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

Presumably the travel you’ve done in work time is to other non-normal working locations. That is different.

the key here is they expect days in the office not half days.

Does your nursery not offer longer hours? Isn’t that the solution? My son went to nursery from 7-6pm. Also don’t take lunch? Most people eat at their desks and don’t have a “lunch” break.

I agree but they’ve always been very careful to couch it in “flexibility has to work for your team to be acceptable” in order to allow the P&Ds/SMs scope to manage things how they prefer. I don’t think you’ll win any argument over it.

I know some unbelievably inflexible managers there. Luckily I’ve got a very flexible one.

So, I think you’ve misinterpreted massively: a) the policy seems to say you must spend three days in the office, NOT make visits to the office on three days; and b) re hours comment, it means it’s not about doing 21 hours in the office per week flexibly. So (assuming a 35hr week) you can’t do 21 hours spread over the week - for example: you cannot do five 4/4.5hr days, or even do 2x 10.5hr days to meet the requirement. Ie flexitime is not allowed.

It is 3 work days [ie of 7 hours each if you do a 35 hours week].

I wfh 100% of the time. My children are older teens so no childcare. When they were little I was office based 4 days a week. I had to be in the office from 8 til 430 unless emergency. It was hard work getting to childcare before they shut but it worked.
Now I wfh and colleagues are taking 45 mins in the morning to go to school then another 45 mins in the afternoon and still logging off on time.
I can see why eyes maybe rolled. Wfh works if are strict with yourself. Many ways of working now would not have stood precovid or pre wfh.

I really for you. Is your company quite modern and do they ever bang on about inclusion and diversity?

Just asking as could you take the angle with them that they are enabling a single working mother to keep her job if they are more relaxed with the WFH policy??

My company is really into I&D and that includes working families and women/mothers feel supported at work.

You’re taking the mick mick

Not ambiguous at all.

‘my job has a policy as above, states to be in the office for 3 days a week,’

3 days a week. Not half a day or reduced hours. Days means working day..

You think there is ambiguity because it doesn’t work for you.

That seems like it could be unlawful. There are so many reasons people would request flexible working from disability to caring responsibilities which are almost always done by women leading to indirect sex discrimination.

I obviously can't say that it is 100% unlawful but I'm certain that it's not right to have blanket policies that may place disadvantage on certain protected characteristics.

I think OP should still exercise her legal right to request flexible working and see what the outcome is, as they may find an entirely lawful reason to refuse the request.

Yes I would interpret it this way - my office is empty at around 4pm, that’s people being there “most” of the workday. Can you put in a flexible working request to do shorter lunch, leave at 4pm for pick up (finishing your day) and be available for an extra hour on your WFH days to make up?

But travelling for your job, for example to see clients, is completely different to travelling between the office and your home as part of your regular commute. I’m beginning to think this is a wind up tbh as surely you must know that.

Still haven’t answered why you can’t work 8.15-4.15 either. It’s a real shame when the piss takers ruin it for the hard working majority.

This. Most employers would assume it is understood days in the office means a typical working day. Using the reason you leave at lunch so its on your own time rather than company time is a little strange - it is not your employers issue that you don't have childcare to fit around full office days what will you do if like many companies they return to full week in office?

I can’t afford any more hours in nursery otherwise yes I would extend them.

I’ve just had a response that 3pm is fine so the compromise worked for everyone.

But when are you working the remaining hours on the days you leave early? You’re clearly not working whilst travelling home and I would hope you’re not working when your child is with you?
sorry - just saw you pick him up after you’ve done your full hours.

In a system that is not set up for working families let alone single parent ones, she’s trying her best.

I have recently left the same place - it was god awful and the ridiculousness of the form/traffic light system tipped me over the edge.

When i get home - I travel on my lunch currently. No my son is picked up at 5.30

Finally a sensible reply!

I would assume 3 days a week meant 3 working days in the office, not pop in and leave at lunch time. Sorry op but I don't think you have a leg to stand on here, you'll have to see if they're willing to come to a compromise so you can get back in time

I don't see the issue @jamcorrosion. You say that you cannot stay beyond 4pm, so just work until 4pm and then head home. I think there is a big difference between leaving the office at 12.30pm and leaving at 4pm.

You say this policy was introduced after you started your job and continued for a couple of years, and now your manager/senior management has said you need to stay longer. It sounds like you were happy to go along with the change that gave you what you wanted, but now you are upset that there is another change that does not work in your favour. I'm not sure you can have it both ways.

But most importantly, it sounds like staying till 4pm is not a problem, so go with that and I suspect that will be a middle ground everyone can live with.

Good luck OP.

OP refuses to answer this, no matter how many times it’s asked. Just reiterates that she has ‘offered’ to stay til 3pm, as though she’s the one doing them a favour.

And people wonder why companies are starting to crack down on WFH and flexible working. Hardly a surprise when you have people like the OP who think working most of the working day is going home at lunch time because she’s worked 51% of her daily contracted hours 😂.

I just don’t like to leave at a risky time so wanted to make sure I had plenty of time in case of anything out of the ordinary- it’s been accepted anyway

We all know the answer! 😄

I don’t stop working - so many people assuming I’m only working a half day that isn’t the case