To be annoyed with this work email!

[silvertogold]

Today we received an email from our CEO. Long wholly type of email about blended working etc, throughout it mentioned the fact that we are all adopting a blended working pattern etc and that we should be empowered to do so, it went on about the negative impact of lockdown and how everyone's mental health suffered and how being back in the workplace has been a blessing for everyone involved.
Now I have 2 issues with this number 1. No one is being allowed to do blended working. We are all back at work full time except for the senior management team who are being allowed to make their own decisions.

1. They don't seem to appreciate that for a majority of their staff being back in the work place is affecting their mental health e.g my anxiety is through the roof.

Blended working sounds ideal and for my job absolutely workable but we are simply not being given this option! AIBU to have been annoyed with this idea that we are all so glad to be back and all have flexibility when it's only the very senior management team who have any?

YANBU. My employer got us back a while ago and has adopted a similar tone, as though everyone is working the way they want and happy with it, it's v annoying!

YANBU what a cringey email with the accompanying back story. Plus very “lm alright Jack”. Eugh

Forward it to your manager and say “I understand from this email that I am empowered to determine my own blended working pattern, just checking that’s ok with you”

YANBU my work has a lot of initiatives around mental health, wellbeing and resilience. But everyone is expected to do the work of about 5 people so it’s pointless.

@RNBrie

Forward it to your manager and say “I understand from this email that I am empowered to determine my own blended working pattern, just checking that’s ok with you”

Better still just replace the last line with “so starting tomorrow these are my working arrangements”

@RNBrie was debating this. Unfortunately it's been made clear that if we 'rock the boat' then we will be called into a HR meeting and if we still argue we can be let go

This is why the govt need to get some backbone and force offices to close during this time.

YANBU. I just don't get the 'it's better for mental health' line to be in the office/school etc. It is for some, it's not for others. But they keep parroting it. My anxiety about mixing with others is high currently, especially with the rise in cases and DS back at school.

With the change in emphasis in the government's message this week as well, I would say it's well worth a conversation with your manager to see if you can do a blended approach. Good luck

@Pumpkinnose I'm at a college however back office and have no student contact. The tutors all work part time in the college anyway and the admissions teams etc all were working blended (office always covered but only 2 members in) up until last week.
From last week the only people doing blended other than tutors (normal contract anyway) are the executive team

My daughter has a choice. Either work from home, or the office, for the next six months. Haven't they offered anything like this?

Years ago senior staff at my place were allowed to work from home and the rest were not.

Funny how this is now being mirrored with working arrangements in the time of the virus, as posters above are saying.

Upper management candy floss; so far removed they have no idea what it’s like at floor level.

@silvertogold - I would send the email to your manager saying that you're very interested in finding out more about the blended working opportunities as outlined in the email that was sent out by the CEO on Monday. As they mentioned in the email the blended working was for all staff and you want to find out more about it. To use the term put forward by the CEO, you're empowered to find out more.

By putting a spin like that on it, you could hardly be seen as 'rocking the boat' or arguing about it, you're looking for more information and your manager should be able to provide it for you.
If your manager can't or won't, then HR should be able to provide the information you're looking for.

No boat rocking going on, you are on a fact finding mission and in a pandemic information is key!

It's all in how you spin it.

@Pumpkinnose

This is why the govt need to get some backbone and force offices to close during this time.

Some jobs can't be done from home though, either at all or just so much harder.

My personal choice would be blended, there are elements of my job that are simply too difficult to do from home.

It's wrong.

Can you talk to your manager, non-confrontationally, about what you need, and your anxiety about coming into the office? Ask for a meeting in an email attached to the one you posted.

Isn't it illegal now for businesses to force staff to come to offices if they can work from home? Is that why they've sent this email? So that they look like they're allowing people to work from home, even though they're not? Someone needs to call them on it. Do other team members feel the same way as you?

@LookItsMeAgain very good! That sounds like a good idea.

@Eckhart I have spoken to my manager regarding my anxiety but was told it's tough, I'm an adult and I'm responsible for making myself feel comfortable in the workplace e.g if you're worried about someone being to close just ask them to take a step back etc. I feel that a lot of what has come out from them is done to make it look like they're approaching it in a good way but unfortunately is mere mortals below senior management level don't get a choice

Look at Me's suggestion sounds excellent.

From your description, it sounds like if it's a college with tutors working flexibly then the CEO probably genuinely believes that everyone has that flexibility, and it hasn't occurred to him/her that back office staff like you aren't being given that chance. It may just be your line manager who is being an overbearing jerk. I'd try Look's suggestion with your manager (politely) and of that doesn't work, try having the same (polite) discussion with HR.

I agree with you. It pisses me off to be told going into the office is better for my mental health.

I get that some people prefer going into the office, but my mental health is better when I don't put myself at unnecessary risk. When did CEOs become doctors or counsellors, eh? They don't have the right or the skills to assess what's better for our mental health. That's a very complicated, personal thing.

I thought the Govt advice changed yesterday and you are now encouraged to WFH?

@Hingeandbracket

YANBU my work has a lot of initiatives around mental health, wellbeing and resilience. But everyone is expected to do the work of about 5 people so it’s pointless.

Mine too. In fact managing the constant invitations to platitudinous online well-being talks is adding to my workload and stress...

@Pumpkinnose

This is why the govt need to get some backbone and force offices to close during this time.

Yep. Fully agree. Also let all the food retailers work from home too.

Oh no, I forgot, our health, mental or physical doesn't count.

I could've written this. Luckily my industry is still fairly healthy in terms of new opportunities so I'm applying for other roles and have interviews next week.

Oh no, I forgot, our health, mental or physical doesn't count.

So we all have to go out to work because you have to?

The rules are clear that if you can work from home you should. So they should be letting you work from home if you truly can perform your role from there. If they aren’t, can’t you ask why, given the change in rules?

I would suggest that you get a new email account and email the CEO directly from an account that cants come back to you to let them know that it is not as they assume and the real conditions that are occurring.