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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My manager is making me come in the office 4days a week

312 replies

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:43

Since beginning of my role (which was coming out of covid), I've been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh. I had my own office but had to give it up for other staff that were in full time. Manger agreed for me to wfh and come in once a week - worked perfect!

In my recent supervision manager said he wants me in 4days a week "business need" and that there will be a room available to share with a couple of other staff. I've gone in and that room isn't set up, currently its dusty with extra office furniture/ equipment, basically being used storage room for now. I made a point to my manager and said could I continue wfh until the room is sorted, he refused and said to set up in that room somewhere in the corner for now.

AIBU here thinking I am within my right to refuse to be there until I have a proper work station set up, as required for my role? Not to mention sitting in an empty room for 8 hours with no interaction effects my mental wellbeing

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 23/04/2025 08:08

@Needtosoundoffandbreathe you honestly don't see the advantages of being able to sign off for an hour to, go to the dentist/GP/local health centre. Or to go to a school etc meeting/play, let the boiler repair etc person in, rather than have to take a morning/day off? Not everyone works in places that make it easier to get those things done.
We are only wanted in the workplaces because there is less being spent on public transport, in coffee shops/food vans, on all the things we are blamed for eating. We also then spend less on grooming/clothes etc. The increase in road traffic accidents and the health impacts via stress, is collateral damage. It's a business decision by those at the top, whose investments rely on us spending.
The OP needs to be provided with a work space, that is clean and uncluttered. Dusty places need vacuuming and airing, not just a duster and plants (on the non existent desk).

Roselilly36 · 23/04/2025 08:08

Where does your contract state is your place of work?

MidnightPatrol · 23/04/2025 08:09

Why does your workplace have no one else in it, if it’s business need for everyone to be in four days a week?

Where are all your colleagues?

My read of this is ‘I don’t want to go in four days a week’, in which case maybe try to negotiate for less?

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 23/04/2025 08:12

It doesn’t matter what we think, it’s what your contract and employer wants you to do.

I’d be asking for a timeline as to when your desk situation is going to be sorted and if no timeline is given, then I’d formally request via email for a DSE workstation referral.

Addictedtohotbaths · 23/04/2025 08:12

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:54

Both husband and I wfh and have interactions throughout the day, whereas being in the office room is isolating. My role is unique in the service and so I dont have a team. With other staff its judt really a hi and bye on the kitchen.

Edited

I agree if you’re going to be isolated all day what’s the point of making you come in. I’d rather be isolated in my own home.

Picklepower · 23/04/2025 08:14

Pretty essential information always left out on three WFH threads... What does your contract say?@

LittleBitofBread · 23/04/2025 08:15

Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 07:43

Since beginning of my role (which was coming out of covid), I've been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh. I had my own office but had to give it up for other staff that were in full time. Manger agreed for me to wfh and come in once a week - worked perfect!

In my recent supervision manager said he wants me in 4days a week "business need" and that there will be a room available to share with a couple of other staff. I've gone in and that room isn't set up, currently its dusty with extra office furniture/ equipment, basically being used storage room for now. I made a point to my manager and said could I continue wfh until the room is sorted, he refused and said to set up in that room somewhere in the corner for now.

AIBU here thinking I am within my right to refuse to be there until I have a proper work station set up, as required for my role? Not to mention sitting in an empty room for 8 hours with no interaction effects my mental wellbeing

You say you’ve been hybrid working 3days in the office and 2days wfh, but also that you’ve been coming in once a week - which is it?
Anyway, I wouldn’t work in an office setup that was a corner of a dusty storage room. It needs setting up properly and an assessment.

ColinOfficeTrolley · 23/04/2025 08:18

You need to read what your contract says. All this mental health stuff is bs. You just CBA going in an extra day, let's be honest.

If your contract does not specify the days in the office and the days WFH, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

Yes, you can argue that you need a proper workstation, but once that is provided, unless stipulated in your contract, you'll have to suck it up.

SquirrelMadness · 23/04/2025 08:21

I think a lot of people voting on this thread will be people who are jealous of those who are able to work effectively from home.

I would also request a DSE workstation referral and while that is happening I would start looking for a new job with better hybrid arrangements. I don't think they can force you to work in the corner of a dusty office without a proper assessment. I also wouldn't want to work for an organisation that requires me to change my working patterns without explaining why.

Smallmercies · 23/04/2025 08:24

LivingDeadGirlUK · 23/04/2025 07:57

why are people suggesting OP cleans and sorts this room, thats not her job! She needs a DSE compliant workstation which her company should have no issue providing. This is a case of a bad manager asking her to come in with nothing ready.

There's absolutely no reason why OP can't do a bit of work to get the room to her liking.

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/04/2025 08:24

Where have you been basing yourself for your current 1 day a week? Can you not continue with that but for 4 days whilst the office is set up?

Also, you will soon be getting colleagues in the office for you when its set up so won't be isolated?

I would ask if whoever is responsible for moving furniture can put me a desk and a chair in this new office and set my computer up. Then I'd try and make the best of it.

Alternatively, you could go through your contract and union to fight the coming into the office 4 days but I suppose that depends on your contract and how much you want to stress yourself with that

ZippyDoodle · 23/04/2025 08:25

What does your contract say?

I suspect you might not be able to fight this. If so, if there is a facilities team and IT team I would get them to set the room up for you. Show willing by going in and working on your laptop for a day or so but if it’s weeks then I would tell your boss that you have neck pain and back pain and will need to work from home until it’s sorted.

If the job no longer suits then just look for another one. In light of this change, do you think you might be at risk anyway? Lots of companies are going to axe people to cover the NI increase.

Flamingoknees · 23/04/2025 08:25

You were sitting on your own when you had your own office. You are clurching at straws with the mental healrh claims.
I'd want to know who will be sorting out the office and in what time frame though. I wouldn't sit indefinitely in a dusty storage room, if everyone else has a pleasant office.

PaperHatter · 23/04/2025 08:26

Put it all in writing, the state of the "office" space you have been given and formally request a DSE compliant workspace. I would state until then you will continue to work from home as previously agreed. I would be pushing back on the need to be in the office anyway and refer back to your performance reviews whilst you have been hybrid working.

CautiousLurker01 · 23/04/2025 08:31

My DH’s husband is about to announce everyone back in the office 80% from X date too. DH not bothered as he does that already (was trying to role model it to colleagues and those reporting into him), but is very concerned he will lose talented reportees if this is implemented with a sledgehammer.

I do think people were naive if employed on a office based contract pre covid to not anticipate a ‘return to normal’ eventually, but I think many companies should have done t immediately rather than allow this to continue for so many years - during which time employees have assumed it was permanent - and then suddenly change the rules.

Bluebellwood129 · 23/04/2025 08:33

That will help remind manager there’s a big advantage of wfh for employee flexibility and employee productivity.

Presumably there is no advantage regarding productivity in the OP's organisation or they wouldn't be requesting an extra day in the office.

BadSkiingMum · 23/04/2025 08:33

Put in a request to facilities to get the room sorted out, but just wipe and straighten up a desk for yourself in the meantime. Surely everyone has to do a little office tidying from time-to-time…

Your manager clearly has plans for the space so it will soon be looking like a proper office. Once there are other colleagues in there you won’t be on your own either.

Sorry, but you come over as a little bit fussy in your post. It seems to be a temporary issue.

AbigfanofDogs · 23/04/2025 08:34

No point making up excuses not to come into the office, if you don’t want to come in 4 days a week, tell your manager straight and if there is no compromise, start looking for a new role.

I realised years ago when this push back into the office started, that I preferred working from home more than my career, so I’ve now pivoted into self employment.

Caravaggiouch · 23/04/2025 08:34

Your “being on my own” argument carries no weight when you start by grumbling that you used to have your own office, and you’ve been wfh without any other colleagues.

They should be providing you with a proper work environment though, a decent desk, chair etc.

IME things have really changed around expectations of office attendance in the last 18 months or so, you will find that if you decide to look elsewhere.

SlagPit · 23/04/2025 08:34

Chaseandstatus · 23/04/2025 08:06

I would sort the office out myself and get on with it. Much better to have a positive attitude than to be whinging and looking at the negatives. Then if you really hate it, look for another job.

This. "I want to WFH so I can chat to my husband, ooh and there's some dust here" isn't going to show the OP in a good light.

Original poster
Lavendar01 · 23/04/2025 08:34

I cant find copy of my contract but I'm pretty sure it said flexible working If agreed my business, or something along those lines. So can't rely on that.

Admit I don't want to be in the office, as wfh the past couple of years has worked fine for myself and business and my performance is evidential. Managers reasons to bring me in is because the performance of staff is dropping and he thinks it's because more "presence" is needed from myself. My argument to that was that sounds like the job for their team managers, to manage staff morale and performance. He didn't buy it.

Anyway, I've made my peace having to go in, but being in an empty room that is not already set up like all other office rooms, I dont feel that supports having more "presence" nor is it suitable working environment. The agreement was to share a room with other staff, I would very much prefer that.

It's not a big business, no DSE team as such. It would be my manager physically setting the room up

OP posts:
DarcyProudman · 23/04/2025 08:34

You’ve said you used to have your own office, so you can’t use being on your own with no interaction as a (crap) excuse to not go in 4 days a week. You can interact with your DH outside of working hours 😀

Ginnnny · 23/04/2025 08:36

I work in HR and when my workplace mandated a return to 3-4 days in office I was bombarded with complaints. Unless your contract states your hybrid working pattern, your employer absolutely sets the rules - unless you apply for and have formal flexible working approved. And if anywhere else is like my work, these are really scrutinised for relevance and how to support business need.
Sitting in a room that isn't fit for purpose is an issue though, do you have health and safety people who do spot checks on workstations and office set up?

Caravaggiouch · 23/04/2025 08:37

CautiousLurker01 · 23/04/2025 08:31

My DH’s husband is about to announce everyone back in the office 80% from X date too. DH not bothered as he does that already (was trying to role model it to colleagues and those reporting into him), but is very concerned he will lose talented reportees if this is implemented with a sledgehammer.

I do think people were naive if employed on a office based contract pre covid to not anticipate a ‘return to normal’ eventually, but I think many companies should have done t immediately rather than allow this to continue for so many years - during which time employees have assumed it was permanent - and then suddenly change the rules.

I think a lot of organisations were supportive of wfh though, which is why they didn’t immediately revert after lockdown. It’s taken this time for the negatives to really show - such as on development of new staff, training, productivity (for the organisation as a whole not just individual by individual), and that’s why they’re now changing.

RedSkyDelights · 23/04/2025 08:37

It's reasonable to expect to have a proper workspace. However, why can't you just work wherever it is you have been working up till now?

I'm not sure how you can complain about lack of interaction when you have previously had your own office and it sounds like you do interact with other staff anyway. What does your contract say about your workplace?