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?

She doesn't have a wfh contract just a "flexible working agreement "

They tend to be local arrangements rather than a contract - I used to have this and it had to be reviewed every year or so and usually include a clause about being in the office when needed ( I think mine said every few months ) - and that's a managers choice

Obviously none of us have seen your contract but if your working from home isn’t contractual I’m not sure how you could argue this is unreasonable. While
of course wfh is a great option for lots of people it doesn’t sound like this was a contractually remote position and you have a casual hybrid arrangement.

even if you push back this time if they won’t change your contract it will just come up again so I’d start seeing what’s in your local area either way to be honest.

Has the manager actually said that it is mandatory and you must show up in person? Or is he just strongly encouraging ans making you feel like you have to?

I am actually a contractoral home worker and have a contract stating that still at times
I am pushed to come in

I sympathise with your family situation but I don’t think asking people to attend the office 6x a year can be seen as an anti remote work ethos. Quite the opposite in fact! And I also don’t think it’s relevant that everything can be done on Teams. There are tangible and intangible things that can only be done in person - team bonding, building morale and culture, meeting and inducting new staff…… I think you are very lucky to have been offered this balance.

This.