Hybrid Working Policy help needed

[jamcorrosion]

Hi - my job has a policy as above, states to be in the office for 3 days a week, with an option to submit a form for unforeseen circumstances. The policy states that the focus is on days not hours spent in the office per day but the expectation is that majority of the day is spent in office when there. There’s no definition of ‘majority’ so I’ve assumed it means more than 50%. This policy has been in place a year. Recently received an email from a senior member of staff to the whole team stating that when in the office we are expected to be there for a full day.

Since this policy was introduced - I arranged my childcare around it. My son is in nursery 7.30-5.30 daily (I’m a single parent) I chose these hours so I could get to the office early. Usually around 8.15/30, I stay until lunchtime which is four hours and then head home. I do this as I thought it was better to travel home on my unpaid hour than later in the afternoon on works time.

Since receiving the email I have reached out and explained my usual routine and asked for clarification if this is no longer ok. I have been told it is no longer ok and I cannot leave at lunchtime consistently only occasionally for appointments etc. Apparently this was clarified with HR before I was given a response. Where do I stand here as the policy doesn’t state full days? I have offered to stay till later in the afternoon and explained why I chose lunchtime. Also explained that I can’t stay till later than 4pm really due to traffic and nursery pick up.

I’m just not sure where I stand or how to handle? As the policy is not specific at all. Can the goalposts be changed like this?

IABU - Suck it up
IANBU - This isnt ok to just change it

Can nobody read!!!!! I work when I get home and I don’t have my child with me! I don’t work part time I work full time. I wfh in the afternoon and pick my child up at 5.30. I’ve said this so many times.

Why does everyone assume the worst and that I’m lazy and taking the piss this place is mind blowing

You need to work the whole day in the office!!!! 3 days means 3 days not 3 half days I the office

I don’t have to work the full day in the office - I have a new agreement in place.

It's just that you are taking the piss a bit as just going in in the morning isn't 3 days in the office is it. What would happen if everyone wanted to leave the office at midday?

I based my day around the policy - now it’s been clarified we’ve come to a compromise. I leave at 3pm. Lots of people come and go at lots of different times of days it’s really really flexible and there’s no core hours

I would assume days means just that, the whole day, otherwise it would say mornings?

Ok so problem solved .

It said the focus isn’t on hours spent in the office - but that you’re actually there. And that it’s expected majority of the day is spent. So open to interpretation, I wasn’t wrong neither was management but come to a compromise now

There are some posters on MN with incredibly strong (and angry) views against WFH. They don't let pesky things like facts get in the way of their rage. You must have met most of them on this thread by now!

What's the difference between working at the office to wfh then if you're working anyway? Sorry if I've missed something, from what I read, you leave at lunch but DC doesnt need picking up until 5.30pm? Not doubting at all you don't do the same amount of your job, just genuinely curious as to the difference. Xx

Honestly whenever I’ve posted anything most replies are just nasty and judgemental and not even aligned with what I said. Massive leaps and assumptions.

I don’t know I bother it just seems full of bullies or people that delight in others misfortune or know it alls or perfect people.

Well I don’t think there is a difference - but they’ve clarified I have to be there longer. They say it’s for collaboration which I’m on board with BUT the way my job works we have a team at our base office.

That team doesn’t always work together as we’re assigned client projects - which currently we’re all in different ones and my colleagues on my project are all different offices so there’s no face to face collaboration anyway

You are going off a technicality and trying to get away with it. And I say this as someone that tries to minimise her time at the office, but even I know I have to show for a minimum of 6 hours (even though is not in writing). Do you have core hours? Maybe stick to those in office hours at minimum and the rest you do at home. You do know that because is not part of the contract, they can amend or take away at any point right?

I am glad to see that you have been able to have a conversation and come to a sensible outcome.

No we don’t have core hours. I wasn’t intentionally looking for a way to take the mick it was what worked and was never an issue.

Yeah I know they can - when I started there was no policy or minimum days in office so when it came in I was gutted!

Yeah me too - knee jerk reaction is to be like a sulky teenager but had to remind myself I’m a grown up haha

Having read the comments now that is great you came to a compromise. It does sound like they are very flexible, also allowing you to have your lunch at 3 so you can travel. At my work we do 39 hours a week, and we HAVE to take our lunch between 12-2pm which means you can't use it at the end of the day if you didn't have the chance to have your lunch break (happens often because they love to schedule meetings at lunch hours)

Yeah it’s honestly the best job I’ve ever had in terms of flexibility and benefits and how you’re treated.

we aren’t micromanaged we are trusted. There’s no probation period. So flexible.

Benefits amazing - private health and back up care which is 20 funded care sessions a year for children or elderly it’s amazing!

Also when inbetween projects we are ‘on the bench’ and use the time to upskill and do courses and learn and we choose what we do!

Sounds great like a fab job, trusting and flexible, and obviously you felt comfortable enough to discuss your needs ♥️

I honestly really enjoy it most of the time! You can never get bored cause it changes.

I have drawn the short straw on my latest one though - absolutely hate it and doesn’t suit my skill set but can’t win them all!

On one hand from you OP:
i don’t mind being in the office for good reason but when it’s costing time and money for essentially no benefit I can’t help but be frustrated!

Your benefit is as below. Why can't you take that as the pay-off instead of feeling hard done by.
You say yourself it's the best job yet you don't feel you shoud compromise at all to suit your employer?
That's what I dont get, you come off as a taker, wherr every aspect has to suit you.

Yeah it’s honestly the best job I’ve ever had in terms of flexibility and benefits and how you’re treated.

we aren’t micromanaged we are trusted. There’s no probation period. So flexible.

Benefits amazing - private health and back up care which is 20 funded care sessions a year for children or elderly it’s amazing!

I have compromised? That’s what the new agreement leaving at 3 is? And why I’ve not caused a fuss and worked with them to find a suitable arrangement for both parties.

I don’t know why I come off as a taker? Maybe cause of the amount of responses assuming I don’t work the rest of day or that I have my child with me when I’m working. When I didn’t say anything like that. There seems to have been some major leaps made from my post to what sort of mother/employee/person I am. Lots made their mind up straight away. Not sure how on such a small aspect of my life.

Besides - we’re all takers at work aren’t we? We are there to get paid, we find a job we enjoy or tolerate that meets our personal situations, we don’t do it for any other reason. Would you go to work if you didn’t have to financially? I know I wouldn’t! There is nothing wrong with putting your needs above your employers, they would do it without blinking the other way round.

After the compromise, you still came back complaining about going in.

You're lucky to have the job you have, focus on the positives.

I’m allowed to like my job but dislike certain aspects of it - this is one of them. Hence why I’ve tried to handle it without causing problems or having an attitude.

I’m not lucky to have the job - I have it because I earned it and I’m good at it, I didn’t win it in a raffle.