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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I have any rights here or do I need to leave my job?

46 replies

Ippagg · 04/10/2023 19:39

I went back to work a month ago. I have a one year old, no other support, no partner, no family to help with practicalities. I work four days (one day taken as holiday each week). Since covid I went into the office 5 times in two years. Now I am back, my previous manger left the company and I am being managed by a new man, he has worked here years but apparently was never into working from home.

I really need to work from home for my life to work. It takes 1.5 hours to get to work and costs a lot. But the main issue is I don’t know how I would fit in picking up DD. He has now said that I need to be in one or two days a week, and that the company is trying to get people in and he thinks work is more productive in the office. I work in insurance, he is management level and I am close behind him, I don’t earn loads but enough to not want to jump ship unless I have to. I genuinely don’t need to be in the office to do my job, as shown since 2020. What do I do here? Very stressed.

OP posts:
Motheranddaughter · 04/10/2023 19:42

Was your contract formally changed to WFH

Original poster
Ippagg · 04/10/2023 19:43

@Motheranddaughter no, just told that I could work from home unless I needed to be in . That need only came up five times in two years.

OP posts:
geekone · 04/10/2023 19:45

I understand where you are coming from but it’s probably go in or leave. I have to go in. I negotiated some half days in the office and half days at home, that probably wont work for you though 1.5 hours away. Could you drop to the equivalent of 4 days but spread the hours out so you come in later and leave earlier?
Or compressed hours?

LIZS · 04/10/2023 19:45

Flexible working request? However I am doubtful you would not have to find a way to attend at least once a week. Could you use a childminder to extend childcare hours on that day?

AuContraire · 04/10/2023 19:48

Can you not argue that there's an established pattern now of WFH?

Original poster
Ippagg · 04/10/2023 19:50

@AuContraire i think I will have to go with that and see what they say. It’s extremely stressful as DD literally only has me so it is all on me, if nursery called it would take me so long to get back. I will have to move eventually but I didn’t expect to be a lone parent so this has all come at once.

OP posts:
SapphOhNo · 04/10/2023 19:51

It's not unreasonable to expect you in the office unless other people in the same role are permitted to work from home and you're being treated differently.

I'd update your CV and apply somewhere else.

OhcantthInkofaname · 04/10/2023 19:52

Can you have a discussion with this new manager about your productivity over the past 2 years? Does he really think you should have produced more. Does he know that your transit time is 1.5 hours and the cost?

Crazycrazylady · 04/10/2023 19:53

I'm sorry but yabu here expecting to work from home permanently. Most companies are moving back to a hybrid model at least. Can you move earlier to be nearer work?

LIZS · 04/10/2023 19:54

For how long is using your al once a week going to be sustainable?

FloweryName · 04/10/2023 19:56

It’s fair that the company now wants people to be in the office more. It was crazy that so many people thought WFH indefinitely was a done deal after Covid.

You need to try and make it work with them or find another role.

Blobblobblob · 04/10/2023 19:57

Submit a flexible working request, by law they have to consider it. Speak to acas if you are unsure.

Turnthelightoff · 04/10/2023 19:57

Flexible working request to either be entirely from home or reduce your hours for a couple of days where you come in to the office but couldn’t do a full day because of pick ups. Could you flex to do 2 longer days from home and shorter office days?

Cowlover89 · 04/10/2023 19:59

Yabu

Original poster
Ippagg · 04/10/2023 20:00

I could try and make alternative arrangements as some posters have suggested (thank you), it’s just absurd given i have worked from home almost exclusively for two years and now I have an actual reason why I need to and they are saying this. I’d get it if it was a requirement to get the job done but it isn’t at all. I’d be taking my laptop in to plug in there instead of at home.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ippagg · 04/10/2023 20:00

and yes there are others who exclusively work from home but it’s not been put into a contract, it’s just their manager doesn’t mind

OP posts:
SapphOhNo · 04/10/2023 20:03

Ok, you can challenge it on that basis. They should be treating people equally and fairly

Do you have a HR department ?

Tinkerbyebye · 04/10/2023 20:03

Speak to HR and Putin a flexible working request. However how many days leave do you get a year to be able to take one day a week off ?

HettyMeg · 04/10/2023 20:07

Put in a statutory flexible working request, they legally have to at least consider it. Could you pitch going into the office once a week and WFH the other days?

I feel for you, it does sound like a frustrating situation. I personally think that businesses really need to get a handle on what is important: business outcomes. If an individual is happy working at home and produces the same work, I can't see any problem with it.

LIZS · 04/10/2023 20:08

But your previous wfh pattern was presumably during 2020-mid 2022 Over the last year, while you were on ml, most companies have expected more office presence and less wfh. Do you have any conditions on repaying maternity pay if you leave now?

VeryUninspired · 04/10/2023 20:11

What does your employer’s hybrid working (or similar) policy say?

Zanatdy · 04/10/2023 20:15

Your only option is to put in a flexible working request, outline you’re a single mum, no family etc. If they insist on one day per week or more you’ll have to see what other childcare there is. Have you always been that distance away. Many employer are moving back to more office based work. We are 2 days a week and it’s more than reasonable. Otherwise I guess if you’ve got no-one local anyway can you move closer to work?

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 04/10/2023 20:15

Is there any flexibility on where you live? You say it is just you so you aren’t near support networks and living closer would make the commute a lot better.

I know it might not be possible but might be a less disruptive option than having to find a new job.

ChesapeakeBay · 04/10/2023 20:18

Can you not just talk to him/hr and explain? If you're good at your job they may prefer to be flexible than lose you.

boozeclues · 04/10/2023 20:19

Ignore all the jealous posters, if you have an established pattern of wfh they can’t just change it on whim without consultation, irrespective of what your written contract says.

I would raise a flexible working request and come up with a rock solid business case to support it.

I was unable to change jobs pre pandemic due to childcare commitments and lack of public transport. Remote and hybrid working has enabled me to change roles and get a significant promotion.

I manage a team of developers and engineers (public sector) who work across the uk, on the occasion where I do go into the office I am sat doing the exact same things I do at home, talking to my team members who are in Scotland (I am England) etc.

If your flexible working request gets denied there are loads of WFH opportunities, so also prepare your cv and get your LinkedIn up to date.