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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyone refused to go back into the office?

841 replies

GreenPepperRed · 27/02/2022 00:12

Just that really. Have a job that can easily be done working from home. Company is now saying compulsory 3 days in the office. Has anyone just not gone in and carried on working from home? How did that turn out?

The majority of my department is insisting they are not going in. Can confirm they are serious because I went in to the office a couple days back and there was probably 10% of the people in.

Intrigued what my company will do. Fire us all?

OP posts:
GirlInACountrySong · 27/02/2022 00:27

I thought WFH ended?

kimbyy · 27/02/2022 00:31

It depends on how many stick to their guns & what impact loosing people would have on the business.

XelaM · 27/02/2022 00:33

No. I worked from home throughout the pandemic and am now working face-to-face 4 days a week. Otherwise I can quit and find and new job. So can you and your colleagues

bonfireheart · 27/02/2022 00:35

What does your contract say? This was a temporary measure due to a global pandemic, extreme circumstances. Not sure employees can refuse to go back. They might be asked to leave.

kimbyy · 27/02/2022 00:38

I thought WFH ended?

Well it existed pre covid. Most people I know are back hybrid, some only doing 1 day per fortnight.

RoastedFerret · 27/02/2022 00:39

@GirlInACountrySong

I thought WFH ended?
What do you mean? You do know that people have Neen working from home for years and lots will continue to do so. It isn't just something that ends Confused

I'm self employed but dh and his team are pretty much refusing to go back in. They were struggling to find staff so badly that the company had to hire from outside of our locality and those people are working from home as obviously they can't get into the office so the rest of the staff pretty much said fuck this if they can work from home why can't we. Anyway all has been quiet from his employers but where we live employer's won't be allowed to deny work from home requests without a valid reason soon and his employer would struggle to explain why some can work from home but others in the exact same job can't.

Scornedwoman67 · 27/02/2022 00:41

Were you hired to work from home? If not why are you refusing to work at your place of work??

GirlInACountrySong · 27/02/2022 00:41

It was a temporary measure for some , assume that's who op is referring to or else why post??

VaulterTech · 27/02/2022 00:42

It’s a tricky one, I’ve wfh for 20 years (mixed with client visits) so I see your point. But, if there is an office still in place, and your contract is office based then the employer can stipulate your must be in the office. Hopefully there’s a middle ground, but 2 days from home if you were previously 5 in the office doesn’t sound awful.

AlexaShutUp · 27/02/2022 00:46

If your contract says that your place of work is the office, then you need to go back. You can try to negotiate, but it sounds like they're already meeting you half way by saying that they only want you in 3 days a week.

If you refuse to comply with a reasonable management instruction, you will probably be disciplined and ultimately lose your job. I wouldn't take the risk of digging your heels in and refusing on the assumption that they can't fire everyone.

Find another job if you're not happy.

ilovepuppies2019 · 27/02/2022 00:49

Most employers are negotiating. For good reason really as I think they'll struggle to retain good quality staff if they're not flexible on the point. Most people want a balance in their lives on this point and are willing to find new employers who will offer this. The difference can be huge if we factor in the hours saved on commuting, the flexibility to pick kids up from school and work a few hours in the evening etc. I don't think that you can just not go back OP. It sounds like you need to ask your employer for a negotiation and explain how many of the staff are prepared to leave. Do you have a union who could help you?

CharacterForming · 27/02/2022 00:58

What's the local employment market like?

catgirl1976 · 27/02/2022 01:18

It’s interesting

We are back in 3 / 4 days a week so I’m looking for another job as there is no justifiable reason. My role can be down (and has been done) perfectly well remotely

A blanket “you must be back in the office x days a week” runs the risk of indirect sex discrimination imo. However that’s not a fight I can be arsed to have so I’ll just get another job and vote with my feet as will my colleagues

catgirl1976 · 27/02/2022 01:20

Also - if you are serious about not goi my back in our in a statutory flexible working request. It may get turned down but you at least need to formally request it and they need to set out the grounds for refusal

IForgiveYouPaula · 27/02/2022 06:56

@catgirl1976

A blanket “you must be back in the office x days a week” runs the risk of indirect sex discrimination imo.

How so? If it’s the same for everyone. My employer has given a date approx 6-8 weeks for people to start a phased return to the office. Giving staff the time to get caring responsibilities that were cancelled back in place whether it’s a child, dog or elderly relative

Hercisback · 27/02/2022 07:01

A blanket “you must be back in the office x days a week” runs the risk of indirect sex discrimination imo.

How?

If you're WFH you should have childcare in place anyway. Whatever your responsibilities outside of work, you shouldn't be dealing with them in work time.

stuntbubbles · 27/02/2022 07:01

Dunno. I’m permanently WFH but that’s my specific contract vs others in my company, and I was WFH pre-pandemic. If they wanted me in the office, I’d resign and go back to being self-employed.

DP’s department has supposed to be going in 1 day pw since restrictions lifted, then 2 days as of last week. Thus far he’s not gone in at all as each time he’s arranged to, he’s found out no one else is so all the meetings would have been remote anyway. They don’t seem bothered, it’s an “on paper” return to office work with no heft behind it.

I think your company can make life difficult for those refusing to return – perhaps they won’t fire you all as it leaves them short, but they can put an end to perks, refuses pay rises, stop bonuses, remove non-stat benefits, etc. I do think companies insisting on office time aren’t doing themselves any favours given the job market feels currently very skewed towards job hunters.

MinnieMountain · 27/02/2022 07:03

We have officially moved to hybrid working, but I’m well aware that my employers don’t have to offer it.

Unless your contact says home based you go back, even if there’s no logic to it.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 27/02/2022 07:21

@catgirl1976

It’s interesting

We are back in 3 / 4 days a week so I’m looking for another job as there is no justifiable reason. My role can be down (and has been done) perfectly well remotely

A blanket “you must be back in the office x days a week” runs the risk of indirect sex discrimination imo. However that’s not a fight I can be arsed to have so I’ll just get another job and vote with my feet as will my colleagues

Eh?

How on earth is it sex discrimination?

OfstedOffred · 27/02/2022 07:24

Our office are keeping flexible.we are attracting good staff doing so.

A lot of teams are open that they would like people to come in once every week or fortnight, mainly for social benefits, but it's not mandatory. Most of us want to do that anyway.

OfstedOffred · 27/02/2022 07:26

I'd be wary about the companies requiring minimum 3 days. They tend to be the ones who fundamentally don't like wfh, I suspect they will creep it back up to 5 again if they can possibly do it and not lose staff, however, I think they will struggle.

Chocomelon · 27/02/2022 07:27

I think it's cheeky to "refuse" to go into work and I think your employer should enforce working in the office if they want that. You don't get to decide you're working from home permanently because you prefer it.

Whatadayyyy · 27/02/2022 07:28

Why would you not go in to the office?

OfstedOffred · 27/02/2022 07:29

We are back in 3 / 4 days a week so I’m looking for another job as there is no justifiable reason. My role can be down (and has been done) perfectly well remotely

You are the sort of person my flexible workplace is attracting. You know full well your current employer will edge it back up and it's just a waste of commute time for presenteeism, so you are voting with your feet.

The more people do that the more inflexible employers will have to shift

Loopytiles · 27/02/2022 07:29

The employer has the option to take disciplinary action. Difficult to do if it really is a high proportion of people.