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?

It’s 6x Pa. Surely just get on with it?

Asking you to go to 6 in person meetings a year is definitely flexible working!

Having been in a similar set up - yes I would go to the meetings and spend the week in the office

I can’t spend the week I am a single parent with no I mean literally no support!

6 times a year isn’t the week.

I’m thinking maybe another job. If the consensus is to just accept it. I have a specialist job in a shortage area so could get another job. I don’t think anywhere else would let me do remote though. So maybe have to commute every day. It’s just hard being a single parent!

Are you working whilst providing care for your DC?

I’d be weary about poking the bear too much. Once every two months isn’t an unreasonable ask.

OP, I'm in the public sector and my contract has changed. My base of work is now 'home worker'.... so if this has been done as a formal request then you should have had a new contract issued.

Do you have a union who would help?
Eight years is a long time to be unhappy in your job.
If you enjoy the job then maybe it’s worth moving

Yes I was also going to suggest that you speak to your union rep.

Yes I have a union rep but they are limited in what they can actually do.

Why would you just give in when you don’t think you can get another job? No one here knows what your contract states or what the rules are in your place of work. The public sector is huge so everywhere will be different. Have you spoken to HR/union or even your manager about it? In my public sector job you wouldn’t be expected to come in just for a meeting.

Six times a year doing in person meetings might actually be enjoyable and good for you OP! Especially as you mentioned you live remotely and don’t have many family and friends around.

It might even be good for your child - you never know what opportunities or support come up through people you know. Even if you do hate them, maybe time with them in 3D real life will change the 2D perception you have of them via your laptop screen.

How old is your child? How much would the travel cost you? Is it a well paid job, do you like the work?

If it was just the meetings pointlessly in person it would be ok. It seems that this is just going to be part of continual anti remote work ethos. It’s getting me down as I can’t get on with life.

Also I am permanently exhausted with full time parenting and work and antisocial hours too. I’m not sure how much more I go do.

Surely you are not working from home and doing childcare? That would not have been signed off.

No I am not kids are at school and after school child care ect. Obviously that is different from childcare needed for in person working. Also they are not babies needing constant care. However all other childcare and house running is me as well as more than full time job. The only way I manage is because it’s remote. It’s allowed me to carry on.

I know I work more than many others who ‘go in ‘ as productivity is easily measured in my field.

To me WFH is really a life line for single parents and working mothers but everyone so quick to criticise it. It’s really depressing.

It’ll depend on your contract.

Most contracts I’ve had have a line that says something along the lines of ‘on occasion you may be required to work outside of your usual place of work’.

If this is the case, then even if your home is down as your place of work in your contract or flexible working agreement, they can call you into the office ‘on occasion’. On occasion is obviously open to interpretation, how often are they asking you to come in?

Your employer decides what is necessary for the business not an employee.

you alluded to doing loads of work I a previous post, if you are doing loads of extra hours and resenting it then stop.

If it's public sector do you have something like a "carers passport"? (I'm civil service and we do)
I'd probably focus on their policies for supporting carers as it sounds like that is the genuine reason why it's difficult for you to attend

You bring a single parent isn’t your employers problem.
and from your post, your attitude towards work doesn’t seem great.
If I was your boss, and got the same impression you’ve given here. I’d be looking to get you out.

Dexter is awful. Like somebody out of an American sit-com.