Denied work from home while other colleagues are allowed

SweetCaliber

Hi all,

Just wondering around the new work from home guidance, I recently asked if I could continue to work from home for most of the week and was denied.

After chatting to colleagues recently they have all come back and said their applications were successful and they are only required to do two days in the office going forward. So basically I am the only one in the office that has to do full time working in the office now, is this not a bit unfair or biased? (small office by the way)

Just looking for opinions!

brokenangel

It depends if everyone is doing the same job, or if other people have different tasks that can be done remote but you are required in the office to do your tasks

Strumms

First thing is to establish why they can work from home and you cannot.

ask the question via email and try and coerce them into a written response..

In my experience that sort of carry on is usually a managers attempt to facilitate parents and families, which goes on way to much in businesses… you can’t discriminate against people on the basis that they don’t have kids but it’s done in most businesses to some degree without censure.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118776444#Comment_118776444

The reason it goes on in business is because you actually can!

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777320#Comment_118777320

You can't from a legal standpoint though.

OP - to put it bluntly, have a good think about how porductive you've been over the last two years wfh. That's the only reason I can think why you're the only one who's been told to work full time in the office.

Citrus_8

Maybe you're less efficient working home comparing to others? I'm personally a bit more efficient in office due to more screens, bigger desk, no need to use software through remote, scanner at work is lightning fast, everything is more suitable to me in office. I don't live far away from work so decided to work in office pretty much every day. However, I have decided about this and explained to the managers who agreed that working home isn't as efficient (for everyone). Ir also depends on the job position. Some are more negatively affected when working home, some less...

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777530#Comment_118777530

And the case law for that would be?

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777991#Comment_118777991

it's under the nine grounds of discrimination - family status.

callaway92

Hardly a case of some having WFH requests in their contract being a possibility etc?

SweetCaliber

Just to add,

Everyone in the office does the exact same job as me, we are all around the same age also and don't have kids etc.. we are all mid 20's

We had a productivity meeting not long ago and I was top of the class with productivity while working from home.

Its definitely not to do with family status or productivity.

Augme

Then you need to ask your employer why your wfh request was refused when everyone else's wasn't.

bucketybuck

Not much point asking people here, it is a very simple question to your boss.

"Why do they get to work from home but I do not?"

StevenToast

Just ask

Mrs OBumble

Maybe you're being groomed for a promotion. Maybe you live closest or have the nicest face and someone needs to be in. Maybe you upset someone. Lots of possibilities.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118778751#Comment_118778751

Maybe they see something in you that is lacking in the others and having you in the office is the best way to utilise that and the best way for you to progress and get promoted.

CrookedJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118778992#Comment_118778992

This really has me smiling. I would be simultaneously enraged and beguiled if I was told to work from the office because I had the nicest face.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777320#Comment_118777320

Not legally. But it certainly happens alright…

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779081#Comment_118779081

Well if someone has to be in the office (in case visitors, clients, etc) call, then it makes sense to have the most-presentable person there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779696#Comment_118779696

Ah c'mon....its 2022......that kind of logic/thinking would have employer in Workplace Relation Commision before too long.....might work in a strip club but not so much in the 'real' world

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777991#Comment_118777991

The Equal Status Acts would cover it. It would be classed as discrimination on grounds of family status. You can't give preferential treatment to someone who has children, over those who do not.

OP, what specific reason where you given for being denied WFH? They need to be a bit more specific than "you're needed in the office".

Did you request WFH in writing or verbally?

(Are you the person who would kick up the least fuss about being in the office?)

No disrespect to OP and I sincerely hope you get an answer to this...... BUT .... I honesty don't know why you would come on an internet chat forum and ask total strangers a question like this? Surely if the playing field is even at work (all single, no kids, same productivity), YOU know your boss and colleagues better than any of us, YOU know the business and how it works, the obvious thing is simply ask your Manager/Management team? What's there to lose? And surely they will think more of you for being direct and asking an honest question?

Don't overthink things. Just do it. Tomorrow.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779766#Comment_118779766

You don’t think making a good impression on clients is important? Did that change recently?

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779858#Comment_118779858

If you've hired a group of employees who all do the same job and only one of them is capable of making a good impression on clients the employer has clearly majorly fuckd up in their hiring practices.

The reality is if the OP is given that excuse by their employer as to why they are the only one who has been told they need to be in the office all the tine it would be laughably bad by the employer.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779858#Comment_118779858

Perhaps the comment went miles over your head?? There's clear water between " making a good impression" and just letting an employee WFH based on their physical appearance! Your sexist comment reminded me of the Colin Farrell character in that movie 'bad bosses'

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118778057#Comment_118778057

And yet the Organisation or working time Act requires employers to consider family responsibilities.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779914#Comment_118779914

Has the op mentioned gender? How can something be sexist if it applies equally to both sexes? Do you not think it is in the best interest of employers to have the best employees meeting clients to make the best impression? I would have thought that was a given, the op said he/she got the best performance review. Whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not, appearances when meeting clients matters in a lot of jobs.

You pulled the PC trigger a bit early there.

Best bit of advice was given early in the thread, ask the boss why you aren’t being given the option to work from home, everyone’s posts here are just speculation. The Government has listed the reasons why employers can refuse and it is so broad as to make it virtually useless, so the employer just has to pick one. There is nothing that says if some are granted wfh, all must be.

Posters are assuming the reason must be bad or discriminatory, it could well be that the OP is being marked for promotion/management. So let’s just wait for the reason before jumping on the discrimination bandwagon.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779766#Comment_118779766

What for?

Provided its not a proxy for disability, discrimination on the basic of appearance or weight or height is totally legal.

Donald Trump

If WFH is important to you, then all you can do is ask. Make it clear that you'd prefer it but don't get thick with them or complain too much. Keep your head down to a certain extent but at least make sure your preference is known. If they refuse then say nothing and keep going in and doing your work. Polish up the CV on the side and when you find an employer who will facilitate you, hand in your notice and leave. Even if they turn around at that point and offer you the WFH to stay, it will be too late.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779908#Comment_118779908

You’ve never worked with someone who was really good at their job, but you’d never want them to meet a client face to face?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780078#Comment_118780078

I suspect you're just trolling/ fishing but I'll give the benefit of the doubt & take it your 70s attitude ( kind of ' mad men' era), though disgusting, is just that...' from another era". As an employer I cannot, nor would I dare, discriminate against any employee based on their appearance/weight or height.... I geuinely find your ridiculous statement that these discriminations are "Totally legal" quite offensive. " Hey Mary you put on a few lbs during covid...heres your p45"....oh the WRC would have a field day.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780130#Comment_118780130

As an employer, if you have ever held interviews for more than one person applying for the same job, you have discriminated in some way by picking one over the other. It just may not be illegal discrimination. And yes, Ken, how they present themselves at interview can play a part in that.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780130#Comment_118780130

Nobody is saying that you should discriminate. What they are saying is that not everything is discrimination.

The reason the others might be allowed to work from home might be simply that they asked first. In the same way that it is not necessarily discrimination for the boss to allow the first worker who asks for Christmas week off, but then not allow others because they need coverage.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780253#Comment_118780253

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxM8gCw_H0k

Hey op, yeah, your situation sounds a bit cr*p alright. But it could be a kind of compliment, that maybe they've decided they'd like someone in at all times and you're the best person for the job. If it were me, I'd do it for a couple of weeks and then suggest to your manager that - all things being equal - you'd benefit from working from home a couple of days a week and maybe an informal rota could be set up for you and the rest of the team.

At the end of the day, if none of the last two years had happened, you'd still be in the office five days (or whatever) a week.

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780101#Comment_118780101

Yes, but I wouldn't give them in a role that could involve meeting clients. The impression from the OP is that they all do the same role, and I assume they did this pre covid so they would have all been in the office and then likely meeting clients etc. It would be very strange if it turned out they were all the kind of people who you wouldn't want to meet clients then.

In saying that we've no idea if they did meet clients even so getting into wild speculation here.

Nsonowa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780726#Comment_118780726

But.. it did happen. And if OP didn't WFH during it the company would have been hurt.

SweetCaliber

Apologies guys, my question probably wasn't made clear in my initial post. I've full intention of asking why I was denied, however I just wanted other opinions on this just so I don't go in with nothing to back me up (and end up falling on my arse).

Basically I started with the company during the pandemic and when I applied for WFH after the back to office talks started, I was told I'd benefit more being in the office (socialising etc..) and was denied it, have to do 5 days in the office.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind being there and would rather do a mix like the others, but if everyone else is allowed 3 days at home then I don't see why I'm not, and I'm wondering if this is allowed or is it somewhat unfair seeing as the original reason given doesn't even make sense as most days theres probably 2 or 3 of us max in the office and we are all separated.

I also go off for lunch so the whole socialising thing is out the window. I'm essentially doing the same job as I was at home, with the extra commute which includes sitting in traffic for 30 minutes each morning and the same on the way home. I just don't see any reason to justify it.

Again my productivity is not something in question here, I'm one of the most productive on the team and never gotten so much as a telling off for anything.

I suppose the obvious question is were all the others working in the office prior to the pandemic? They may see merit in you being in the office initially to gain the necessary experience, then transition to wfh like the others.

Also, if you joined during the pandemic, what does your contract say about place of work, is it office or wfh?

If you don’t mind being there, what is the issue?

SweetCaliber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118781328#Comment_118781328

They were yes, though some were on WFH contracts before the pandemic. Contract says initially WFH then office once guidance allows it.

I don't mind being there 2/3 days a week but would prefer a more flexible approach.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118781351#Comment_118781351

If the others had wfh contracts before the pandemic, that rules out any allegation of discrimination. Your contract would seem to have indicated from the outset that you would be office based, so I’m not sure what you can do apart from asking for their consideration.

SweetCaliber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118781402#Comment_118781402

Yeah I suppose, for anyone else wondering also its not about a nice face, trust me I'm far from it! 😂

We offer accountancy services online, our office is not public facing all business is done online though we do set up zoom meetings with clients at times.

CrookedJack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118779696#Comment_118779696

Well that's a shame, I had it in my head that my nice face was so my everyone could look at it all day and feel happy.

Mrs OBumble

Based on your updates, I suspect that they actually want your work to be somehow different to what they others are doing - in ways that haven't yet been explained to you.

I'd advise either job hunting if you really want WFH, or putting a smile on your face and giving it a go for 6 months and working out what's going on.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780130#Comment_118780130

Not trolling even slightly.

What law do you think you would be breaking if you discriminate based on appearance? (Hint: being good-looking is not restricted to one sex/gender).

GoldFour4

What is your home work setup like OP? Just trying to think of reasons for wfh being denied.

Are you working from a kitchen table or with housemates/family in same room etc?

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780101#Comment_118780101

I worked in a small company

We had a junior accountant that was good at his job but really scruffy

A few times we had visits from potential customers or investors, really big deal for the company to get their business.

We were asked to keep our desks clean at come in neatly dressed etc.

The scruffy accountant guy was asked to stay at home.

It happens alright.

SweetCaliber

- snip -

SweetCaliber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118782679#Comment_118782679

Private room, no distractions, actually spent quite a lot of my own money on a desk, ergonomic chair, laptop stands extra monitor etc..

Augme

Do they need someone in the office tondo the **** tasks like filing, collecting/doing post etc? Most businesses will have general admin tasks like that which still need to be completed.

AyeGer

The two most likely reasons are 1. Your particular job can’t be done adequately at home. 2. They believe you will be swinging the lead.

TheGlossy

How long have you been with the company?

I know my company required everyone with less than a year in the company to work from the office while everyone else was working from home.