I work in the NHS and I love my job, I can't give exact details of what I do as it's outing, but I work with one of the Executive team, however this executive isn't my line manager. I am line managed by the office manager.
We were recently working 2/3 days a week at home as part of a rota system which was working really well and everyone was happy and motivated.
Now a sudden rule has been enforced that we have to have a minimum number of our team in at any given time. I'm now required to be in 4/5 days a week.
The issue is my line manger and I are actually good friends out of work, we have kids around the same ages and we have a lot in common. She knows a fair bit about my personal life and the difficulties I'm having at the moment.
This isn't a "woe is me" I want to WFH thread, this is a thread where I don't know how to express how I feel and to whom.
I don't feel I can raise it with her and she's enforced this rule, I've had a difficult few days recently and have been withdrawn at work and not my usual self, she's picked up on it and is probing me as to what is wrong, I've told her several times I don't want to speak about it and it's best to leave it, yet she still keeps asking.
I'm just finding it really hard to be in the hospital environment 4/5 days a week and the impact it's having on my home life also.
The Executive I work for would do absolutely everything to keep me here as I am very good at what I do and his wider team respect me, and I love that part of the job.
Another thing is, I'm a single parent to my child and I just don't feel like I'm emotionally available for her now I'm on site this much, it's 5.30am wake ups for me and when we get in, I literally have to plonk her down in front of Peppa pig and get dinner, lunches, washing, bath time sorted, it's open 9/9/30pm before I sit down and by that time I'm falling asleep again.
I'm not sure how to raise it and what to say as the first step would be to speak to my line manager, I think I'm just worried about the long term impact on home life and feeling resentful and wanting to leave.
Any advice that anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks