Moving the goalposts on wfh

[Hospitalshmospital]

Advice needed on this situation. I've always been able to wfh on a flexible basis. After a period of serious illness & being in hospital I've been wfh more often, usually about 3 days per week. This was agreed with my manger. We have a monthly one to one meeting & now my manager has said the wfh agreement needs to be more structured ie. set days. This is difficult for me due to my illness. Some days I'm fine & other days not but there's no real pattern. Not sure if I should ask for a meeting with HR or how to proceed. Any advice appreciated.

This sounds like micro management. Why not treat people like adults?

As a manager I also find that someone that decides at the last minute whether to WFH or in the office where there are set office days really disruptive. Joining meetings on Teams is not the same as being in the office, and it adds to the burden of others having to suddenly reschedule meetings with Teams options (we have a lot of in person meetings on the days we are in the office). I am all for WFH but I think there needs to be structure

What would be more disruptive to you and your team
someone joining at last minute a meeting via teams because of their illness they’ve preferred to wfh to accommodate this
someone calling you to say sorry taking sickness day off my illness is quite difficult to deal with today and can’t make it to the office ?

asking as a manager as well

Are you suggesting it's not 'being a grown up' to know my limitations & work accordingly? Words fail me! It would be more disruptive to continue taking sick days which would create more pressure on the team. Although actually I am the only person who does the role I do so would be very disruptive for the business if i wasnt working. I have worked when I possibly can over the last month including days when I should probably have been off sick. What's not being grown up about that?

You need an Occupational health referral.

If you have a long term condition then you are covered by the equalities act. OH can recommend reasonable adjustments. Get support from your HCP involved in your care, any medical reports as to why you need this flexibility.
Your employer does not have to make the adjustment recommended by OH but there must be a good business case why it wouldn't work.

If you go through OH you should not have to be in the office set days "just because everyone else is"

I am going through the same thing at the moment. Was off for two months with something life threatening and my employer has not being supportive before and after my sick leave.

In fact they pressured me to ignore the recommendation made by the GP on my fit note for flexible, home working to support my recovery on my first day back...

In my case though this is a long term condition that qualifies as a disability which I had declared with HR before my sick leave.

I was referred to Occupational Health who recommended the same arrangements as the GP and stated to the employer that my long term conditions qualify as a disabilities.

I have a meeting with HR to discuss the OH report this week.

Basically if I were you I would make a formal request for home/flexible working and asked to be referred to Occupational Health.

Frankly the last thing I need when I am trying to get back on my feet is additional, unnecessary stress from my employer.

I was told at the interview stage I would not need to be in the office more than once a month (that was well after Covid and they knew from the start that for me travelling to the office is a 4 hour journey)...

Thanks to those of you who have given helpful advice. I will contact HR & push for an OH referral.