Return to office plans.

50 Comments

1. KathyFebruary 14,2022 at 2:45PM UTC

   It is not unreasonable at all to feel this way. I would recommend negotiating first to see what's possible for you in your current role. Are there any benefits to you to being on site from time to time and engaging with co-workers? Good luck!

2. Heather MaconeFebruary 14,2022 at 2:58PM UTC

   It is not unreasonable at all to feel this way. I hope that you workplace is amenable to you being fully remote. It does not sound entitled. When you propose that you stay remote, discuss if you are amenable for going onsite for team building and larger scale meetings. Good luck!

3. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 3:20PM UTC

   Covid has presented us with interesting times, hasn't it! I've seen a lot of these questions on FGB, and I'm reminded that few of us would have been able to make these demands just a few years ago.

   I'm going to be the dissenting view here. My employer just announced its return to office plan, which they've been phasing in for some time. My take: I wouldn't DREAM of going to the mat on this issue under any circumstances. I get paid too much and have such outstanding benefits that I'd never throw this down as a line in the sand. Plus, I'm just not that special to think that my boss is going to bend the rules...for just me!

   Would I start looking for a new job if my employer announced this policy, absolutely not! 1-2 days a week in the office is such a light request, that its a gift! I'd figure out a way to make this work if you like the other aspects of your job.

4. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 6:03PM UTC

   Life is very different when you earn heaps of money lol

5. Kirsten BunchFebruary 14,2022 at 3:33PM UTC

   A lot of my clients are struggling with the question right now. It seems to be a personal choice. Some welcome it and some prefer to wfh full-time. If the bad out weighs the good, start looking for a new job.

6. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 3:53PM UTC

   No not unreasonable, but it isn't unreasonable for your employer to want staff in the office 1 or 2 days a week either.

   If you hate your job, sure start looking for another one. If you like your job, suck it up and go in. My office has to work in the office 3 days a week, and I suspect at some point we will be expected to come in full time again. Sure I like being at home and only having to "dress" from the waist up. But I also like interacting with people and working on my socialization skills face to face. Having lunch out with people on occasion.

   Most states are "at will" states and if you don't like the office policy, then you can quit and find something else. Most offices are struggling with in person or remote or a combination of both. It does very little good to complain to your employer if you don't like the policy they are implementing while trying to figure out how to best run the business. YOU may be an excellent worker who is responsible and does above and beyond while working at home. I fear that more and more employers are seeing quite clearly who is a slacker when working at home. Then they have to decide if they should let the person go, or suck up the financial loss in having a half-assed employee.

7. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 6:01PM UTC

   Wow, do you really think most people’s reason to wfh is to ‘dress from the waist up’? This shows that you do not sympathize with a huge portion of the population that are parents/carers/have disabilities/etc. Also, the assumption that there are loads of ‘slackers’ and the implication that there are not many great employees working from home are offensive. Many companies have done BETTER with wfh. Forcing people to commute to a workplace needlessly has long been a source of discrimination, especially for hard-working mothers with jobs - many of us were forced to quit in droves during the pandemic (look at the stats). Telling people to ‘quit and find something else’ is not an option in many cases. Please try to consider the very many people not in your precise personal situation.

8. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 10:50PM UTC

   You are the one jumping to conclusions and making large assumptions.
   The person was talking about their personal preference. The advantage of working remote TO THEM is to be able to dress comfortably. The advantage to going in to work TO THEM is to socialize. They weren't making wide generalizing statements about issues that are way more complex and deep-rooted like you're mentioning. And they clearly stated that there are good workers like the original poster but there are also slackers at home, so companies might be trying to balance out the work by having a hybrid schedule.

9. Julie AndrewsFebruary 16,2022 at 2:31PM UTC

   I’m with you. I’ve found that some who think collaboration is required in an in office environment also struggle to trust that people are really doing their jobs offsite. Or embrace the idea that people want to half-dress or take care of kids-or many of the thoughts that have zero validity. Most desire only to do as quality a job as management wants-with less time wasted in commute and face time. And they are responsible about kids and any of the distractions a remote environment offers.

10. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 12:41AM UTC

    Hmmm, well one of the things I often hear in the “I want to work from home” argument is: I don’t want to get out of my jammies. Or why should I have to put a suit on when I can work just as well in yoga pants? Perception and professionalism. You can be just as comfortable in a suit and shoes as you can in yoga pants and socks.

    And please explain to me how someone can be 100% work focused if they are also watching their young children? Multi tasking isn’t really a thing. I’ve raised children, while working full time, while having that long commute while paying a shit ton of money to daycare. We make choices and then make them work the best we can. And we don’t whine about it.

    I have tremendous sympathy for a huge portion of the population that are parents/carers/have disabilities/etc. I also have empathy of employers who need to get the work done in order to stay in business in order to pay salaries to employees.

11. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 4:11PM UTC

    I am in a similar situation right now.
    My office is only about 10 blocks from my apartment BUT for 2 years now I have worked from home.

    In those two years, my life has changed a lot and I have begun spending a lot more time caring for my elderly mom at her home (a few hours away).

    Since I work remotely, where I am physically (my apartment or my mom's) does not matter.

    Returning to work two days a week means I physically cannot be in my mom's home as much as I am now.

    So, while on the surface coming into the office 1-2 days a week seems reasonable.

    In actuality, in those two years my life has changed A LOT.

    As my office re-opens, I am currently considering the same thing.

    I plan on having a frank discussion with my boss. I am a caretaker now and have been for two years. My work performance has not suffered. I am hoping he will see that my staying remotely (with flexibility for coming in when actually needed) works for both of us.

    If not, I am probably going to start looking.

    I have no idea your personal situation, but in two years you have changed and likely so have your circumstances.

    What was pre-pandemic reasonable may no longer be for you now.

    But that is something you are going to have to decide for yourself carefully.

    My advice: Don't be afraid to ask your boss if you feel you have a strong reason to plea for negotiability. If that doesn't work out, consider other options that will make post-pandemic you happy (but don't leap until you find it!)

12. Tomilyn RichardsFebruary 14,2022 at 4:13PM UTC

    You have your wants... and companies have theirs. They want the synergy, the employee engagement back. Many do... so it is almost impossible to make everyone happy in this remote conversation. The hybrid model gives flexibility but still keep people connected. I don't ever see our world going fully remote, and so much can be missed. I think the hybrid model will end up being the long term sustained fit for most. That being said, if you want to be 100% remote forever and you can do so successfully... there are many companies out there offering it!! =)

13. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 4:25PM UTC

    I was told that if I wasn't in the office 4 days a week I wouldn't get my own office when we move to the new building. I said "Cool. I'll be in 3x a week then." ;)

    My dept had a record breaking year in FY21. And we did it all from our bedrooms, kitchen tables, and home offices. When it was announced that we HAVE to be in the office, a lot of people got different jobs. I know I'm looking.

14. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 5:36PM UTC

    My company has always prided itself on having a mostly remote workforce. With the pandemic, the other two offices went to completely remote work with constantly changing dates of when we were going to be back in the office. Two years later, most, if not all employees have told our manage we do not want to go back and some have stated directly that they will leave if forced to. If I were to have to go back to the office, I think I would seriously start looking for a new job. My cost savings have been $400 a month with my family not having to drive everyday an hour to our work/school. My son has since started a new job about a year ago and has never been in the office. I think for a lot of us, it has been a benefit-one that has lowered stress, I haven't gotten sick like I do every winter and my productivity is better than ever.

15. Carmelita ErvinFebruary 14,2022 at 5:59PM UTC

    During the last 2 years, it has been shown that remote work "can improve employee productivity, increase employee retention, and make employees feel more trusted and better able to balance work and life responsibilities — making for happier employees and more productive teams." Employers seeking to make the lives of their employees better should view remote work as an avenue for doing so. If you do not want to go into the office at all, then you should definitely start looking for another jobs. There are many jobs out there now, that are 100% remote. I wish you luck!

16. Julie AndrewsFebruary 16,2022 at 2:17PM UTC

    100% agree.

17. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 7:27PM UTC

    I feel the same way. We have been productive over the last two years and our stock price is higher then it has ever been. Even if I go into the office, I will still be on zoom calls because I work with our sites globally. Regardless of all that, I'm still being told that collaboration is best in person. I'm not sure how to respond. I like my job and employer but it is hard to feel valued if they can't see that driving an hour to sit in a cube and still be on zoom all day is just a waste of my time. I'm putting feelers out for a permanently remote job.

18. AnonymousFebruary 14,2022 at 7:28PM UTC

    I wish my job could be done 100% remotely. I'm envious of those colleagues who have jobs that allow for it. I am onsite primarily because others have to be onsite and it makes them feel better to speak with me in person. Can I do the same job from home? Yes! Will they let me? Nope!!!

19. KaleyFebruary 14,2022 at 11:29PM UTC

    This is a topic that were discussing at my office. We have been called back into the office to work and most everyone has obliged willingly. We do have the flexibility to work remotely occasionally and overall management is very understanding and flexible. Our CEO does want to have a fully staffed office because he strongly believes that it promotes teamwork and looks good to donors to have an active and busy office, not a ghost town.

20. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 2:17AM UTC

    It depends on the individual. We have adopted a "work where it works" approach. If you have early calls, but still need to have meetings or team gatherings that are more effective in-person, then you can come in later, for example after 11:30 - 12noon. Avoiding peak commuting times.

21. Julie AndrewsFebruary 16,2022 at 2:08PM UTC

    I laughed! Your answer is so spot on and common sense…UNLESS you have a butt in seat micromanager who thinks avoiding peak commuting times is a crime against humanity.

    I don’t work there anymore!

22. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 12:54PM UTC

    If the commute was under 1 hour and I really liked my coworkers then I would have no problem at all. As it is now, I go in on Tuesday and Thursday and absolutely love it.

23. Lisa OzkanFebruary 15,2022 at 4:12PM UTC

    I'm a senior executive at my company, and I have enjoyed the flexibility of working remotely, and not having my 45min- 1 hour commute, particularly with a toddler. I also was an advocate for remote work back as long ago as 1999. However, humans are also social creatures, by and large, and creativity is often sparked either during or after interaction. So, as part of the team at my company deciding on the post-pandemic work environment, we are asking folks as of April to come in 2 days a week, the same two days for everyone. While we have seen immense progress during the pandemic, we believe that impromptu collaboration and some facetime is important to the culture of the company, and to its overall productivity and forward movement. We know that many folks don't ever want to come back into the office, so we have allowed folks to work remotely the other three days. We are doing this for the rest of 2022, and determining in the fall what we do after.

    One of the leaders of our in-house union has told folks that if they don't like this policy, to go look for a new job. We haven't encouraged that...we are working to find the best solution for the company and the employees together.

24. Barbara WhiteFebruary 16,2022 at 3:04PM UTC

    I have been concerned about company culture for a while myself---our staff is getting fractured into "onsite" and "remote", and the onsite people (those whose jobs cannot be done from home) are beginning to become very resentful, asking for a sense of fairness (some flexibility, perhaps an increase in pay since we all have to commute every day and work closely with large crowds of people, or even free gas cards and free parking since we are commuting and others are not). Higher ups are still wanting to talk more before deciding what to do, but I think we need to quickly come to a decision about what is fair before our onsite people all quit--and given the nature of our business, replacing them (especially quickly) will be difficult. Onsite people have been here the entire time, and most of the remote workers have been away for two years. In an educational environment, those onsite people are providing critical support services to academic courses and research activities, so this will deal a significant blow to our ability to perform the duty for which we exist, educating students. So that's the other side of the coin---how do we make it fair when some people have to be onsite and others do not, when all of us were expected to be here two years ago? I don't have an answer, but I see the powder keg about to go off.....I wonder if anyone else is noticing similar issues in companies or institutions where some workers must be onsite and some don't necessarily have to be.

25. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 4:17PM UTC

    It is not unreasonable but yes very entitled. If you can not work with the company two says a week then yes you should probably start looking for a different job.

26. Julie AndrewsFebruary 16,2022 at 2:10PM UTC

    If the last two years has trended measurable increased productivity with fewer interruptions and efficiencies in no commute-I’m hard pressed to see entitlement. I see working smarter.

27. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 4:29PM UTC

    My staff have been given a 3 days in the office and 2 day remote option and it is a set schedule. Unfortunately when they were hired their contract didn't state that they got to work remotely. The pandemic has been the only thing that has allowed them to work remotely. At this point they are being eased back in to returning to work. The hybrid model above may be around awhile as most of my staff are covered under a Union, but if that hybrid model goes away they will be required to return to the office full time without the option of remote. They are not in the office daily as it is because of the job they do.

    I also think it depends on they type of job you do and if you can show that remote work can be successful and your staff can be successful at it. If you have staff that can work remote and get their jobs done then by all means let them, but if you have staff that need to be in the office more because they are unable to staff focused and get off track then by all means they need to return to work and be in the office. I personally do not like remote work. I work much better in an office environment around people and I know that about myself.

    I hope your employer continues to let you work remotely if it works for you.

28. Amanda NanceFebruary 15,2022 at 4:51PM UTC

    I don’t think it’s necessarily unreasonable. I kind of feel the same way. You could see if you could be granted an exception, mention that having a consistent wfh schedule is best for your optimal productivity because it’s a steady routine. Do you like the job enough to follow policy or is it not a job worth hanging onto?

29. C AllenFebruary 15,2022 at 4:58PM UTC

    There are a LOT of remote opportunities right now. They have excellent pay, benefits, and perks (unlimited PTO). If you do change things up NOW is the time to act. Good luck!

30. CLARA UGARTE PERRINFebruary 15,2022 at 5:12PM UTC

    It may depend on the individual and the type of work to be done. Some jobs require more face-to-face interactions. At the moment I am enjoying consulting 100% remote, but may change in the future.

31. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 15,2022 at 8:01PM UTC

    You have every right to want what you want. And the company has the right to want what it wants. Not sure that reasonable/unreasonable comes into it.

    Personally, I have worked remote for 15 years and I'm never, ever going back to work in an office. This is an absolute deal breaker for me. A non-starter. I definitely would start looking.

    I don't quite understand how companies are justifying trying to force people to return to an office when those same people kept their companies running for the last two years by working remote. In may cases efficiency increased.

32. AnonymousFebruary 15,2022 at 8:53PM UTC

    I wished I worked at a job where I could go to the office and meet with my colleagues twice a week.

    Most of our team is distributed around the globe. My onboarding was terrible since I started fully remote. I didn't know who to go to for help. There is no comradery in the workplace. Some days, I don't even speak to a single soul. I am just putting up with this experience to be able to put that on my resume. I am planning to look for a job in the near future where the team is mostly local and hybrid.

33. KatFebruary 15,2022 at 10:17PM UTC

    I've just returned to the office 3 days a week and I'm not liking it. Last week was the start of a busy period and people were unhappy that I was still WFH. I was waiting for the Covid numbers to start going down. I also wanted to wait until the weather's better, as commuting in winter (by bus for now) is tricky. But my boss (& hers) insisted that I be here. Well, there's no one here needing my help and there's nothing I'm doing here that couldn't be done at home. I have to wake up an hour earlier to be here for what reason exactly? I've been doing my job well from home for almost 2 years full time (was in 2x a week most of Fall, did WFH for Dec & Jan due to Covid) and preferred that. My boss wants me to go up to 4 days (possibly 5) in the office and I'm really not happy about it. The flexibility and convenience of WFH is huge. I am looking for other jobs that have a shorter commute or are fully remote. This doesn't work for me anymore.

34. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 12:28AM UTC

    Don’t be stereotypical. Older white men is unfair and inaccurate. Sure there is a bit of a generation issue with the debate of in the office or WFH. Not everyone wants to WFH and not everyone can successfully WFH.

    I’m getting a little weary of “I don’t want to put clothes on/I don’t want to get up/I don’t want to commute” and whatever else. You want to work? Gotta do what the boss expects. Don’t like the office structure? Look for another job but quit your bellyaching. If you want to work at home, find a job that supports that but in the meantime stop complaining.

35. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 1:34AM UTC

    It is certainly not unreasonable to dislike having to return to the office 1-2 days a week. A really good friend of mine went through exactly what you are experiencing. So I’ll share her success story.

    My friend knew about the return to office twice a week for six months. She passively looked for a new job that was fully remote for about six months and landed a higher paying job that is super relaxed.

    If it is unacceptable to go back find a a fully remote job.

    If you love your job. Then maybe 2 times a week won’t be so bad.

    Either way, you’ve got this!

36. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 3:41AM UTC

    I personally have been looking for a remote job. I have some toxic coworkers and my personal healthy has improved since being at home. I don't think its unreasonable at all.

37. Julie AndrewsFebruary 16,2022 at 2:02PM UTC

    Isn’t it true how so unexpectedly being taken out of the environment-the ones that were/are toxic glaringly showed up.

38. MaddiFebruary 16,2022 at 10:48AM UTC

    It is not unreasonable at all. The pandemic has changed everyone’s perspectives and priorities.

    I personally wouldn’t start looking for a new job, though, unless of course you were susceptible to great harm from covid-19, or there were many other factors which made you unhappy at work. How far is the commute (are we talking a four hour drive/flight to another city or just the normal 20-45 minute commute into the city)? In the US I personally would feel weird and uncomfortable at interviews if they asked why I left my last job. If your industry is thriving and there are millions of spots hiring for only stay at home working, then perhaps I would do it. Supposedly the crisis part of the pandemic is on the mend, and if 70% of the world’s population gets

    vaccinated then it is predicted to be over in 4 months. There is also high inflation right now, so if your career isn’t hiring millions of positions, be careful. Right around the corner of high inflation is recession, and inflation means layoffs and firings and no jobs to be had.

39. Stephanie CassleFebruary 16,2022 at 2:09PM UTC

    If you think you can do your job efficiently and effectively remotely then look elsewhere, it is the great resignation after all. :) If you love your job though and that's the only thing you don't like, maybe think about the benefits of going in or what good things can come from it.

40. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

    Is it company policy or your supervisor's policy? If it is company policy, then try speaking with your supervisor (and teammates) because there may be some unadvertised leeway in the policy based on who is supervising you (that's what happened with my job) and companies often depend on the fact that employees are reluctant to communicate with each other and with supervisors on certain topics. If there is no leeway and your supervisor is an ally, then maybe your supervisor would be willing to speak on your behalf with someone who can give you an exemption.

41. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 3:22PM UTC

    The world has changed and people keep talking about going back to normal or the "new"normal. There is no normal. Covid isn't going away and the next pandemic will be even worse.

    Businesses and companies need to understand that we have proven that we are more productive - 13% actually according to an article on LinkedIn.

42. Kelsey GittingsFebruary 16,2022 at 3:33PM UTC

    I left my last job because of it. I work in tech, so especially for us it's absolutely not necessary to be in. Given I do have sensory issues also, and there were other reasons I left. I don't need micromanaged, and managers should be learning and building their own skills on macromanaging.

    If you really hate it look for somewhere else. Will you be somewhere new in two weeks? No, but in a couple months you might find that job that really fits you, your lifestyle, your goals.

43. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 4:33PM UTC

    Policies are changing and this is just such a new situation so I believe companies are trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. Sometime in the office can be a huge problem for many. Staying home and going in full time also can be hard for some. Best is to let your manager know that you wish to stay home and point to your productivity and successes to show you are doing well. If they don't go along with it, then you may want to find something that is 100% remote.

    Most companies want the team together some of the time and not miss out on people being able to collaborate and form relationships. This is seriously missing with working from home and is one thing a company can benefit from.

    Hope it works out for you.

44. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 7:40PM UTC

    I don't think it's about making and exception for one, as I'm sure she's not alone in her feelings, but rather giving your workforce autonomy to choose what work environment works best for them. If the data shows that she and others are just as or more productive working from home, what's the justification for pushing everyone to come back full time. On the other side of that coin, she does have the right to leave, and I'm sure she wouldn't be the only one. Times are a-changing and organizations need to adapt with them.

45. Derrick Julia Jessica NodsleFebruary 16,2022 at 8:32PM UTC

    Im not sure I would change jobs over the schedule, however I did feel the same way. The hybrid schedule was my companies initial planning. However, after surveys, it turned out while some want to spend a percentage of time in the office, most did not. You might suggest your company leads launch a survey. If nothing else, surveys validate :) good luck with all the change!

46. AnonymousFebruary 16,2022 at 10:52PM UTC

    Not unreasonable to dislike having to go back. Yup you sound entitled because “there is no reason to justify even partial week commute….” Your employer wants staff in the office 2 days a week. You suck it up and do it or quit. Without bitching about it.

47. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 2:33PM UTC

    Uhm..
    no...

    Commuting time is time spent for work, and it is unpaid. Where I live, it's 20 min to get to the office, but during rush hour it's an hour and a half minimum. That's 3-4 hours per day, unpaid, spent traveling for work. Not to mention the mental wear and tear that such horrendous traffic causes me.

    My employer pays me for my time performing work related tasks. Being able to work from home makes me more productive, increases my work life balance, and ensures that I'm being paid for all the time I spend doing something related to my job. There is no reason in this day and age that positions that can be done remotely should require employees to come in for work.

    This whole idea that we need to "suck it up" is regressive. If workers had just "sucked it up" we would not have a 40 hour work week or workplace safety standards, and would still have child labor. Employers won't evolve unless workers force them to.

48. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 8:50PM UTC

    I do not agree with your assessment. I have been going into work each day for the entire pandemic. I have had to cover for people who either want to work from home (so I had to be onsite) or they get Covid (again, I had to be onsite to cover for them). It is not unreasonable to have people come in 1-2 days per week. That said, the employee can make a decision to go elsewhere. Note that *most* employees were working on site full time before Covid.

    As far as the ("suck it up" is regressive) comment. I work about 60 hours each week in my salary position. Most managers etc. in high tech, banking, food industry, etc. work far more than 40 hours. Seems like it is industry / job specific. I decided to put in the extra hours to stay employed rather than quit and look for work.

    The government stepped in about child labor (people sent their kids to work in mines etc. to scrape living as a family). I am not sure who pressed the government to act but was probably not the kids forming a protest group. Note that I am glad the child labor laws were enacted. The laws improved the structure of the country by allowing children to go to school etc.

49. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 1:17AM UTC

    I'm in this same position, and to add even more pressure—I moved across the country during the pandemic, as have so many, many people. So, obviously, I will not be going back. And I'll be very interested to see how many people my company loses due to their insistence on butts in seats (even though we've all been doing the work just fine--in fact, even better!--over the past two years remotely).

    You have to do what's best for you. If it's important to you to stay remote, start looking for a job where that's an option and as soon as you can, give your two weeks. You deserve to work in a way that is comfortable and satisfying for you. We don't live to work. We work to live.

50. AnonymousFebruary 17,2022 at 2:46PM UTC

    Dear... If it is a non-negotiable policy; I would say that you could suggest that the 1-2 days per week in office should be used for at least department meetings, workshops or sparring with coworkers. If back on premise only to sit and gaze into a screen answering emails; I fully support looking for a new job.