Wfh and now asked to go in

[ThePlumVan]

Wfh solidly for 19 months throughout COVID - mine is the only role within my subsidiary company that can be done this way. Everyone else needs to either be onsite permanently or needs to make regular visits to site, but not me.

Head Office is maintaining wfh (wherever possible) in line with government guidance. Anyone that needs to work onsite has to have head of service permission.

Subsidiary Manager has asked me to start going back in for meetings initially and then basically back onsite to work.

All my work has been done without complaint, with all meetings over Zoom. I really don’t want to go back in (many reasons!). Union advice is to continue as I am.
Am I being unreasonable to want to continue wfh ?

Pretty much. Your employer doesn’t have to accept it as a permanent arrangement. This was utterly foreseeable.

Yup. You were moved to home based due to thr pandemic not because it suited you.

If your HO is saying wfh and you're managing to do your job without complaint, why is your subsidiary manager asking you to come back in?

If pre pandemic you worked from the office as standard then yes they’re perfectly within their rights to ask you to return, unless you ask for a change of contract to home working, if your workplace allows that.

If there’s a particular reason that they want you to go back in, then I don’t really see how you can insist on continuing to WFH.

Is there any room for a flexible arrangement - some in-office and some WFH?

Thanks for replies and yes it was a COVID measure so not perm I appreciate that, however -
Government guidance is to wfh wherever possible (this hasn’t changed)
CEO/SLT is insisting on wfh.

It’s my subsidiary Manger who is ignoring this.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable given that it sounds like it is your company policy, it’s just being ignored by your specific manager.

Have you asked your subsidiary manager why they are ignoring government advice, head office and your own company policy?

The guidance has changed. Here's the current position:

•	whilst the government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can, the government expects and recommends a gradual return over the summer

The relative importance of HQ vs local manager guidance will depend on your particular company, but they are entirely entitled to expect you back in.

Everyone I know who has been WFH is now starting to go back in. YABVU to object if you're asked.

@ThePlumVan

Thanks for replies and yes it was a COVID measure so not perm I appreciate that, however - Government guidance is to wfh wherever possible (this hasn’t changed) CEO/SLT is insisting on wfh.

It’s my subsidiary Manger who is ignoring this.

Eh no it’s not and yes it has changed.

Err no it hasn’t in Wales !

I can’t do links but from Gov.Wales (last updated 5/8/21)

Working from home :

‘The most effective way to minimise exposure to coronavirus, and to facilitate physical distancing, is to enable some or all of your staff to work from home, some or all of their time. There is an expectation that employers should flexible and make adjustments to ensure staff are able to work from home wherever that is possible. This may include issuing staff with laptops or mobile phones and communicating that working from home is allowed’

Could you ask for 2 days home and 3 office (assuming you work 5 days a week).
I work for local gov and we’re probably going to be doing a mix ongoing as it’s saving on building costs and some jobs can just be done from home.
When people have discovered a new way of working - no commuting, saving money, easier for childcare etc- then it’s obvious people will be reluctant to go back full time.

@ThePlumVan

I can’t do links but from Gov.Wales (last updated 5/8/21)

Working from home :

‘The most effective way to minimise exposure to coronavirus, and to facilitate physical distancing, is to enable some or all of your staff to work from home, some or all of their time. There is an expectation that employers should flexible and make adjustments to ensure staff are able to work from home wherever that is possible. This may include issuing staff with laptops or mobile phones and communicating that working from home is allowed’

Note the use of “some or all of their time”, “expectation”, “should” and “wherever that is possible”.

Plenty of get out for your employer and no legal recourse for you.

(I’m a Welsh HR Director having these conversations daily. )

How can employees call thd shots. Its up to the employers whether they can work from home or not. Folk WFH have had it too easy for too long.

@NavigatingAdolescence My employee wants everyone wfh. It’s my line manager who is going against company policy.

@Viviennemary see above comment - Employer is calling the shots and moving with the times.

You're not unreasonable to want to continue WFH if it works well for you. I hope we won't just blindly go back to insisting on office work when the job can be done from elsewhere.

Why shouldn't life be easier, work more enjoyable? Happy employees are more productive. It's better for the environment when people aren't travelling unnecessarily. It could be one of the positives to come out of this awful pandemic.

Well op you’ve two options. Go in, or report him to head office and see if they will over rule the decision. I suspect they won’t. But that’s it. Or of course you can quit.

Have you tried to approach your head office about this? What have they said?

Seems odd that your manager can go against official company policy
Maybe lodge an official flexible working request
I do think a lot of WFH is coming to an end

@Viviennemary WFH folks have had it easy for too long? Are you kidding? WFH full time while home schooling primary aged children is certainly no walk in the park!

The law is on your employers side - they’re perfectly entitled to expect you to go back in.

Your HO may have a policy but it’s only that - a policy to which there can be exceptions or alterations. As proven by the other people in your part of the company who have been going in.

If it’s that much of an issue, you’ll have to look for another job.

Ask HR what the current policy is at work and ask them to deal with it

@ThePlumVan

Thanks for replies and yes it was a COVID measure so not perm I appreciate that, however - Government guidance is to wfh wherever possible (this hasn’t changed) CEO/SLT is insisting on wfh.

It’s my subsidiary Manger who is ignoring this.

It has changed. WFH is no longer the guidance

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19/step-4-overview

I don't think any employer needs you in for the sake of it, but I do think if everyone else is in you should be in for meetings at least.

These are my new favourite MN threads, up there with the CF threads.

Basically you have had a cushdy little number for the last 18 months where you don't have to leave the house, now life is going back to normal you don't want to resume the job you actually signed up for and go to work. When you took the job I presume you agreed to go to the office for a set amount of days a week, now all of a sudden that doesnt work for you? Looks like its time to rewrite the CV and ensure you add 'will only work from the comfort of my own home'. See how many jobs you get offered