Working From Home

it does seem rather rash to move to another country

I totally agree, but I think Cossy and Doodledog have summed up how I feel about it, and have given good advice.
It isn’t unreasonable for an employer to expect an employee to go into work at least once a week.
Try to ‘fight’ it as Cossy suggests, but be prepared to lose because actually it’s unreasonable to expect to never go into the workplace.

I guess the devil will be in the detail and in this case her contract, unless she has a wfh contract her employer does have the right to ask her, and any other employees, to attend the office in person any time they wish. Having said that I do think the OP should “fight” this and argue her case.

Personally, it does seem rather a rash move to move to another country!

Summerfly

Carmen hasn’t responded to any of the questions that have been asked. Bit odd to ask for opinions and not come back.

She only posted 4 hours ago! People often wait a lot longer before coming back.

My daughter, single parent, one child, was working from home, she was then told they all had to go back to the office for 3 days, she negotiated two days as she was unwell at the time and they wanted to keep her.
If the employer did not guarantee working from home they can call you back to work the office.

Carmen hasn’t responded to any of the questions that have been asked. Bit odd to ask for opinions and not come back.

I agree that people can work just as effectively from home as in the office, and you have my sympathy. Unfortunately, I also think that some in-person contact is good for team-building and fosters a collegiate atmosphere if managed well, and is not just insisted on for the sake of it.

It would be very difficult for a manager to make exceptions if several people would prefer to WFH, so you might not get your wish, but it is definitely worth asking whether it really has to be compulsory. Can you offer anything in return - going in once a month?

Things change Freshair and it’s the employers right to change them if needed

So am I understanding this right You ve moved to a different COUNTRY to work from home for employment in a local authority job I think you need to stay where you are happy and find a job in that country and leave this position open for someone local to the area to have

www.gov.uk/flexible-working

Freshair

BlueBelle

I don’t understand why would you have to move away for one day a week surely if you are working for a LOCAL dept it won’t be hundreds of miles away People can commute long distances and one day a week doesn’t sound unacceptable
Is it ?

She works for a local authority (i.e. a council) and yes it is unacceptable to go in once a week when a job that's been done remotely for however long is done satisfactorily.

As far as I am aware, employers can demand people work in the office.
And it is far from unacceptable for them to demand that.
Nor is it bullying.

As others have said, what does your contract say?

I have cautioned peole in real life about setting down permanent roots, too far away.
Plenty of people have done so and taken the risk.
Sometimes it does not pan out, longer term.

In this particular case, it is not permanent roots.

If you really do live in another country, and not county, then you'll have to either move back or get another job. There's no way round it unless your employer is prepared to adjust the rules for you.

BlueBelle

I don’t understand why would you have to move away for one day a week surely if you are working for a LOCAL dept it won’t be hundreds of miles away People can commute long distances and one day a week doesn’t sound unacceptable
Is it ?

She works for a local authority (i.e. a council) and yes it is unacceptable to go in once a week when a job that's been done remotely for however long is done satisfactorily.

I don’t understand why would you have to move away for one day a week surely if you are working for a LOCAL dept it won’t be hundreds of miles away People can commute long distances and one day a week doesn’t sound unacceptable
Is it ?

A person wfh in another country has already set a precedent for staying wfh. Don't be bullied by anyone who says you should have known you'd have to go back to the office, you don't!

kittylester

Where did you live when you got the job?

Doesn't matter about where she was when she got the job, people work remotely and do the job just as well as if they were in the office with others. In fact I would argue that with less distractions, they do it better and work more effectively

I thought it was just me being thick or that the OP had written Country instead of County.

It seems that lockdown enabled Carmen to move back to a happier place, but totally away from work, which was fine when WFH.

However, surely there was always going to be a likelihood of some employers wanting staff back in the workplace. You should have been prepared for that and really, perhaps should have left that employment and found work in your new location.

It does sound that your mental health is fragile and I hope you are getting medical care as well as support from those around you. It may be that on speaking to your employer they might agree to you WFH on a permanent basis, but that could set a precedent they don’t want to implement.

Is it possible to make it to your office just once a week, otherwise I think you need to find a new job.

Where did you live when you got the job?

Maybe the op lives near the French entrance to the channel tunnel and works for Ashford council. It could be done.
Long day and expensive 🤷‍♀️

This is probably an initiative to encourage people back to the office but not appropriate for someone like you, if you live in another country e.g. Ireland if your local authority are in England. They have to make reasonable adjustments for employees, particularly if this will affect your mental health which it appears, it is already doing. Send your manager an email to explain that it is not possible to comply with this LA policy, that's all it is (i.e. it's not a legal requirement). Local authorities have other equality and diversity policies which you should read, together with the reasonable adjustment policies that I referred to earlier. You therefore have a good case for staying working from home.

Do you mean that you live in a different county? If you actually live in a different country presumably the Local Authority are aware of this... You will have to discuss this with them and decide whether you need to get another job or whether they can accommodate your wish to work full time from home.. goodluck

If you are not in the same country as your employer's offices, how did youget to work when you were working in the office.

If you were employed, even though you live in another country, then presumably the issue is covered in your contract of employment.

If you moved after working from home started did you discuss this issue with your manager. You must have realised that there was always a chance you would need to return to the office at least one day a week, and shuld have included this in your decision making.

I appreciate that going back may be frightening if you would be alone all week, but for just one day?

Are your employers aware of where you live?

You’re joking right?? If not, get another job??

How far away are you?

What sort of work do you do?

Oh dear! My advice is to speak to your line manager asap and see if it’s possible to continue as you are. Good luck.

If not, explore other options, stating somewhere once a week, speaking to a Union Rep, asking for reasonable adjustments due to previous serious mental health issues. Let us all know how it goes x