Work announced a move from 2 days to 4 days

[Everanewbie]

Hi all. I'm looking for some suggestions of what avenues I might have.

I started a job just over a year ago. It is company that I worked for some time ago, but had to leave due to personal circumstances, which was with regret. I was thrilled to be offered the job. I applied and received the offer where I was told at both I was obligated to be in the office twice a week.

I left a job that was entirely remote (well, with the exception of trips in to London maybe once a month) to take up this role, accepting two days in person because I was excited by the role. Pay incidentally, is much the same, above the average, but only HRT if a decent bonus is paid. I now pay to park in a city centre twice a week and drive maybe 10 miles or so to get there.

I have child that is full time in nursery and my husband works long days. He is the main breadwinner in a job that is very well paid, think 6 figures, but only just. This means that I do the majority of nursery drop offs and pickups, however, he helps where his hours allow. We also have a dog. He is great at home on his own, but I only resort to that one day a week as a try to work my other day when my husband is off or on a shorter day.

So now, out of the blue, my firm have announced they expect people in the office 4 days per week. This will not work for me. Days will be too long, I'll be £60pw on parking, plus I will need to employ a dog walker 4 days a week. The salary no longer looks decent when you consider this.

I've heard about flexible working requests, and heard that these are considered on a case-by-case basis, but does any HR-y posters have any thoughts on the merits?

Would you be weighing up other options? Speaking to my manager, or holding my cards close to my chest?

I really don't want to leave this job, but I don't have the energy to be a mum and husband to do this, and the salary will no longer be competitive.

Flexible working requests are a legal right at any time, what's your point?

Requests are. That doesn't mean they have to accept it. Plus it's easier to get rid of people before they have worked a full two years with that employer.

They have to approve the request if they can't show that it would have a negative effect on the business, regardless if anyone's worked there 10 years or 1 day. The fact that she's worked there for a year with only 2 days in the office helps the case, because she's obviously been able to do the job fine under those conditions and therefore it's hard for the employer to say it wouldn't be fine anymore.

In practice they don't have to prove anything.

If they don't I'd seek advice from ACAS.

ACAS will just confirm what the legislation states - they have no influence over a business deciding on a return to office approach. Research has shown that within the next 3 years, the majority of organisations will be office based again.

CEOs predict it but it's easy for them to make power moves while in a recession as less people are able to vote with their feet. Outlooks may be different when the economy improves. There is also increased pressure on the government from things like the flexible working appeal as it helps women return to the workforce. But we need leaders that care more about the people than the CEOs lining their pockets.

But that doesn't change that, right now, a business can refuse a flexible working request very easily and they do not need to provide evidence to justify why.

Most are estate agents

I’m interested in this research, haven’t seen it - can you link to it?

edited: wait, do you mean this? https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1890265/majority-ceos-full-return-office-within-three-years-study-shows CEOs wanting something and it becoming a reality are a way apart. Interestingly the article highlights all the same issue as this thread - equity, potential discrimination against people outside of cities and with caring responsibilities, and large proportion of workers who say they’d need a pay rise to make full time in the office work. It’s not that simple to say ‘everyone back’.

You only live 10 miles away. Your husband needs to start being a parent because it seems like you do everything.

Yes - the survey by KPMG

A friend of DD works for JP Morgan - they have to report to the office. Very unpopular but the company can implement it unless you have a work from home/hybrid contract. The friend of DD lives in Edinburgh and is based in Glasgow and has a nearly 2 year old. Flexible working request was rejected.

www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/10/jp-morgan-chase-return-to-office#:~:text=The%20US's%20largest%20bank%2C%20which,days%20a%20week%20from%20March.

What bastards

Genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the owners of a lot of these big businesses, have commercial properties as part of their "portfolios". Or shares in bloody Pret a Mange 🙄

They do. As do politicians.

My dad’s job is like this. He is an absolute expert on something complicated and technical. Essentially he is on call and has to be available to deal with emergencies but the rest of the time he has only a small amount of ongoing work. So it’s completely fine with his employer for him to go visit someone or go for a walk. As long as when they ring, he answers it’s all good. Responsiveness and knowledge is what they pay him for rather than “output”.

I don't think that's the issue here though, it's a false accusation that people that WFH all take the piss but many don't have that luxury and have meetings, pressures, deadlines, workloads to get through and calls to answer. It's impossible to disappear off radar for most people.