Work suddenly asking to be in office more

[twix23]

I started at the company I work for in August last year. I'm a mum of 2 and the job was ideal, I could work from home everyday, n it was super flexi hours. They had an office in London (one of those wework rent a space for a day ones) but said I didn't need to go in, only if I wanted to, maybe 1x a month! I explained my situation and how due to childcare and the hours my kids could be looked after, London was not doable very often for me at all (it's 2 hrs each way on trains) and they said no problem, just when I can or if a company event/training is happening but that's not often. Fast forward to now, I'm 5 months pregnant with my 3rd baby, I've passed my probation, but we have a new office space in London that the company rent monthly now. A new director started a month ago and he's now demanding us all in at least once a week, ideally 2-3 times. My manager now keeps pestering me now about going in 1 day a week to keep this director happy. To do this I need to ask a huge favour of my retired parents every week to get to my house super early and leave super late, to look after my kids, something they don't really want to do (the hours, not looking after them!) as I need to leave the house at 6.40am, and I don't get home until 7pm. My partner finishes work around 6.30pm n leaves at7.30am. My parents live an hours drive away. Not only that, I am exhausted this pregnancy and finding it really tough mentally and physically this time round, still being sick too, everydays a struggle atm! So travelling into London and the underground even once a week is so tiring for me and tbh, I get more done at home anyway, it just feels so pointless. Would you stand your ground here, and say it's not what I signed up for, childcare is a struggle and just refuse? I don't want to lose my job over it (so anxious currently so over thinking everything of course) but my manager says this director seems pretty serious about everyone needing to be in the office more. Help!

[Catsonskis]

Oh that’s a pain, I’m hearing of this happening a lot. If your contract states you’re entirely WFH or your base location is home you have a leg to stand on, however even then they are entitled to just change your contact, with notice.

however due to you being pregnant could you not do the necessary risk assessments and discuss with your manager why going into London whilst pregnant is too much? They have to accommodate reasonable adjustments for your pregnancy but not your childcare. I’d focus on your pregnancy then see what the lay of the land is and expectations on being in the office when you RTW and tackle it just before you come back either by getting wfh status confirmed or agree once a week/month that your husband will have to flex and support with!

vest of luck

[tangeriiinedrream]

How you deal with this depends entirely on what your SMT says, and what your official work location is.

If you officially work from home with office attendance being optional then I'd tell them to do one.

It's more complicated if the office is stated as your official workplace, but you do have custom and practice of working from home so you could argue that.

I would also lay it on thick with 'pregnancy related difficulties' that will made the sudden and drastic workplace change too much for you. Pregnancy discrimination is not a hill they will want to die on.

[Twiglets1]

It is not unreasonable of your employer to ask you to come into the office one day a week so I wouldn’t refuse. You have a partner who could potentially adjust his hours once a week - he needs to ask his employer if he can start a bit later or finish a bit earlier one day a week as he has childcare responsibilities. You also have retired parents who can help if his work proves to be completely unhelpful, though I don’t see why your employer should be expected to be 100% flexible and his 0% flexible.
You could also consider a childminder for one day a week.

[RotundBeagle]

If your contract states you’re entirely WFH or your base location is home you have a leg to stand on, however even then they are entitled to just change your contract, with notice.

Really?

I thought an employer couldn't amend a contract without the employee's agreement.

[Twiglets1]

@RotundBeagle

If your contract states you’re entirely WFH or your base location is home you have a leg to stand on, however even then they are entitled to just change your contract, with notice.

Really?

I thought an employer couldn't amend a contract without the employee's agreement.

I don’t think that’s true. We all had our contacts changed at work (a school) when they decided to change our hours.

[RotundBeagle]

I think they can change your shift in shift work but didn't think they could suddenly tell you that you're moving to a permanent night shift, for example.

ACAS says:

An employment contract between an employer and an employee or worker is a legally binding agreement.

You can agree the terms and conditions of the contract either:

-in writing, for example in a job offer letter
- verbally, for example during a conversation when you offer the job

Both you and the employee or worker can propose changes to the agreed terms and conditions, but you must both agree to the changes.

[whosaidtha]

I think that if you're 5 months pregnant it's once a week that's 12 days before mat leave. Why rock the boat for the sake of 12 days.

[BloodyThursday]

I can see our work doing this. We worked in the office though and went WFH during Covid and never went back. Some staff have moved hours away, got dogs that can't be left etc and now there's grumbling about going back a few days a week. I think it's a bit naive to think it may never happen even though the job was agreed WFH. Things change in companies and we either fit in or leave.

[androbbob]

Could you go in once with your husband taking a days annual leave and then not do it again as it's too draining on your health. Pick a Friday or Monday as travel is usually quieter

[Doingmybest12]

@whosaidtha

I think that if you're 5 months pregnant it's once a week that's 12 days before mat leave. Why rock the boat for the sake of 12 days.

This is a good point.

[fajitaaaa]

@whosaidtha

I think that if you're 5 months pregnant it's once a week that's 12 days before mat leave. Why rock the boat for the sake of 12 days.

Yeah good shout. Dh can use his leave

[fajitaaaa]

@BloodyThursday

I can see our work doing this. We worked in the office though and went WFH during Covid and never went back. Some staff have moved hours away, got dogs that can't be left etc and now there's grumbling about going back a few days a week. I think it's a bit naive to think it may never happen even though the job was agreed WFH. Things change in companies and we either fit in or leave.

Yup we had that. It got quite heated and people ended up leaving.

Also who's looking after your child now is it possible to extend the childcare?

[Dyslexicwonder]

I think they need to put it in writing to you. From an employer's perspective to makes sense to have people in at least a day a week.

Reading your first post I thought you didn't have a DP/DH agree he needs to flex as well. As others have said it's only 12 weeks how about something like:

1. You agree to start on the 1st of April, so that's 8
   
2. Your parents do every other week (so 4 weeks)
   
3. Your DH negotiates a late start/ WFH or takes a bit of A/L for 4 days.
   
   TBH depending on when you are going off you could refuse to go in after 35/36 weeks on grounds of H&S.

[Undertheoldlindentree]

Do you have a spare room? In a similar situation, a friend had their mother stay over one night a week to help with childcare. Also book pre-school or toddler group etc so your parents get a bit of a breather in the day?

[OntarioBagnet]

@RotundBeagle

I think they can change your shift in shift work but didn't think they could suddenly tell you that you're moving to a permanent night shift, for example.

ACAS says:

An employment contract between an employer and an employee or worker is a legally binding agreement.

You can agree the terms and conditions of the contract either:

-in writing, for example in a job offer letter
- verbally, for example during a conversation when you offer the job

Both you and the employee or worker can propose changes to the agreed terms and conditions, but you must both agree to the changes.

Hmmm, I had th8s and did not agree to the change after 5he 30 day consultation. I was moved to a new office 45 miles away. So when I didn’t agree they said they were entitled to rip up my contract and issue me a new one and if I didn’t agree I’d have effectively resigned. I rang both my union and Acas who said the employer could do this.

so yes, I think the OPs employer could make her come in every day if they wanted.

[BluebellBlueballs]

@RotundBeagle

If your contract states you’re entirely WFH or your base location is home you have a leg to stand on, however even then they are entitled to just change your contract, with notice.

Really?

I thought an employer couldn't amend a contract without the employee's agreement.

Of course they can if they have sufficient business grounds and have gone through a consultation

[Mindymomo]

If you say you will go in on a Monday from April 1st, then Easter Monday is one day that you won’t be going in, nor May bank holiday and Coronation day bank holiday and then there’s a bank holiday Monday end of May. You could also arrange Midwife appointments on Mondays. Failing that if you’re not up to the journey, ring in and say you’re not well enough that day to travel but can wfh.

[Yerroblemom1923]

People were always going to have to go back to work at some point, I think it's naive to think you can wfh and not pay for childcare forever. Bosses are cracking down on this kind of thing.

[Theelephantinthecastle]

I think you have stronger rights due to being pregnant.

Have they done the risk assessment thing they need to do for pregnant employees?

[Fuctifin0]

I can't believe those who wfh are still resisting going back into the office.
You've had it too good for too long.

If you're not prepared to put the effort in for one day a week to get into the office, start looking for a job closer to home who will allow you your super flexi hours, which is probably the reason the new director wants people back in, they take the absolute piss.

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

What does it say in your contract? Are you WFH with your children there? That’s probably not allowed either.

Pay for childcare (like everyone else).

[Motheranddaughter]

Who is looking after your children at the moment
They probably won’t want to rock the boat while you are pregnant but ultimately employers can push through these type of changes
i would do one day a week to engender some goodwill and yourDH should flex to facilitate this

[Yerroblemom1923]

What @Fuctifin0 says! Get back to work. I think in your scenario I may have put off having a third child until I had plans in place for potentially returning to the office.....Your job already sounds super flexible and you'll struggle to find another 100% wfh job that doesn't insist you have childcare in place.

[Divebar2021]

Sounds very much like childcare is solely your responsibility and not your partners. Why is that? I think if you’re going to continue in this job in the long term ( after your maternity leave) you need better options than your parents living an hour away having to be there for 6.30. What time do they have to get up to get to you for that time ? It might ultimately be easier to find a new job than try and fix this situation.

[ScentOfAMemory]

So a super flexible company (seemingly also letting people have their children with them while they work?) using pop up space has now taken over permanent space?
That means a) the company is doing well to move onto a more permanent location set up b) they have realised that for them it's better to have their workers in that space.
OP started last August and became pregnant a few months later. She may have passed her probation, but pregnant or not, if she's unable to fulfill the contractual obligations (which are almost certainly going to have that little tedious clause about "if we want to change things, we can and will" ) then they are going to be within their rights to look for someone who can.
Contracts change. Requirements change.
If OP has enjoyed the job this far, (and the perks sound pretty good tbf) then rocking the boat for the next couple of months isn't worth it. Especially if she intends to return to work afterwards.