Returning to work to different T&C's

[Grooveymover]

When I returned to work from having my first child I agreed with my manager that I would work full time from home with one day a week in the office. This worked well for a year and everyone was happy. While away on my second maternity leave the company has been taken over by a bigger rival and my boss has been made redundant and I have a new boss.
We met a couple of months ago during a KIT day to discuss my return and I was told that I would be expected to be in the office at least three days and could potentially face frequent overnight travel assignments. I appreciate that the new boss has to present a worst case scenario but the new company's attitude is "if you don't like it, you don't have to work here".
There are other women with children (and men) in my department who work from home but during a recent trip to the office a colleague told me that the new company are "cracking down" on WFH and insisting on people being present in the office.
I thought that they have to honour my prior working conditions but I don't want to go back all guns blazing ready to fight my corner if I'm wrong.
I don't get paid enough to cover childcare for both kids for 3 days of 8-5 but I really don't want to give up work.
Anyone been in a similar situation? Any thoughts or advice gratefully received :)

Well yes they do have to honour your existing terms and conditions, and if they want to change your working hours to be 3 days in the office and 2 at home they need to consult with you about that change.

Presumably the difference in childcare would be minimal though, only extra to cover the fact that you will be out of the house longer than you would be working at home due to a commute?

How long do you currently have childcare for on your WFH days? I would have thought you'd need 8-5 anyway.

Was the change to your contract ever documented? Just to have something to show them. Were you TUPE'd across?

Thanks for the speedy responses :) and also thanks for reading through my epic original post!

Last year my 2 YO went to daycare for my one working day and for the other 4 my mother and mother in law wrangled her. I am a project manager which means its easy for me to arrange my face to face meetings for my office day while all other meeting could be done via conference calls when grandparents can be around. Reports and presentations we're all done in the evening when hubby was around to babysit. 40 hours easily worked, everyone was happy.
2 kids for 3 days in daycare is more than I earn and although both grandmothers are happy to wrangle the kids, they're not comfortable doing an 8-6 in their own so I would have to opt for daycare on my office days.

I imagine that the fact my new boss has told me they expect 3 office days would be deemed as "consulting" me, but not sure if I have a case to insist on my previous working pattern.

Sorry to hear that they are making an unwelcome change.

From what you are saying I think you didn't work a 'standard' office week although you did do your hours.

Did your company know that at times during the day your child with you?

Could this be an indirect approach to make you work 9-5?

If you look at your total household income and expenditure (ie with your DP if you have one) does childcare look any more affordable?

Thanks MrsMargo - the job isn't a 9-5 one, more of a 24/7 one you can't put down, my husband had to take my blackberry from me when I started maternity leave for my son! So it's not a case of them trying to get 9 - 5.
Yes - old boss was aware that my daughter was at home with me and was happy for me to mange my work load as long as the work was done (in all honesty it was a cushy set up which is why I'm so keen to preserve it!). Work was done, targets met, customer happy, boss happy and I got to be there for my daughter with the knowledge that grandparents we're on hand to cover when needed.
My husband and I have already done the math and we need my income, which is why spending everything I earn on childcare seems a bit pointless ... But I know I'm not going to find a similar job that isn't going to mean the same childcare costs.
I guess my only option at the moment is to start back in a few weeks with the intention of keeping to my old working pattern and seeing how it goes.
Thanks to you all for listening to me ramble :)

Oh dear, one of those jobs....

Well if it worked well before then I would push for it. There is this ACAS leaflet and their helpline if you need to clarify your exact position:

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=816

Good luck

I'm not sure I can contribute much to the thread except to add that it probably is to do with whether your work location was an informal agreement or in your contract.

but I really wanted to at people commenting on your work hours. it is how my job is set up and works really well for everyone. they expect me to work my hours and get the job done and I do that just fine. perhaps others realise it is a good set up too..