Removal of flexible working agreement

[GreenWasper]

Hi sorry for the long post but wondered if anyone whose had a similar issue to me had any advice

I've worked for my current employer for 4 years FT. Everyone has the option to work from home 3 days a week which I do. Standard working hours are 8-4. About 2.5 years ago when my DD started preschool, I had a flexible working request granted, in which I finish work at 3.15 on the days I WFH to do the school run and look after my DD until my husband gets home at 4:30. I then go back online to do my remaining 1.25 hrs.

My previous manager has left 4 months ago, and the new manager has made it clear from day one that she hates this arrangement. Passive aggressive comments to me and the team and implications that I'm skiving, despite the fact that it's clear I am actually working during the evening (logged in and updating systems, completing software tasks, responding to emails etc). I am a project manager so there's a lot of admin etc to be done which I do during this time.

Last week she told me in my 121 that she's spoken to her LM and they have 'agreed' that this agreement no longer works for the business and they will be issuing me with 2 months notice of a removal of the agreement. If this was true it would be one thing, but she could not offer me any concrete evidence of examples of why or how my, or my teams performance is suffering. She's started scheduling important meetings in the times/days I'm away which she's says is a reason, but these could easily be done at other times, or there are other people who can attend. The nature of my job has not changed at all, PMs and project staff in other departments have similar arrangements and it works fine.

I've asked for a meeting with HR and my managers LM but they are notoriously unhelpful at our place. I've looked online and it seems like the advice is if they can't prove the reason I can take them to tribunal but I would rather not. I know I can change my childcare arrangements but I don't see why I should have to when my performance/feedback has always been good and it only seems to be this managers preference. I love the job and team apart from the new manager and would prefer not to leave. Just wondered if anyone had experience arguing for keeping flexible working like this? Thanks in advance

If I was you I would contact pregnant then screwed. They have been incredibly helpful, providing me with access to a solicitor for free advice when I was having issues gaining flexible working arrangements with my company. The mention of ACAS and my solicitor made them back down.

My flexible agreement includes the term that neither I nor the combat can remove it without the others consent. See what yours says.

I really hate short sighted unimaginative managers.

They have consulted with you ( bare minimum) and can demonstrate a business need due to meetings being arranged at the time you need to step away from work ( manufactured but difficult to challenge) and given two months notice your options are limited.

You can raise a grievance/ appeal the decision (depends on policies) but ultimately you may be faced with either working the hours they require or claiming constructive dismissal. The latter means you effectively are left without a job whilst you go through the ET process.

Honestly in your position I would be using the two months to look for a new job that can give you the flexibility you require.

IME if an employer wants to change your terms and conditions then they probably can
Never forget HR are not there to look after you they are there to make sure company can do what it wants without ending up at a Tribunal

Thanks for your replies. Yeah Im not very hopeful it's going to get sorted out in my favour so I'll probably keep my eye out for other flexible jobs. Shame because I've loved the job but in my experience a bad manager can ruin a job and I fear this is just the start.