I have had ongoing issues with my knee for 7 years, I have had an MRI confirm Osteoarthritis but my doctor wants me to take pressure off the knee, I have been referred to an orthopeadic surgeon. The pain renders me unable to walk very far. For context, when it's bad I use crutches and have to crawl upstairs. I have been at this job for 2 years, my old manager who was let go a few months ago let me work remote when my knee flared, I also was pregnant throughout 2022/23 and worked completely remote for that time.
I returned from mat leave and my new manager wants me in office 3 x a week, this is 2 hours of travel each way, my knee is in physical agony doing this commute, especially on the tube. I tried mediating and meeting in the middle, I put in my flexible working request to come in 1 day a week.
Yhe company's occupational health recommended 1-day max in office and allow ad hoc working from home when I flare. They still said no you need to be in 3 days a week. I was assessed by my doctor yesterday and he gave me a fit note that said I should now work from home for 2 months (knee is unstable). I will also note, I do my best work from home, the office is open-planned and ridiculously noisy, I asked for a quiet area and they said they cannot accommodate, meeting rooms are in too high a demand.
I have a meeting with HR soon, If they push back on my doctor's orders, is this grounds for legal action? I cannot leave this post due to a hefty 6 month clawback policy, so even if I wanted to get a remote job I am bound to this position for 6 months. I am so scared I will get let go, or they'll find some reason to get rid of me at this rate. The company are hellbent on having everyone in the office.
I work perfectly fine from home, my job is usually done remotely in most businesses.