Aibu to think this is unfair?

[Carlie97]

In my organisation there are a small pool of staff who provide frontline client support and so ideally need to be in the office, although we all have the option to work from home one day a week. A while ago I negotiated two days wfh a week due to circumstances and these were granted.

It's hard work being one of the small pool, we're stretched and it's been decided that one of our pool no longer has to do the part of the role which means need to be in the office anymore. This leaves us even more stretched and when a member of the pool is on leave for whatever reason, it may possibly mean I can't wfh that week. This has a big effect on me.

I'm really upset with work for not thinking about us who are left and for my wfh to be having to be potentially cancelled.

Aibu?

I negotiated the wfh before I made a decision to move far from the office base.

I will thanks.

I get tired of working so hard, being conscientious and then having to worry about everything all the time
What does this mean? Do you mean you have to work harder when you’re in the office than when you’re working from home?!

I just feel I put in so much effort and don't feel it's acknowledged. I'm tired.

Is this man getting replaced?

? If frontline job then didn't you used to do it in person every day? Not many who travel get travel paid for, it's just reluctantly budgeted.

Seems fair enough

I’m sure everyone else in the office feels that way, but they only get to wfh once a week

Separate issue

How long have you been wfh 2 days a week?

Respectfully, it sounds to me like your employer has been flexible to make things better for you, but needs occasional flexibility back but you feel this is unfair?

Just keep doing your job as you do at the moment, and keep working from home 2 days a week. If they need extra cover due to the other guy leaving they will need to move someone to your team or hire someone new.

Surely if this person's role has changed and won't be coming back it means that the team is one person down and they need to recruit a replacement.

Or are they cutting costs and just want the rest of you to take up the slack, change your agreed wfh days whether you like it or not, and work harder with no extra reward?

You are of course free to look for another job that suits you better. What you have described is not a question of fairness. They have made a decision for reasons that you don't seem to be privy to. The impact of that change on your WFH arrangements was probably not a consideration.

If you've got a formally agreed flexible working request, that's the same as your contract saying you wfh 2 days a week. It's a formally recorded change to your contractual terms.

They can't just expect you to stop doing that without consulting with you, just like they can't just expect, without consultation, somone to move to full time hours when they're on a part time contract because someone has resigned.

They have to consult with you on this, just as they would for any change to the terms in your contract.

If this formed part of a flexible working agreement, was this granted for a period of time like a trial to see how it goes? If so, they are within their rights to say at a review meeting that the current arrangement no longer meets the needs of the business.

If you had a variation to contract specifically stating this fact, this is more solid but even with adequate notice, I think it’s 3 months legally? They can say that they are consulting with you to change this to again, meet the needs of the business.

When you say you “can’t afford” to be in the office more, do you mean “healthwise” as in it would be a struggle physically/mentally (if so occupational health can get involved and carry out an assessment) or do you mean financially as in travel costs to and from work?

From what you have written here, they have not asked you to come into the office more. You seem to be anticipating an issue that has not arisen yet. From some of your other answers, can I gently ask if you are having some MH issues?

But are they though? If you’re thinking you’re not going to get 2 days because of a change in the team, are management really going to give more than 1 person of couple of wfh days

Yes. Feeling really depressed at the moment. I often think of how easier life would be if I wasn't here. It's all too much sometimes and worries before they've arisen often crop up. It's not helped my managers rolling their eyes when I try and subtlety discuss my worries and offer a solution.

Both really which is why I negotiated a wfh two days a week.

Was this a flexible working agreement or a more permanent change? Is it in writing?

Ah, I’m sorry you’re going through a hard time right now. 💐

How long ago?

A flexible working agreement. My workplace aren't too hot in getting things confirmed in writing but I made sure I got written confirmation of it by email.

Around seven months ago.