HR Advice

NealeH1875

Good morning
I am looking for some HR advice regarding going back to the office and some working from home flexibility. 

I work in sales and I have just hit a senior sales status within the business. There are also a handful of other senior sales staff who have been seniors for over 12 months. 

As we return to the office I have been told i will get 2 WFH days moving forward. This is the same as other sales people who aren't ''Seniors'' The other 3 seniors in the business have given 3 days to work from home. 

I have queried this to ask why can't i have 3 days WFH now that I am a senior and the answer i have got is just a No and this won't be looked at in the immediate future. 

Don't get me wrong I like my job and i still am getting some WFH time but I think it's unfair other ''seniors'' in the business are getting an extra day at home and i'm not. 
Is this right? Is there a way i can raise this with HR as my immediate management don't look like they will be making any changes

Thanks

TELLIT01

WFH policy is entirely down to the employer.  As long as you are not being discriminated against on a 'protected characteristic' (I think that's the term), there is nothing to force the company to act.  You can certainly take it up with HR, but if your immediate manager has recently given you the answer is it worth potentially antagonising them so soon after promotion?

Has the WFH poilicy only been brought in due to Covid, or has it been standard practice for a number of years?  Is the 'senior' 3 days WFH an historic agreement which won't be applied to anybody else reaching the grade?

NealeH1875

I thought that may be the case. yeah WFH was brought in last March and we are going back Monday. 
It just feels like they are keeping people happy as don't want any grief from them but us who have been working just as hard and have got a promotion aren't getting the same rewards. There is a couple of us in this situation. 

Undervalued

NealeH1875 said:

Good morning
I am looking for some HR advice regarding going back to the office and some working from home flexibility. 

I work in sales and I have just hit a senior sales status within the business. There are also a handful of other senior sales staff who have been seniors for over 12 months. 

As we return to the office I have been told i will get 2 WFH days moving forward. This is the same as other sales people who aren't ''Seniors'' The other 3 seniors in the business have given 3 days to work from home. 

I have queried this to ask why can't i have 3 days WFH now that I am a senior and the answer i have got is just a No and this won't be looked at in the immediate future. 

Don't get me wrong I like my job and i still am getting some WFH time but I think it's unfair other ''seniors'' in the business are getting an extra day at home and i'm not. 
Is this right? Is there a way i can raise this with HR as my immediate management don't look like they will be making any changes

Thanks

There is no legal obligation to treat employees equally as long as the real reason isn't one of the handful of legally protected characteristics such as gender, race, religion etc.

HR are a management tool who's main function is to protect the business from any liabilities (legal or otherwise) staff may cause! They are not a "court of appeal" over and above management!  

68ComebackSpecial

NealeH1875 said:

I thought that may be the case. yeah WFH was brought in last March and we are going back Monday. 
It just feels like they are keeping people happy as don't want any grief from them but us who have been working just as hard and have got a promotion aren't getting the same rewards. There is a couple of us in this situation. 

It would appear that your employer has chosen to differentiate between those experienced in the role and those who have only recently received a promotion. As the newly promoted are all been treated equally in respect of time spent WFH you would be questioning management/ HR decision-making - only you know the culture in your company and the personalities involved and how they might react to such a challenge, particularly as they have already refused to engage with you on this matter. 

oh_really

Suck it up, you are not in a position of strength.

avawat20

People are correct but you can also consider submitting a flexible working request, there are specific reasons in law for employers rejecting them. Look into it on gov.uk and your organisations policy and see. They should tell you why they are rejecting it. But your choice to make really.

Undervalued

avawat20 said:

People are correct but you can also consider submitting a flexible working request, there are specific reasons in law for employers rejecting them. Look into it on gov.uk and your organisations policy and see. They should tell you why they are rejecting it. But your choice to make really.

Yes but realistically it is usually fairly easy for an employer to find seemingly valid reasons to turn down such a request if they have a mind to do so.

If that happens it is often not easy to successfully challenge as a tribunal has limited powers to second guess / overturn commercial business decisions. It can sometimes be done but even if successful you are then in the unenviable position of working for an employer you have taken to court. Obviously if you have decided you are leaving anyway if you don't get the flexible working you seek then there is less to lose.