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Help with completing flexible working request

1 reply

Wfhplz · 23/09/2024 10:28

I started a new job that was advertised as a flexible, hybrid role. My contract has my place of work listed officially as the office, but the email about the employee benefits that I was sent when I was sent my job offer says that you can work flexibly from home, or the office, or hybrid.

I have been working from home since starting there. Most of my colleagues (including my line managers) are based in a different office to me.

We have had a change of senior leadership and they have announced that they want all employees to return to the office for 2-3 days per week. This is a long commute for me (I would spend 3-4 hours per day commuting).

I am trying to fill out a flexible working request form and have included the following, does it sound ok/is there anything I should remove or add:

  • I've been working from home since starting there with no issues and no impact on my role.
  • Most of my colleagues are based in a different office to me, so I don't have any meetings to attend in my office.
  • The commute of 3-4 hours per day will impact my work-life balance (not sure about this point though, as it's not really their problem?)
  • My work requires a lot of focus, which is easier to do at home rather than in an open-plan office where there is people talking on Teams calls or talking with each other (again, not sure about this one).

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Greenergrass40 · 23/09/2024 11:02

That commute sounds awful! How long have you been at the job? The fact a precedent has been set with no repercussions is a good reason. Distance from the office and time spent commuting are both valid to note.

I would be tempted to also reference each of the government valid reasons for employers to turn down a request, explaining why they don’t apply. There are 8 reasons on the link below including things like cost to the business etc.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/flexible-working/if-your-employer-refuses-your-flexible-working-request/

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