office. Personally as long as the rules and opportunities are consistent for everyone and her workload isn't been impacted by you working from home then she has no good reason to complain.

Your arrangement is your arrangement but people often get resentful (especially when it's due to people having kids when they haven't

Actually they are right to be resentful as anyone can request and benefit from working from home and other flexible working arrangements.

They're entitled to an opinion, but their opinions are stupid.

You should follow Mother Pukka on Instagram who has some excellent research showing increased productivity and business performance due to flexibile working.

@Leighhalfpennysthigh .....as per my final sentence.

What's there to be resentful about if the opportunity to work from home are there for everyone?

YANBU. They were probably trying to say the right thing to please the boss. I think everyone should work flexible hours for the sake of mental health. It has made a huge difference to my wellbeing.

And therefore productivity!

No harm in their expressing an opinion even though you dont agree. My dh works from home two days a week, it allows him to drop the kids off to nursery and pick them up. This obviously takes time out of his working day so he goes in early on the days he is in the office to make up for it. He feels he is still more productive at home and his boss agrees if his boss felt it was impacting the quality of his work his working from home would be looked at. Ignore your colleagues, keep a log of your actual hours and see how you get on.

I hate this kind of mentality in the work place. People getting all worked up by something that probably won’t even affect them. They probably wanted to ‘look good’ and score brownie points with your boss, OP. Especially if they know your boss is against flexible working.
They sound very old fashioned to me.

People get suspicious of others who WFH. One of my colleagues who was supposed to be full time WFH (9-5.30) was never contactable between 2.30pm and 3.pm, she’d not answer emails, her phone was ‘engaged’ etc. Turns out she did the School run and fixed her 4 kids a snack and put the telly on for the remaining 2.5 hours of her working day. Despite claiming she had after school care sorted.

I work as part of a team spread across the country. We are effective and friends out of work. I WFH at least three days per week. One of my team works full time in an office. One of my teamqorks from home 2-3 days per week and takes a lunch break between 3-3:30 to do the school run. They start at 7am and manage a team inbox to about 7pm. Home working and flexible working is available for everyone, regardless of grade.

Lazy people will be busy doing nothing regardless of location. Bums on seats between 9 to 5 doesn't make a high performing organisation or individual. It's a very old fashioned way of working.

People that don't see the value of home working probably aren't disciplined enough to do it.

@maddiemookins16mum

So what? If she's getting her work done her childcare arrangements are her business.

If she's against the idea (for whatever reason) she has every right to say so

I think YANBU, this sounds like really spiteful behaviour to me.

That does actually seem quite personal, even if it is their opinion - they're basically telling you in the meeting that they don't like that you have that option.

I'd be pissed off too - if it's being allowed by the company in general, then it's pretty rude to say "it's ridiculous", especially when they KNOW you do it, and why.

The company I work for have a very flexible approach to working, I work from home at least one day a week (I work full time and am a working mum) and find I get through more work at home. I also get some housework done too. I now cant imagine working in an office 5 days a week and feel very lucky that all directors and staff greatly appreciate this approach to working.

YABU in so far as they are as entitled to their opinion are you are yours.

Just because you are outraged doesn't make you right.

Why are your feelings more important than theirs?

Food for thought.

I got this when I went back to work as a single parent.

I was granted 4 9-1 shifts to tie in with childcare and school.

I had colleagues complain to me and behind my back that they "still had to put up with the regular morning 6-2 shift".

I told them it didn't concern them as they were neither parents nor was it their business. Lo and behold they changed their time when their own crotch goblins appeared.....