The corona pandemic shows that working from home can be an excellent alternative to working at the office. Much of the work can be done remotely. In fact, sometimes it is even nicer not to sit between your colleagues, for example because you have to focus well. Many organizations are currently drawing up a policy on working from home and De Unie increasingly makes agreements about working from home during collective labor agreement negotiations. But what if these don't match your needs?
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Work-life balance
In the search for a good work-life balance, it can help to determine where you work: at home or at the office. But you can't always determine that yourself. Employers often set certain rules, for example about which work must be performed where or how often you must come to the office as a minimum. However, you do have something to say about this. If you would like to make different agreements about your workplaces, your employer must take your request and arguments seriously. If you want to deviate from the agreements for medical reasons, you can also discuss the matter with the company doctor.
Have a conversation
Do you not have a policy on flexible working, or do you want to deviate from the policy? Then talk to your employer. State how you would like to work and why. Try to clear up any misunderstandings. For example, do you want to work from home more? Make sure your employer has a good idea of your home workplace. If you want to go to the office more often, explain clearly why you prefer working there. What works well for one person may be unworkable for another. It is difficult to make general policy that suits everyone. That is why it is important to start a conversation and make tailor-made agreements.
Flexible Working Act
You can also invoke the Flexible Working Act from 2016, for example to change your workplace. There are a few conditions for this:
- At least ten people work at your company.
- You have been working for your employer for at least six months.
- You must submit the request no later than two months before the desired commencement date.
- You state the desired start date and workplace in your application.
Your employer must respond to your request no later than one month before the desired start date, otherwise it will be automatically assigned. Does he refuse your request? He must give a good reason for that.
More information
Do you have questions about flexible working or working from home? Or do you want to work differently from what your employer imposes on you, but you don't know what to do about it? Contact us. We are available every working day from 8.00 am to 18.00 pm via sc@unie.nl and 0345 851 963.
