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

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

I would love to see the policy to see where it says something similar to "employee must come to office 3 days a week, but it doesn't matter how long you stay here and work". Be happy you were able to work the loophole for a year.

I'm sorry, I don't understand this. I have two children in (two different!) nurseries who I drop each morning at 7.30 and 7.40. I then drive 1 hour 20 minutes (30 miles) and get into the office for 9am. I then leave at 4.30 and do the pick ups in reverse. Nurseries close at 6pm. Why would you need to leave at 3pm? And expect to do this without a formal arrangement? I'm sorry OP, but you are milking this.

Same. I think op has misinterpreted the policy and she’s been very lucky to get away with it for a year. If her contract says place of work is office she hasn’t really got a place to stand on.

Yes definitely. You may be technically correct, but your interpretation is clearly not in the spirit in which the wording was intended. They were probably trying to be kind to allow people to leave a few mins early to do pick ups or whatever.
I imagine if you push on this they will change the wording to a less ambiguous “full day”. So I’d make the adjustments to your day now whilst you still have some leeway to suit you.

I think we work at the same place, just from this policy being in place a year, a form to submit for unforeseen circumstances, and the wording around “the focus is on days not hours”.
Is it big, lots of offices across the country, led by a guy no one really likes?

If so, I think you’re unlucky, as this is very team dependent. I work in an office where no one in my team is based - there is literally no one I would ever need to speak to. I regularly do half days in the office and my senior manager does not care. However, the flexibility they give has always been framed around “it’s fine as long as it works with your team” and it sounds like yours doesn’t.

I should add. I have a hybrid policy too. 2 days a week in the office. My children do shorter days in nursery on the days I WFH. I work 4 days.

The people in my DH's company who take the piss like this are always the first to be laid off when the redundancies come around...

It’s not taking the piss and I never did it with that intention - it’s always been a very flexible workplace and I’ve always checked that it’s fine before I do things like this.

I have offered to stay later - but I can’t be there for a full day it’s impossible as I woukdnt get back in time for pickup. There’s nobody can do it for me as I’m a single parent. I still do my job and I do it well, I have a great reputation at work.

Workplaces have had to become more flexible over the years for these type of situations - one of the reasons I took this job was for the flexibility and I’m worried that it can change so fast

Take a late lunch and leave at 3pm. I leave at 2.30pm daily but I go in daily. Not surprised they aren’t happy with you leaving at lunchtime.

You are massively taking the piss and I think you know it deep down.

Also why do you keep saying “not travelling on work time”? You would never be travelling on work time, at most you would be leaving at 3pm and making up the additional 1h15 later when your child is in bed, if this is allowed (may not be).

In any event I don’t think leaving at 3 is a reasonable compromise, why can’t you work 8.15-4.15 with a 30 min lunch break? Am I missing something as that still gives you 1h15 to get there for nursery pick up?

Yes it was part of a new year update - it stated some have been coming in for one hour then leaving so it wasn’t aimed at me. And I’ve not been pulled up on it this has only come about as I asked for clarification. I have offered to stay later so hoping that’s ok

Submit a flexible working request

It’s hard OP. I have the same policy at my employer (might be the same one), and I don’t have an hour for lunch - grab it on the go, 15 minutes, back to work. Then leave at 4-4.15pm. Timesheet also says 7.5 hours but realistically I do more if you count the evening shift after my DC is in bed.

Your commute home won't be clocked as working hours.

Not true if the policy is contractual

Yes that would be right if I wasn’t working in the afternoon. But that isn’t the case. I’m not taking half a day off work and I continue to work from home.

Ive offered to leave at 3pm instead

OP are you working 2hrs from where you live?

I just don't understand why you'd need to leave at 3pm for a nursery pick up they are all open til at least 5, usually more like 5. 30/6.00? What do you think everyone working 9-5 does, of course nurseries are open til that time. Even those in 2 parent families have always had this issue what do you think we all did before covid and wfh happened, nobody was allowed to just leave the office at 3!

I'm guessing you just want to pick your child up earlier because it's a long day for them and nicer for you to be able to pick them up at 4 - but the world doesn't work that way, you are paid to work full time?

So leave at 4pm. Work any additional hours missed on your WFH days? Is that possible around childcare, to start earlier/finish later some days?

Finishing at lunchtime looks very bad. It doesn't matter whether you've done it for a year or not. Imagine if everyone did that? Totally fair they've asked you to rectify. It's likely because you're doing this that it has been brought up. I do sympathise. Hybrid working and compulsory time in the office is a pain.

When you explained you can’t stay later than 4pm what was their response?

Could you do 08:30 - 16:00 & work through your lunch? That way you are doing the 3 days & can leave up collect your child on time.

What does your actual contract say? As they can easily change their own policies but may find it more difficult if it’s in your contract.

Yes that’s what I’ve asked, work through leave at 3pm and take then as lunch. Should get a response tomorrow

Or ask for flexible working and reduce your hours slightly?

Legally they can't allow you to work more than 6hrs without a break

I just based what I did around what the policy said. Well that’s why I left at lunch so it didn’t interfere with work time but have offered to leave at 3 and take then as lunch