Working from home request.

[smellysockswithspots]

I work 5 days in an office and want to work from home for a portion of the week. I have put in a flexible working request for this and have a meeting soon. Do I HAVE to give a reason for my request? The staff handbook said that I do. But I don’t want to give a reason because it’s to do with a colleague I am having issues with and it might open a can of worms. There’s no witness to the colleagues behaviour because it’s only the two of us in this office together.
notes will be taken and filed in the meeting.

being unreasonable - yes I need to give a reason
not unreasonable - not legally obliged to give a reason.

You are not obliged to give a reason.

Well it's your chance to make your case. Otherwise they will just say it doesn't meet the business needs.

You’re not obligated to give a reason but if you want to help your case appeal to their human nature and give a reason. It doesn’t need to be the truth it’s not like their going to investigate your personal circumstances.

however, it sounds like you should be raising a grievance not a working from home request. Even if there is no witness you shouldn’t be made to feel this uncomfortable.

or find a new job.