Our dept has been ordered to RTO.

9 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 9,2025 at 11:50PM UTC

   I would always ask but don5 use the other person's accommodation as the basis of your request or the rationale. Make your request based on your true need.

2. BarbaraOctober 11,2025 at 6:46PM UTC

   Exactly

3. AnonymousOctober 10,2025 at 3:16AM UTC

   Ask if they can accommodate avoiding a commute, and the financial burdens of making alternative arrangements for child care. Be sure to bring evidence of your performance and reliability (positive reviews, productivity or revenue metrics, etc.).

   If you must ask for a trial period, though you can also point out that you have a proven track record during this WFH period.

   Make sure you come prepared and flexible. Perhaps they can't accomodate 2 days at home, so perhaps you ask to change your shift from 9-3 then work from home after you pick up your kid. Perhaps you ask if you can work from home the days you are covering someone else's time off/vacation. Perhaps it's once per week, perhaps it's once every other week.

   I am sure you can think of something that is amenable to both parties.

4. AnonymousOctober 12,2025 at 4:17PM UTC

   You have to go into details to get what you want with your manager. Never lump yourself with others. This is about you only.

   When you were hired were you in the office? Assuming pre-pandemic? If so this may be a tough sell. Many companies want to see you and know that you are working.

   If it were me I would schedule a private in person meeting with the manager and come with documentation and specifics about costs for you going in vs working from home. Include time spent picking up children and cost of childcare vs spending more time working and less on the commute. Make it be about not only costs but also the time spent. Perhaps you can agree to be on a live stream all day from home to show that you are truly fully working and not doing kid things. Sure this may be uncomfortable but it might be the solution. If this is not going to get you an accommodation then it might be time to consider a move to somewhere more flexible. Don't compare yourself to the other person because you never know if they have a private health situation that requires an arrangement and they don't have to share. Good luck.

5. GirlBossanova934974October 13,2025 at 12:40PM UTC

   You need to do what a lot of RTO folks are doing. You can argue your case with your manager but you should commence a new job search right away. Resumes need to be going out. When push comes to shove, you need to have options just like your employer. Since you are currently WFH, interviews should be easier to get and conduct.

6. AnonymousOctober 13,2025 at 4:36PM UTC

   You can plead your case with your manager but never compare yourself to the other individual. Be prepared too ok be flexible and have options and documents on how you exceed productivity expectations of your job etc while at home - and how you working from home is a win win (how does the company win or benefit from it- not just you)

   Pleading a daycare case / cosf however is not likely to win, - because you aren’t supposed to be watching your children while working. Who’s watching the kids while you are at home working? Are they school ages? Can you sign up for before and after school care, which is cheaper than daycare?

   Dont make assumptions and fall into the rumor crowd of your co-worker. Rumors are just that rumors and that’s a slippery slope yo follow. And you cannot possibly know what is happening in the other persons life. Perhaps it’s a medical accommodation? ??

   WFH is a privledge not a right. More and more places are going RTO- -

7. AnonymousOctober 15,2025 at 12:59PM UTC

   "The rumor is" - meaning you don't know specifically why the other person has this arrangement nor is it your business. If you are able effectively plead your own case rather than saying "but you allow so and so to do it" - and in pleading your own case, I'm hoping you have the performance to back it up. Are you a high performer and seen as such in the eyes of management? That may help your case.

8. AnonymousOctober 15,2025 at 1:25PM UTC

   Make your request about yourself.

   My job allows two days in the office and the 3 days home. Tuesday and Thursday in the office. Everyone needs to be in the office Tuesday for a team meeting.

   I have an accommodation for Tuesday only. I have epilepsy and I got in a car accident while driving home from work. I had a seizure. I informed my employer when I started I have epilepsy. They made a whole fight about it how driving is not part of my job description. My doctor says otherwise for my safety. I don’t know when I have my seizures. So, I have other transportation there and back for Tuesday only. It is difficult, but I’m there. My working hours are 8:00:4:30. Sometimes with the alternative transportation I’m home at 6:30. A normal drive commute is about 45 mins.

   However, there is one person that doesn’t come in, ever. She lives about the same distance away from me. She joins our team meeting virtually on Tuesday. Why doesn’t she come in? Why doesn’t she use alternate transportation if it’s so important to be there for the meeting? Not my place, but it does bother me.

9. DanaOctober 16,2025 at 4:45PM UTC

   Lots of really good recommendations here. Also, while formulating your case make sure your proposal also includes how your option can benefit your company. Companies are focused on performance and the bottom line so frame it in a way that shows how your solution would be better for them as well. Just a thought.