To put in a flexible working request because I live so far away?

[whatsthatsupposetobeaboutbaby]

Is that a valid reason?

My travel is so expensive and with how much my outgoings have increased by it’s getting to the point where it’s like I go to work and I can’t eat that day.

Sometimes I go into the office and I have zero meetings and zero interactions and no other team members are in (we have no anchor days) and it’s a 2 hour commute and costs me £100 a week.

Why not get a job closer to home if you don’t even like this one?

Welcome to the world of work

For some reason MN is always particularly terrible for employment advice. Although insulting someone for knowing the legislation takes the biscuit.

OP have a read through this: https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working

Your work most likely have a flexible working policy, if so have a read through that as well.

YANBU to fulfill your legal right to make a flexible working request, and appeal if necessary.

ACAS have a helpline you can ring for more specific guidance as well - I’d trust them over MNetters for employment law advice any day!

I agree with others that you can absolutely request, but it doesn't mean that you will get.

However, your set up seems very strange. Have you spoken to your manager about how you come into the office and basically sit at a desk on your own? Maybe it would be a good plan to introduce team days?

Although, it sounds like you would be better looking for another job anyway.

You don't have to give a reason

The reason isn't relevant.

You don't have to share your reason. And their decision should have nothing to do with your reason.

Your request needs to set out how it can work and how you can overcome any difficulties.

There is. "Legislation" provides that any employee can ask for flexible working for any reason at all, and the decision is based on business needs, there's no reason that's "better" than another.

You'd be better posting in the work forum or asking this to be moved.

In AIBU you get a lot of arsey opinions from people who don't have a clue what they are talking about.

In the work forum you will get sound and informed advice

No other team members are in - do some of them have flexi or wfh?

If no one else is in then I don't see why you need to be in. I'd ask. Also ask if it's possible to arrange a "team day" when you're all in the office on the same day to best utilise the office time

For some reason MN is always particularly terrible for employment advice.

AIBU is a terrible place for employment advice. The work board isn’t. ;)

If it doesn't cause inconvenience to your employers then it's hopefully not a big deal, but if it would be a problem for then it would be entirely legitimate for them to consider that the location of your home relative to your place of work is entirely within your power - you choose where to live and which jobs to apply for and if the commute is too much the normal thing to do would be to change one or the other. But hopefully if it's no bother for them then it won't come down to making that choice.

There's a difference between looking back at the end of a day and noting that you had no face-to-face interactions all day, and knowing at the beginning of a day that you will 100% definitely not have any face-to-face interactions all day because there is zero chance of any walk-in queries etc.

Unfortunately I’ve seen some rather…creative…advice on that board as well. I imagine it’s from when threads hit active.

Best of luck op 🤞

I think that's fine, request it and explain in detail why and make it clear you'll be more productive at home and not just base it on your personal reasons. Your personal reasons are fair - I'd explain due to cost of living issues you're actually having to cut down on meals etc due to the cost of this travelling. Make it really clear you're struggling. But also get yourself on LinkedIn- start applying for new roles closer to home and/or remote in case they say no.

Is the three days in the office a company policy or your manager's preference? What is her take on it as she is probably going to be involved in the review once a formal request is made? Do other colleagues feel the same as you?

If you get her onside you could perhaps start coming in less as a trial prior to making a formal request. You could also suggest you have a team day so the whole team is in on one day if you have the space at work for it. So you are in less but it's more useful when you are there.

This is a good point, I requested compressed hours at a previous job and they only agreed to it as I asked up front for a 2 month trial. They liked that idea and everyone was happy at the end of the 2 months and it's now permanent.

My sister put in a flexible working request (pre recent legislation) to give her more time to invest in the nurturing of her poly relationship and it was granted!

Shes an excellent worker and an asset to the team, so I'm not surprised, but I would love to have been a party to some of the discussions that must have taken place among her managers!

So, you already work from home 2 days a week?
Everyone else also does 3 days in the office, and 2 days from home?
Why was the 3 days in the office put in place?
On the face of it, it sounds like you should be able to do another day at home.

What's a poly relationship?! They must be a very forgiving company to grant the request based on purely home life reasons but thats good for her.

If you do make a request, I suggest you offer to come in on a Friday as one of the days, it may look better.

It sounds like there is no reason for you to be in the office if when you are there you are not having meetings, seeing clients or having any interaction for colleagues.

Put in your request.

Long term I would say that if it is rejected you are better off finding a new job.

It makes no sense to travel 2 hours to work for no reason and struggle financially because you spend so much money on travel.

She has three partners, so it takes up more time than just one!

And the company isn't particularly forgiving - they know she's an excellent worker and they get their money's worth out of her, so when she made the business case for her rejigged schedule, they accommodated it for the good of their profits!

Your best bet would be to educate yourself on your rights as an employee.
Flexible working (from Gov.uk)

I've just given someone with the same problem the chance to work 2 long days in the office a week, so 3 shorter days at home. He needs to be flexible for the team though, but that was worked into the agreement.
You should approach it with solutions, so what will you do, eg work longer days, or someone else diverts phones to your mobile, xyz people can help by doing things you can't do as not in the office but you'll do abc instead as you can do that from home
Good luck!