Part time - return to office

[SubParbanMum]

Hello, trying to work out if I’m being ridiculous.
I work 4 days pw, the vast majority in my office do 5.

We’ve been told we need to return 3 days per week to the office. For me, that’s a huge chunk of my salary to commute given I took a 20% cut to work pt. it’s also 75% of my week in office vs. Full time peers at 60%.

Would it be fair for me to argue 2 days pw instead?

Thanks

You may be more successful if you can make a business case for working from home rather than basing it on your own finances or what you perceive to be fair.

Have you just taken the job, or did you previously work for them in the office 4 days a week, when you presumably had to pay for your commute? You may have a reasonable argument that 2 days in the office is appropriate but the cost of your commute isn’t the basis for it.

@Findahouse21 thanks. Yes, I have my business case ready but am I being fair arguing over this one day? I’m not trying to say I want to work full time from home, just a more equal share of my week compared to full time colleagues.

You took a 20% pay cut to work 20% less or you took a 20% pay cut on top of your reduce hours salary?
And did you negotiate your salary pre - covid? If so maybe they should cut more of your pay as you'd negotiated salary on the basis of 4 days commute? Your argument is weak and whingy sounding.

Also two days would mean you were 50% at home, which is ‘better’ than your colleagues.

I'd ask to work 2 days at home, as other colleagues will.
I really wouldn't start talking about commuting costs.
State how you feel home working is beneficial to the business, how much you achieve etc, and how you feel a 50 / 50 split will enable you to get on with quiet tasks at home, and collabqrstuff in work.
Good luck

50% in the office is closer to 60% (your other colleagues) than 75% is, so I think you've got a point.

I think you have a point but I'm struggling to understand if this a new job taken during the pandemic, or if you previously worked 4 days in the office?

60% time in the office - how much flexibility is there in this? Could it be 60% on average over the course of a month, for example, rather than a week?

That's a good point from WellTidy. If you did 5 days in the office every 2 weeks, the percentage would be very close to your colleagues.

@Limetta 20% cut as I went 5 to 4 days pw a few years ago.
Commuting costs were similar in London as most have a weekly / monthly pass. Rather than pay per day.

@OttilieKnackered yes, granted but closer to 60% than 75%

@Gardenwalldilema good points! Although ideally I’d flag the part time £ constraints in a non whinge way as it is valid.

Thanks @LeafBeetle my work is super conscious about being fair and I think they’ll understand.

@AddisonMontgomeryShepherd I’ve been in this job for 7 years, went part time early 2019.

Possibly @WellTidy and it’s a good point to co wider. It would be hard to plan more in advance for pick ups etc. With husband. Work are keen on a more set week.