Advice on WFH flex requests and potential unfair treatment

AJ30

hello, this is my first post here. I’ve been working for my company for 4 and a half years. I am currently on maternity leave with my second baby. Since March 2020 I along with the rest of the employees have worked from home. In the beginning it was full time. When I returned from maternity the first time around we had some sense of normality back with lockdowns ending etc so moved to a hybrid contract and started coming in to the office once a fortnight. I would also like to add that I work three days a week part time. Before lockdown had begun it was announced we would be moving offices. The office is in a poor location despite there false claims there would be a train station being built there has been nothing of the such in the four years since we were told we were moving. Last year before the move (we moved in October 2023 at this point I was on maternity) it was announced we would come to the new office once a week. I made preparations early for this with my children and unborn child’s nursery and worked everything out with my partner. I was then informed by a work friend (not the company) that they had decided now it’s twice a week mandatory as they want to have more “structure” to the working week and create “innovation and collaboration”. I know this is not the real reason as my team is quite low down in their hierarchy and we don’t even have regular meetings. I suspect the real reason is due to investors and the amount of money they’ve spent on the shiny new office. I spoke to a manager about it two months ago as I was concerned that the new hybrid model (they are asking for at least 40% of work time in office) is unfair to that of part time employees as they’ve just said that everyone has to come in twice a week and that’s that. They’ve really contradicted themselves as the manager sent me over the email and it says they’ve heard the feedback loud and clear (what feedback??) and that they’re increasing office time but want us all to still be Mostly home based. Yet how is a part timer like me mostly home based if I’m in twice per week out of my three days? Also the cost of commuting and increasing childcare costs is causing me a lot of worry. I suffer with debilitating anxiety which they are not currently aware of, but I spoke to ACAS and they advised I make them aware of it. Long story short on my anxiety I was prescribed meds not taking at the moment due to breastfeeding but I am on an extensive 12 week therapy which was escalated by my previous treatment review. I just wondered if I could put a flex request in to do only once a week in the office making my office time 33.3% and also makes it fairer for me. I also want to know if there’s a way I can Pursue their unfairness further as we weren’t even consulted on the change, never asked for feedback and they do not consult people when rejecting flex requests I know this from another colleague. I should also add that when I raised the concerns over it being unfair two months ago I was told it was being “reviewed” yet it’s been two months now and when I’ve asked it’s just “it’s being reviewed the impact this with have on part time employees” which I don’t think is good enough when they’ve contradicted themselves in their communications and I’m trying to arrange extra childcare to potentially cover the extra commutes to the office. I think it’s so vague and unfair. Could I possibly go down the grievance route for this? Thank you if you’ve got this far and I’ve tried to explain situation as best I can but can answer any questions you may have and no I’m not in a union and not been seen by occupational health

AJ30

just to add, the 40% they are referring to is that of a full time employee. They then went on to say it’s twice a week regardless of how many numbers of hours someone works but for a part timer twice a week is 66.6% office time so not the “mostly home based experience” the managing partner says

Rachel_Scope

Hi @AJ30.

Welcome to the community 😊

I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with the issues at work. I agree with ACAS that you should make them aware of your anxiety. They should make reasonable adjustments for you. I’m not sure how you would address this in the best way. I would recommend joining a union, they can offer great advice and be there as your advocate in any meetings you may have.

Have you spoken to your employer since your last post?