To think set days in/out isn't Smart Working?

[ColdAsMice]

Our company has introduced a Smart Working policy which essentially means employees can work where they want, when they want so long as contracted number of hours are done and there are no performance concerns or essential requirement to be in a specific location.

BUT the crunch is...it states "At line manager discretion" which essentially overrides everything.

My line manager is a lonely single lady who basically wants us all in the office with her for company. We've all proven we work well from home, would prefer to be doing so and our office is an incredibly noisy, not very pleasant building so we'd rather be there as little as possible. She is insisting on 3 days in, 2 days out though on set 9-5 hours.

Surely that isn't the same thing as Smart Working and allows no flexibility or personal preference?

That's a shame for you tbh op as you will see other teams wfh entirely and it will seem very unjust. Do you have any anonymous surveys where you work that could feed this back?

Strength in numbers OP.

1 are you in a union
2 can you get a few colleagues in the team who agree with you
3 band together with or without union rep and make a case

Sounds a similar situation to me.

My boss determines my smart working. I determine the smart working of my team underneath me.

I’ll be dragged in 3 days a week to keep her company, and I’ll let my team focus at home.

@MattHancocksSexTape yes! Identical to me....I have a team, who I get to decide re: smart working, so they will all be fully remote. Meanwhile, I'll essentially be an office buddy for my lonely boss. Which stops me getting my own work done as effectively...leading to a knock on effect of more hours worked as I just know I'll end up working silly hours at night to make up the time wasted during the day. It is ridiculous. No union here, sadly. My colleagues feel the same as me but are less willing to make a stand about it than I am.

Can you ask your manager what's her reasons for you having to be in 3 days 9-5?

Point out that your team will be working remotely based on the company's smart working pledge and their desire to work that way.

Basically make her justify it to you?

I'd also then not be 'fun, chatty' colleague when you're in the office. Always polite, but I'd find a desk in a quite corner and just say you work better that way.

Honestly OP this would annoy me so much!

I took my current role because it was a remote opportunity. We have agreed to me going in once a month, and I can live with that. But I make it very clear often what my preference is!

Smart working basically means anything other than the traditional 9-5 office model. It’s just a management buzzword.

That's the trouble with those clauses.

How big is the company ?
Is there a way of feeding back that you and your Team would very much like to follow the Company policy and how you have noticed a more satisfied team and no drop in work ethic whilst that has been the case, but it is now being restricted by your immediate manager over ruling (or making 'local rules' about) the Company Policy you have lost the goodwill of the Team ?

Same here.

My boss has trust issues with some team members (not me!) so is insisting all of us do 3 days in the office.

This is the kind of workplace where one person fucks up and instead of calling them out, the whole team gets a group bollocking.

Previously I had flexible working for school runs but she won’t necessarily let me go into the office for my longer days so some days I’m stuck doing a 60-90 min each way commute for 4 hours in the office. Fine if it was necessary but it’s not and it’s a waste of time and petrol.

I'd look for another team. This causes no end of resentment. But you do need to ask her to give her reasons.

It doesn’t matter. It is at manager discretion so you’ll just have to go elsewhere. I think you’ll find a lot of companies aren’t as flex as you think though