Being asked to come into the office 3 days a week on a work from home contract signed 3 months ago

Duk

Hi,

In January I started a new job with, Better salary, contracted work from home and the job I have wanted for a while.

I understood there would be days that I would need to go into the office due to team meetings (once or twice a month) and development reviews or manager meetings, but I was fine with that. The shortest but no means the quickest route is 71 miles to the office, so a 142 mile round trip.

It now appears some of my colleagues are not happy that I work from home and they don't which has put me in an awkward situation. Today I have been told by my manager that I must attend the office 3 days a week as no one see's me or see's the work I do, other than my manager. I only imagine it's a few more months before its 5 days a week.

Whilst on the phone she told me I passed my probation period, Which means I now have to give 3 months notice instead of 1 weeks notice.

The contract wording states:

"Location:
You will be based at home. You may be required to work at and if requested change your normal place of work to another location as reasonably required."

Where do I stand with this legally? I do not think I say much? but what is reasonable? what can I do or say to put this right? I do not want to escalate this into an argument with my new employer.

Many Thanks

More Info:

I do not exactly do the same work as my colleagues, I am in a different role, I am compliance and governance, they are customer facing and need to be on site. 

I was headhunted by this company from my previous company due to my skill set, they knew exactly where I lived when they offered me the contract and why they offered homeworking as they knew I would not accept or could accommodate driving to the office multiple times a week.

* edited for more info

lisyloo

That wording looks to me as if they can ask you to work wherever they want.
It sounds as though the commute is unacceptable.

Will they want to keep you?
are there any suggestions you can make to make your contribution more visible?

if it’s not negotiable it looks like you will need to find another job

personally I’d be handing my notice in (if they won’t negotiate) and would not be willing to go in, 

Jillanddy

You have worked there a few months. So they can dismiss you for any reason, or no reason, at any point in the next 18+ months. So I am struggling to see how this isn't going to escalate into an argument. They are perfectly able to change your place of work, and even without the clause saying that, they still could do it - you have no employment protection on this. I am only surprised they didn't see this coming if they don't allow your colleagues the same terms.

74jax

What is it you do that others need to 'see' your work (other than your manager)? 

Jillanddy

74jax said:

What is it you do that others need to 'see' your work (other than your manager)? 

I suspect that's the managers excuse. If they are allowing home working for one person, that is bound to raise hackles if others are forced to come to the office. 

Duk

Jillanddy said:

You have worked there a few months. So they can dismiss you for any reason, or no reason, at any point in the next 18+ months. So I am struggling to see how this isn't going to escalate into an argument. They are perfectly able to change your place of work, and even without the clause saying that, they still could do it - you have no employment protection on this. I am only surprised they didn't see this coming if they don't allow your colleagues the same terms.

I do not exactly do the same work as my colleagues, I am in a different role, I am compliance and governance, they are customer facing and need to be on site. 

I was headhunted by this company from my previous company due to my skill set, they knew exactly where I lived when they offered me the contract and why they offered homeworking as they knew I would not accept or could accommodate driving to the office multiple times a week.

Duk

74jax said:

What is it you do that others need to 'see' your work (other than your manager)? 

Thats exactly it, nothing, I do not work with customers, I am currently getting our company through multiple physical, compliance and IT related security frameworks. i.e. ISO 27001, NIST.

I am not in the same role or do the same job as the people complaining about me working from home.

Thrugelmir

Duk said:

 The shortest but no means the quickest route is 71 miles to the office, so a 142 mile round trip.

It now appears some of my colleagues are not happy that I work from home and they don't which has put me in an awkward situation. 

That's not the employers concern. You knew where they were based when you applied for the role and accepted the offer of the position. 

Management has to look at the bigger picture. When exceptions are made it can easily lead to unrest and disunity. Teams do work better face to face. 

Duk

Thrugelmir said:

Duk said:

 The shortest but no means the quickest route is 71 miles to the office, so a 142 mile round trip.

It now appears some of my colleagues are not happy that I work from home and they don't which has put me in an awkward situation. 

That's not the employers concern. You knew where they were based when you applied for the role and accepted the offer of the position. 

Management has to look at the bigger picture. When exceptions are made it can easily lead to unrest and disunity. Teams do work better face to face. 

I completely disagree. it's contractual.

This is why it was advertised as a home working job and stated in my contract as "change your normal place of work to another location as reasonably required.", reasonably being the keyword.

Do you think the employers in the USA that currently hire people in the UK would expect them to travel to the office every morning?

Duk

This is the route, I have left out exact location like my home address and place of work. 

https://goo.gl/maps/5FCkMYiUEAW9sGUT9

The A34 and M40 are quicker but longer distances, they would also save on diesel emissions and as many people in that area know, it does not take 1 hour 37 minutes to do that journey, not to get through Oxford.

Ath_Wat

Thrugelmir said:

Duk said:

 The shortest but no means the quickest route is 71 miles to the office, so a 142 mile round trip.

It now appears some of my colleagues are not happy that I work from home and they don't which has put me in an awkward situation. 

That's not the employers concern. You knew where they were based when you applied for the role and accepted the offer of the position. 

Management has to look at the bigger picture. When exceptions are made it can easily lead to unrest and disunity. Teams do work better face to face. 

Don't you have any issues at all with them saying one thing and doing another?

I'd just quit and refuse to work 3 months notice; I doubt they could stand it up in court that it was a reasonable requirement to backtrack on that basic condition so quickly.