Manager in charge of Flex. Working Request is biased
I submitted a Flexible Working Request related to a disability covered under the Equality Act 2010. HR referred me to BUPA for an impartial occupational health review, and the recommendation came back explicitly supporting my request.
My manager received the report but said they’d asked for “further guidance and possibly another review” because, in their words:
“My duty as your manager is to get you back into the office.”
They also said the adjustment I requested “doesn’t meet policy.”
In my mind, that’s the whole point of a FWR/reasonable adjustment request — if standard policy already worked, I wouldn’t need one.
Now I feel like the decision may already be biased against me despite the medical recommendation.
From an HR perspective, does this sound like a normal part of the process, a manager who’s already decided against the recommendation, or possibly pressure coming from higher up to increase office attendance? Also, what would you recommend I do at this stage?
Edit: FWR was to work permanently from home instead of hybrid homeworking and office attendance. The report supported the request and said the adjustment would be necessary for me to continue performing in my role.