Workers rights changes could make it harder to force employees back into office, says Magara Law

Employers could face a tougher test when refusing requests from staff who want to continue working from home under changes planned for autumn 2027, according to Magara Law.

Roy Magara (pictured), solicitor advocate and founder of Magara Law, said employers could have return-to-office policies, but these did not remove an employee’s right to make a flexible working request.

Magara said: “If you have been working from home three days a week for four years without an issue and that is now changing, I would be asking what has changed.

“If you are told everyone has to be in the office three days a week because that is the company policy, you can still make a flexible working request asking to keep the arrangement you already have.

“Your employer doesn’t have to agree to it, but there are eight business reasons they can rely on to refuse the request and ‘that’s our policy’ isn’t one of them.”

Magara added: “The important thing is to think about why the employer wants you back in the office.

“If they are concerned about performance, look at how you have performed while working from home. 

“If it is about clients, look at whether there have actually been any problems dealing with those clients.”