Being forced to move back to dublin to work from the office 4 out of 5 days.

global23214124

I currently live in the countryside about 3 hours transport from Dublin. My company recently said we have to go back to the office for 4 out of the 5 days and can work from home 1 day a week. We were supposed to be coming in 1 day a week but I haven't really done that as it wasn't enforced. They are clamping down on it a bit more now so I'm guessing its going to be enforced somehow but I'm not sure how yet. Another person on my team has managed to get 1 day a week instead as he has kids which is fair enough. I've heard of other exceptions being made but only for reduced mobility. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I'm thinking about looking for some remote positions to see what else might be out there.

Seve OB

what you mean back to Dublin?

I assume you left Dublin but am guessing your company is still where it always was?

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120038821#Comment_120038821

Oh sorry I ment back to the office. I've updated it there. My company is still based in Dublin. I left Dublin during the pandemic.

Caranica

Your employment contract should specify your place of work. It's likely that is the office. Most companies have brought in a remote working policy, our place is one day a week now too. It sucks but it is what it is. You either comply or find another job.

Vestiapx

Just quit, if you are important enough you will be accommodated, if you aren't then you never were

HildaOgdenx

Mod Note - OP I have moved your thread to Work Problems which is more suited to it.

Local charter now applies.

Hilda

Augme

Have you tried to discuss it with your manager and see if you can keep the same arrangement? It's a nuclear option, but if they do refuse you could point out that their current policy is discrimination. If that falls on deaf ears you could then consider taking a case against them.

Unsupervised

How did people get it into their head that WFH would be a permanent thing.

Blud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039042#Comment_120039042

How is it discrimination?

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039042#Comment_120039042

Yeah i discussed it and they said it was unlikely unless I had a very good reason. I said it was unrealistic to go back to Dublin by the date they said and to see could we push the date a bit more into the future. What kind of discrimination? Like some people getting the chance to work more from home due to kids versus a single person not getting that option?

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039061#Comment_120039061

I've worked from home for nearly 3 years now with about 10 days back in the office so its annoying to be asked to go back for 80% of the time. It would be a big change for me as I've gotten used to life elsewhere and it hasn't been half bad. A lot of companies have better remote options or some companies have gone fully remote like Slack.

So you move permanently away from your work place, and expect your work to accommodate?

road_high

What did they say when you discussed it? Outright refusal or what?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039061#Comment_120039061

Because for many of us, it is. 👍

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039078#Comment_120039078

There's no discrimination. Where is your "home" written in your contract?

edit: meant "home office " place of employment.

Unsupervised

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039088#Comment_120039088

Did you work full time from home before the pandemic?

Your company doesn’t care what you got used to.

They have invested in infrastructure which they don’t want seen as empty.

why ask the company to “ push the date a bit more into the future”…. If you refuse to return to the office they will simply replace you with employees that will work in the office.

Why not apply to Slack then?

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039093#Comment_120039093

Meet me half way or something and give me 2 days a week.

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039099#Comment_120039099

They said it was not going to happen unless I had kids or a physical disability where working from home would be easier.

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039065#Comment_120039065

If people with kids are getting favourable treatment over those that don’t I guess?

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039109#Comment_120039109

I worked from the office full time before the pandemic. Yeah its something on my radar to apply for remote roles but just trying to see if people have been in a similar situation and manage to get remote working.

Furze99

Find another job, either local or one that might accommodate you.

@Unsupervised

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039100#Comment_120039100

Likewise. Mr @Unsupervised should be supervised before he spouts more nonsense.

TheadoreT

Has HR officially gone with the line that people with kids are allowed continue from home but people without them aren't? Find that very hard to believe.

But if so it's clearly your angle here to play the discrimination card.

Unsupervised

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039164#Comment_120039164

What’s nonsense?

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039065#Comment_120039065

Under the family status ground. You can't treat people differently because of their family status. If they are willing to let someone work from home because they have kids and then they can't refuse it for people who don't have kids.

global23214124

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039179#Comment_120039179

No, they've said that if you having kids then you talk to your manager about coming up with an alternative plan like working 2 days a week or being flexible about what hours you work from in the office to pick up kids or something.

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039078#Comment_120039078

Yes. Family status is one of the nine grounds for discrimination. You can not be treated differently because of your family status. Single people and people with no children are covered by that as well.

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039137#Comment_120039137

Do you have that in an email? That's a clear and obvious a case of discrimination.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039255#Comment_120039255

It isn't. Its an example of offering family friendly policies to those that might be under particular pressure with dependents and need a little more flexibility.

Choosing to leave the City during the pandemic on a finger-crossed basis, that compulsory office working may never return, is just an example of a gamble that didn't pay off.

Most contracts, certainly any I've ever had, contain a clause to the effect that 'the employee shall live within a reasonable distance of their assigned place of work, such that they may render regular and efficient service'.

This is standard stuff to protect the employer, in the event of location moves, change management issues etc.

The reality is, it is not discrimination, its just a policy that inconveniences the OP.

On the bright side, its a sellers market, go get a role which contracts working from home and be happy.

Xterminator

op.

id simply find another position. Start looking now. if you can find somewhere with a better work life balance than commuting 4 days take it.

Under irish law you cannot force them to allow remote working, but you can tender your resignation. to gain time make an official request to work from home in writing and ask for all decisions to be put in writing. Tell them you feel unfairly singled out that employee X & Y are allowed to work from home. Then appeal that decision, and follow the appeals procedure. Also read your contract carefully and see if there are any provisions in there that relate to working, where your work etc.

Make such a fuss, make them out everything down in writing. if you lose Ask them if you can make a phased return to work. If all that fails tell them you think your treatment is tantamount to constructive dismissal.

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120039283#Comment_120039283

It is. But the best thing the OP should do is contact a employment solicitor and get proper legal advice if he feels it is worth pursuing.