Wfh flexible working and mandatory meetings

[Sheldonsheher]

If you have a non wfh contract originally.
However, you have an agreed flexible working agreement and you live 500 miles away.
Can work suddenly make meetings in person mandatory, if they were previously on teams, can be done on teams but your line manager says they want it for the woolly reason of encouraging face to face collaboration. However they can be done on line. No real benefit to go in person. What is the legal position because these are meetings that are considered mandatory in my field. Is this discrimination against remote workers?

If you’re contract states on site then that’s that I presume…

Being a remote worker is not a protected characteristic, so not discrimination no. Is the office 500 miles away still your base location in your contract? Or is it home now?

Being a remote worker is not a protected characteristic. Does your flexible working paper work specifically confirm that you will do 100% of your job remotely? Does it override certain parts of your contract (it will say if it does).

Meetings rarely work well when most are there face to face with one or two on Teams. It does make sense for some face to face meetings for collaboration.

No I know it is still on contract as there. But this was a previously agreed move. Also if they sign of flexi working to wfh. I have read if they agree to flex working they should not discriminate to remote workers. I mean they could easily continue doing it on line but it seems like someone has a agenda.

Is your flexible working agreement contractual? As in, do you have something in writing that is formally applied to your contract of employment?

If not, then unfortunately your employer is within their rights to ask for physical presence (hence the very hot debate at the moment). It would not be discrimination as remote working is not a protected characteristic unless it is linked to some other characteristic (eg disability).

In what way was it agreed - how was it documented? Was it a specific flex working request with specific conditions?

Yes formal agreement all on paper/signed.
It really does not require face to face as not everyone will be at every meeting in any case also I hate everyone now. As I am a single parent with disabled child I don’t think I can.

If the contract states the role is based in the office, if that is your official place of employment, they can call you in at any time.

We’ve been WFH for the last 5 years. Company has said we now have to be in 3 days a week and you better believe they’ve had the lawyers all over it.

The people who moved miles away are trying to negotiate 2 days but the management ain’t budging and they’ve got the contracts on their side.

I've changed from a hybrid contract to WFH . I put this in as a formal request and my contract has changed. However as part of the contract I agreed to attend the office once every 2 months, and this is written in my contract. I can also be requested to attend at other times but this is by mutual consent - so obviously I don't go!! My office is 115 miles away

This is in the public sector if that makes a difference.

I am sort of confused if it is changed as a job change signed off… so is this not now your contract now. Why dig out the 15 year old contract?

Is the agreement a new working contract that supersedes the old one and clearly states all work is carried out remotely? I only ask as in my last place I went part time and had one day working at home, to ensure this remained permanent it required a change in my actual employment contract.

No the public sector they will never change the generic contract. So it’s more of a job change form and flexible request.

So is this a full time working from home contract or is a hybrid contract? Flexible makes it sound like it’s hybrid? In which case, yes they can require you to be in the office face to face (within reason).

We have flexible working agreements where I work (which has been clearly stated can be changed at any time!) and we need to be in the office 3 days per week but we decide which days. However, there are certain meetings where it is communicated that face to face presence is required so you need to plan to be in the office on those specific dates.

When you negotiated working from home did your contract have a clause stating you would attend the office if required? I'm guessing you have chosen to move away, this isn't their problem!

I've had a wfh contract before but they could still call me in for periodic meetings

Well I asked before I moved. So it’s a flex working / job plan to permanent wfh.

I just don’t know what’s worse to move back or move jobs. It’s really hard being a single parent with a full on responsible job and no help. I sort of don’t trust they won’t keep moving the goal post. Also where the job is is not a family friendly area.

Why not try to communicate your concerns in a forgiving manner via email to your boss?

But also do consider just doing it if it’s a very rare occurrence as it just isn’t worth the stress

If you are a carer you may have some protection but I’m not 100pc on that

No it’s a regular thing six or so times a year. I have done the odd request for a meeting/ training etc. my boss literally does not give a c*.

Have you spoken to HR?

Why did you move so far away from your place of employment? Was the reasons for moving discussed and agreed beforehand?

My staff wfh, but they know if I say we have an in-person meeting they have to attend and for some that's a 7+ hour journey for them. But that's the deal.

I am a contractual home worker in the public sector and have been told if I don't come in occasionally for meetings etc they could revoke my contract not sure how true this is though fortunately I am only a few years off retirement I used to be hybrid after the pandemic then our office move to London applied to be a homeworker as I am hard of hearing diabetic etc and got it

There was a reason for moving but it’s quite outing.
Yes it was agreed but being public sector managers come and go so I am having to remind them of this agreement.
I have 8 years to retire so I’m not sure if i should move house or jobs. It’s really getting me down because i do work all the time but feel like not valued as remote.

What did you ask? Was it I’m going to move can you guarantee I won’t ever have to come in? Even so they can cite business needs, it was a gamble op which paid off for a while. Agree though if you think they are saying come in for the sake of it that’s irritating.

Remote workers isn’t a protected characteristic.

What your contract says is key. Flex working doesn’t mean exclusive remote working.

The thing is I would not mind going six times a year but I don’t have any help or childcare at the moment. I could try to arrange but it seems a waste of time for something could be done on line also don’t trust they won’t keep moving goal posts. So maybe will just front it out.

hr only work for the organisation as far as I can see.