How shall I approach HR about the lack of a consistent , equitable Work From Home (WFH) policy?

Anonymous

May 9,2022 at 4:24PM UTC

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How shall I approach HR about the lack of a consistent , equitable Work From Home (WFH) policy?

My company recently closed our regional office so now we're all officially work from home. We were allowed to take office tools and supplies home before we closed (computer, office chairs, etc) however; they are not offering a stipend nor monthly internet allowance even though we discovered they did so for other office closures.

How do you recommend I approach HR? I already approached my boss who agreed we should be consistent but after HR wrote her a diatribe ending in a 'no' she told me to drop it.

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Joanne RosenMay 9,2022 at 5:42PM UTC
How important is that? Forget fair. Life isn't fair and you have to decide if this is the hill you would die on.
Consider how much you would spend to commute. How many times per week you would go for a Fivebucks coffee or lunch.
I'm pretty sure you had internet at home before. So, unless you had to upgrade to a faster speed, is this really worth it?
Cheers
Joanne
AnonymousMay 10,2022 at 9:27PM UTC
Good points.
I have an HR background so I was taught that “fairness is consistency to limit liability for the company” in my first job.
i don’t understand the line of why some offices and associates get this benefit and we don’t. Is that a reasonable question to bring forward?
Joanne RosenMay 11,2022 at 4:38PM UTC
Like I said, is this the battle you want to choose? I don't think it's worth it. Has it cost you anything extra? Are you saving a ton of money by not going into the office?
If you didn't know that someone else got it, would you care? Your brain is still stuck on "fair". I get that, but I don't think it's worth it right now. (Also, do you have proof or is it hearsay from one or two staff?)
Just not a hill I would die on.
Cheers
Joanne
AnonymousMay 11,2022 at 6:21PM UTC
Thanks Joanne!
AnonymousMay 9,2022 at 5:44PM UTC
HR has set their policy and clearly that's that.
AnonymousMay 10,2022 at 9:25PM UTC
Thanks for taking the time to reply. For clarification, there isn’t a policy so thus my conundrum. Other offices get an internet allowance and other WFH staff as well. There is no consistency nor official policy.