Working from home request

[barty9]

I have requested to work from home one day a week (I am a Marketing Manager based in a head office)
Initially, my verbal request was pushed to the side by my boss, I then emailed a few weeks later and this was also brushed to the side.
Next step was to involve our group company HR and request the formal procedure for flexible working which was met with 'The parent company have a policy but I am unsure one exists for yourselves'
Finally I received the policy and put my request in writing in August and I finally had a meeting (which felt like a disciplinary) in the middle of October.

I have now formally received the 'It's a no' based on 3 things:

1. Unreasonable IT set up costs to work from home
2. Difficulties with communications and availability at short notice
3. Inappropriate due to planned changes ie online ordering

I now have 7 days to appeal the decision which I will because I can justify my request. (the costs are negligible as I have a laptop and internet connection at home, others work from home in the business, and the planned changes are electronic and can be worked on remotely)
My worry is that if I appeal and this is escalated further then will my card be marked for the future....

Thanks in advance for any advice and guidance.

[Amethyst]

Re: Working from home request

Presumably you have already had a good read through the ACAS information on homeworking / flexible working - http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616

One day a week really doesn't sound unreasonable but not knowing what your job actually involves it is tough to say whether they are reasonable.

Do the others who do work from home do a similar job?

When you are at work are you pretty much in your office/at your desk without constant communication/interaction with colleagues (for work stuff) ?

Are there Data Protection / Security issues with taking work home or operating from home ? ( do you take work home regularly already on evenings/weekends for example - and has there ever been any issue raised with that ?)

Do you live a long way from the office ? ( ie if needed urgently in person could you get to the office quickly ?)

Is your request to do homework based on something that might affect how well you can do your work from home ? ( eg need to be at home to care for child / relative etc )

I'll tag [MENTION=51026]Ula[/MENTION] to have a look as I don't know the legalities, just a couple bits jumped into mind when reading your post.

[ULA]

Re: Working from home request

[MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION] has asked some good questions which it would be useful to know the answers to.

Your employers has used 3 of the limited number of set grounds which are given as acceptable for refusing to accept a request for flexible working. However are these actually issues you think are "real" and what from you have said you feel you have reasons which would mitigate their concerns. What you may need to think about in your appeal is try to compare your situation to those circumstances where flexible working has already been agreed and details how it is not different.

Another thought is to suggest that your company trials you working from home for a period of 3 months and if there is no detriment to the way you do your job or the operational efficiency of your role then it can at that point consideration can be given to it becoming a permanent change.

[Viking1985]

Re: Working from home request

I have requested to work from home one day a week?... My worry is that if I appeal and this is escalated further then will my card be marked for the future....

Thanks in advance for any advice and guidance.

HI,

OK Mate, Message from Mr Direct...

Said "No" informally. Then they said "No" semi-formally. Now they are saying "No FULL ON, OFFICIAL REASONS, RESEARCHED, LOCKED AND LOADED".

Cost / Benefit Analysis. Is this worth it to you?

Your legal right is to ASK without being punished for ASKING. If you feel you have been so punished there is appeal in the firm then appeal to ACAS.

Thoughts?

Viking

[barty9]

Re: Working from home request

thanks for looking at this:

Do the others who do work from home do a similar job? - some sales and operations staff but I am the only person in the business performing the 'marketing communications' role

When you are at work are you pretty much in your office/at your desk without constant communication/interaction with colleagues (for work stuff) ? yes very much so, I asked to work one day a week from home to aid my concentration levels on particular projects

Are there Data Protection / Security issues with taking work home or operating from home ? ( do you take work home regularly already on evenings/weekends for example - and has there ever been any issue raised with that ?) No not really, my role is very much 9-5pm with one weekend a year which involves a trade exhibition.

Do you live a long way from the office ? ( ie if needed urgently in person could you get to the office quickly ?) I live 20mins drive away from the office.

Is your request to do homework based on something that might affect how well you can do your work from home ? ( eg need to be at home to care for child / relative etc ) - It would enable me to concentrate without distraction and would occasionally assist with picking my children up from school.

I'll tag @Ula to have a look as I don't know the legalities, just a couple bits jumped into mind when reading your post.

[barty9]

Re: Working from home request

HI,

OK Mate, Message from Mr Direct...

Said "No" informally. Then they said "No" semi-formally. Now they are saying "No FULL ON, OFFICIAL REASONS, RESEARCHED, LOCKED AND LOADED".

Cost / Benefit Analysis. Is this worth it to you?

Your legal right is to ASK without being punished for ASKING. If you feel you have been so punished there is appeal in the firm then appeal to ACAS.

Thoughts?

Viking

Had the appeal and it was a no mainly based on 'it would open the flood gates for others!'