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

[Lavendar01]

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

Apples and oranges.

You're talking about working conditions involved doing part of their job. Going into people's homes, dangerous situations. Not their offices.

Public sector workers are heavily unionised which is a good thing and complaints about working conditions in offices are frequently made and responded to.

Health and safety and manual handling policies are also in place.

Encouraging or mandating a return to the office isn't necessarily about presenteeism though. Until very recently I worked for a large organisation who has an almost Extreme flexible policy. It worked well initially in that they could recruit the cream who wouldn't necessarily relocate, retention of staff with family commitments possibly improved. But as a business the last 3 years ish has shown a huge issue with retention of new younger staff who working remotely get nothing from work except a salary. HQ is largely dead except for one day a week even if you do go in, most of the active staff clubs have died a death. The excellent graduate recruitment scheme which usually held onto most as they whizzed up the ranks now struggles to retain most of them after a year or 2 of the scheme ending. The business benefits of bringing staff back in may not be understood or immediately visible by an individual. I think hybrid is a good compromise. Visibility is important if someone wants to get on.

To be honest I just feel sorry for employers these days. Everyone looking for an excuse to not come into work. They need you in so sort your office space out and go to work.

No it's usually people who are sick of hearing kids crying, dogs barking or washing machines spinning on the phone while trying to sort out their insurance etc. Or staff not answering the phones.
It doesn't work for the customers.

I had this, no DSE and in a fucking room on my own all day. Made me realise you should not be too loyal to workplaces these days.

Oh look it' the typical pile on on here where no-one reads what the op says and just projects their anger.

Many employers also want to work from home. Why do you feel sorry for employers just because their staff prefer to do their work from home.

She works for them, not the other way round.

If they want her there they need to provide a suitable space. Do you think she should bring her own computer if the employer is too disorganised to provide one? What about build the office herself if it’s not finished? It’s the employer’s responsibility, not the employee’s.

Feeling sorry for employers 😅

They can't take the piss out of their workers to same extent. Every single person has the right to request flexible working. In many cases it's the same kind of flexible working the poor employers have enjoyed the entire time.

Considering the government want those with disabilities to get back to work then WFH needs to be very much an equal choice so we really aren’t past that phase !

I agree. I know that it means that those of use who get more done at home get the short straw, but employers can't really have one rule for most and another rules for others. It just creates bad feeling in the workplace

Entitled is the key word. You try getting a flexible working contract in the NHS...
Funny how all the people that were essential and kept the country running couldn't work from home.
I actually agree with the government regarding civil servants being in the office. If the tax payer pays your salary you shouldn't be doing the school run or the food shop on work time.

As with so many of these questions: there’s no point in asking strangers in the internet. Either it says it in your contract, or it’s at the management’s discretion, or you’re able to make a reasonable adjustment.

Entitled to request, as all of us are. Not entitled to receive.

Is it in your contact? If it’s not there’s not much you can do unfortunately.

All NHS employees have the right to request flexible working from day 1 of their employment.

It's pretty standard where I work.

I dont deny that- but entitled doesn't mean you will get it. It's very well worded to say it has to fit with the needs of the service etc etc

Plenty of people have flexible working within the NHS and public sector, whether it's part time working, job sharing, split shifts, and there are roles and duties that aren't clinical where other forms of working than on site can be facilitated. You're always entitled to ask and hybrid working or WFH is a legitimate part of flexible working.

I don't really care whether a civil servant is doing the school run and making up the time at the other end.

That's why I typed 'request' and not 'receive'. Workplaces facilitate all different kinds of flexible working.

I'm sure there are people that applies to but for many others it does not.

A lot of jobs advertised in my hospital trust now say flexible working including remote working i.e WFH is part of the job and if so, a laptop and 'phone will be provided.

I've worked remotely for 5 years since covid started. 99% of it at home. Other colleagues do more of a mix.

It's a bit tricky WFH or flexible working in the NHS. People don't get sick at a time convenient to you.

I'd perhaps check with hr, do I have to come in? Also there isn't a work station set up, just a dusty room. See what they say!

With respect that doesn't apply to clinical staff. We don't have that choice.

With respect, I AM clinical staff as are all the colleagues I'm talking about.

All nurses.