To kick up a huge fuss about this?

[mainsteeem]

For the last 3.5 years I have been working from home almost exclusively, except when there’s been an event in the office or a particular important meeting. In the last year I’ve been in 3 times.

Last week my new manager announced that he wants me in the office once a week. Everyone has flexibility but most want to go in one day a week so it was just me who was utilising working from home more. I have good reason, I am a lone parent with no support and to travel into the office now costs around 45 quid a time due to increase in rail fares and I have to be there to collect dd from nursery.

There is no reason for me to be in the office. I am fully able to do work remotely. There has been no specific reason given for this change other than a ‘general move to more office based.’ I feel like I am being made to struggle as a lone parent. I cannot keep my job if I have to do this journey and travel a 4.5 hour round trip once a week, I am already clinging on to coping as it is.

Surely this isn’t right to change the goalposts? I know you usually look to your contract but 3.5 years of working practice in this way must count for something?

Watching with interest. Am always bemused by the WFH brigade who are outraged when asked to attend work in person one day per week!
Where did you live when you started the job? Or has the office moved? Because otherwise living so far away was always going to be an issue!
Has your job always been fully remote?
What does your contract say?

It's illuminating how few "remote" workers really are. That is have their place of work as their home address.

For those that do, a trip to the office can be claimed on expenses.

Something to bear in mind when negotiating your next role.

In your position I'd talk to my union first and also try and talk to others in the same position. Explain your reasons. In reality, if they're set on it, no one is indispensable. Ask for time to make childcare arrangements and look for new job in that time.

There were vague rumours of ending WFH arrangements at our work but almost everyone, including managers, relies on it to some extent now. We do have a 3 days a week in the office policy and they're talking to the ones not currently meeting that to 'understand their reasons'.

A childminder would be useful for you doing drop offs and collections one day a week.
A rail card for journeys would spread the cheaper costs through the year.
I am sympathetic @mainsteeem this seems to have come out of the blue.
Deep breath and explore options.
Book a phone appointment with this new manager and have a card of bullet points of consise reasons and data to show your worth of WFH.
Be open to compromise or ask for staggered return to office over 3 months?

You are a working single parent and have been resourseful, competent and reliable.

I have my fingers crossed for you that you can reach a working balanced compromise.

Kick up a fuss for them asking you to come back ONE DAY a week.

Unless you have a wfh contract then your not going to kick up anything unless you want them to make you come back full time.

You are just a number unless you are an invaluable member of the team (which i doubt you are) you have no leverage.

Where was the office when you accepted the job? What did you do pre Covid?

I don't think it's unreasonable to go in once a week. But I do think it's unreasonable to use being a sole parent as the only reason why you can't. Presumably you knew about the office and commute when you accepted the job?

My point is that train fares like that exist. Some people seem disbelieving.

almost like they don’t ever read the news!