The most common type of hybrid working arrangement is to spend part of the working week at home. It is no secret that many workers have been grateful for this opportunity, which has been helped along fast by Covid.
Since the Pandemic, there have been several waves of news stories about employers wanting their staff to return to the office. The Telegraph (subscription may be required) has published an article about Lloyd’s of London, which is supposedly monitoring office attendance with the target of its staff spending at least 4 consecutive days each week in the office beginning on a Monday. The writer also says this situation “…comes amid growing concerns across businesses that workers are either flouting demands to come into the office more regularly or effectively extending the weekend by not coming into the office on Mondays or Fridays”.
So, what rights do you have if your employer wants you to spend more time at the office?
Generally speaking, your options will depend on what your employment contract says about your place of work, what your true working arrangement has been and your specific circumstances. My colleague Karen Jackson has written a detailed blog about this, here: I’m being forced back to the office – didlaw.
Labour’s plans
The right to request flexible working became a day one right on 6 April 2024. Labour plans to improve this protection, which many commentators regard as is quite toothless in its current form because the tribunals have limited scope to interfere with employers’ decisions and can only make very low awards of compensation.
This blog was written by Ben Lindsay, Solicitor at didlaw.
