To resign because my job suddenly requires me in 3 days a week?

[Earlyflash]

We got told on Friday that we would be required to do a minimum of three days a week in the office from monday.

I’m new at the company (4 months) and this was never mentioned in the recruitment phase. That said I didn’t push them for a written answer.

Given we’ve spent the last two years working 100% at home, this seems like a massive overreach, and I’m intending to tell them to do one.

It’s going to have such an impact on me, my partner, and my children (from previous relationship).

I already have interviews for fully remote roles.

So, AIBU for reacting to such a request?

Yanbu to leave if you don't like the terms and conditions. Your employer is not BU either to ask you to work from the office 3 days a week.

The civil service aren't going back f/t & the majority aren't even back yet despite the PMs orders. For those that can, hybrid is the new normal.

I think wfh will be around for a while longer in our rural area given it's benefits. There are still loads of office jobs advertised as remote working on indeed right now.

I don’t want to add fuel to the fire here, but as an interesting aside;

Of the four people we’ve made offers to in the last month (taken three months to find these four); all of them have now declined to join because of the new policy.

I guess it’s a trade off between ‘best candidate’ and ‘closest candidate’ moving forward.

I'm the same saying talk to your employer but they aren't being unreasonable to expect you back. Saying that you're not unreasonable to leave, just be sure before you do in terms of either finding another job or being ready to be a stay at home parent

@Earlyflash that's really interesting and I expect it's similar in many sectors.

I don't think the employer is U to ask you to work some of the time in the office BUT

I DO think they're being VERY U expecting you to start on Monday having told you on Friday. Which, if you don't currently have childcare set up gives you zero time to arrange it.

I wouldn't want to work for a company that doesn't give reasonable time for adjustment, it's really family unfriendly.

Sounds like you can easily find a fully WFH job so definitely do that.

Only the lonely, the desperate and the sheep will be flocking back , despite the Daily Mail dogma.

Don't be so ridiculous and offensive @Pyewhacket. I presume it hasn't occurred to you that some people don't have the space to work from home.

I'm not lonely, desperate or a sheep and I'm hoping to go back to the office 5 days a week because I've been working at the dining table for 2 years now and I want my home to be my home, not an extension of the office. I'd also like to have a meal at my dining table for a change.

@theemperorhasnoclothes

I don't think the employer is U to ask you to work some of the time in the office BUT

I DO think they're being VERY U expecting you to start on Monday having told you on Friday. Which, if you don't currently have childcare set up gives you zero time to arrange it.

I wouldn't want to work for a company that doesn't give reasonable time for adjustment, it's really family unfriendly.

Sounds like you can easily find a fully WFH job so definitely do that.

Surely that depends on their policy on wfh with children? Many organisations would expect you to have childcare in place when wfh anyway.

Only the lonely, the desperate and the sheep will be flocking back , despite the Daily Mail dogma.

What a ridiculous thing to say

The pandemic has really let some people just settle into this kind of thinking

This is the start of a whole new wave of sex discrimination in the workplace when women choose to work from home because of the impact on their "partner and children" code for saving money on childcare whereas the men return to long office hours and thus are better placed for promotion.

If I WFH'd I'd save £60 a week on before school care and fuel (£100 a week if I also didn't send to after school club which I know some working mothers are doing- I don't know any men WFH with a six year old coming in to ask for snack/drinks/meaning of life) so I get why people are reluctant as it probably feels like a cost now as opposed to a normal expense but that's really not an employer's problem- the country needs to get back to normal now.

For those saying it's an employee's market. You're correct... for now.

@Crikeyalmighty

I’m amazed at the people who state they have all become massively productive because both mine and my Hs experience is that emails get unanswered for days and days these days , stuff answered at funny times where you have no chance to call and clear up a misunderstanding etc — and anything call centre related— 30 minute holds rather than 6 etc. Have to be honest this probably depends what sector you are in but I’ve certainly not experienced a massive upsurge in productiveness. Our jobs have always been WFH , and I think that’s a different thing—. If you can get a job fully WFH that’s worth having then fair enough but most good jobs that aren’t self employed/your business seem to have some expectation of a flex arrangement.

I totally agree with this. I’ve noticed that the average customer service has gone so much worse. Days before you get a reply on email, I reply back to clear something and then days again before a reply. And put on hold forever if you try to call. It used to be good, but the last year it’s gone downhill. I do not believe for a second that most people are more effective wfh.

I've always said that employers can only expect the loyalty and trust from employees that they give them.

Agree, I find it really strange that some think employees should just be happy to have a job & gratefully accept any scraps.

@Earlyflash

I don’t want to add fuel to the fire here, but as an interesting aside;

Of the four people we’ve made offers to in the last month (taken three months to find these four); all of them have now declined to join because of the new policy.

I guess it’s a trade off between ‘best candidate’ and ‘closest candidate’ moving forward.

The new policy that only came in on Friday? I'd use a longer reference period than 24 hours to make totally made up judgments

MeanderingGently
👏👏👏

What a ridiculous thing to say

thats ironic 😆

And the number of times I’ve heard on the phone ’Well, I’m wfh so there’s noone here to ask..but I’ll get back to you!’ Ok, but I’d prefer an answer now rather than a day later.

But personally I wouldn't resign over it. What are you going to say at interview, that you refuse to do blended work/home, it's going to sound inflexible

Depends how you phrase it, doesn't it ?

My friend was quite upfront. But then they weren't refusing to travel. Just not a redundant daily office journey. His new role actually does have some travel which he's more than happy to do. (Although ironically it's mainly to set systems up for future remote access).

I appreciate IT may be a bit "niche". But one of the joys of working in IT is you inevitably get exposed to every other business function in some depth. (Much like HR).

If I were the investing type, I'd be looking at what modern employers need, what Regus and the likes aren't offering and get inbetween.

It doesn't take a huge %age of people to stop commuting to reduce congestion by a phenomenal amount. Which isn't only great for the environment, fewer RTAs etc etc. But hints at a better use of land than for roads.

@monfuseds

What a ridiculous thing to say

thats ironic 😆

Keep going with your obsessive posting to me but I find it weird

😂

@transformandriseup

The civil service aren't going back f/t & the majority aren't even back yet despite the PMs orders. For those that can, hybrid is the new normal.

I think wfh will be around for a while longer in our rural area given it's benefits. There are still loads of office jobs advertised as remote working on indeed right now.

Are they talking about ''hubs'' in the uk civil service?

This is what's being floated in our civil service, that there'll be an office hub where you can log in, use printer scanner, lap top, headset etc, but you could be sitting next to somebody from a different department. But you just go to the nearest ''hub''.

I will not hold my breath. But in theory I like the idea. Although I'd be lucky if there were a hub closer than my actual office.

@Earlyflash

I don’t want to add fuel to the fire here, but as an interesting aside;

Of the four people we’ve made offers to in the last month (taken three months to find these four); all of them have now declined to join because of the new policy.

I guess it’s a trade off between ‘best candidate’ and ‘closest candidate’ moving forward.

I’ve traditionally been disadvantaged by not living within commuting distance of London, (been turned down for jobs because of this). However I have been WFH for the last 10 years in various roles. Some employers will always prefer presence over ability.

YANBU, I don't live in a 'roomy' or 'big' house but I don't want to go back to working in my office every day at the moment I do have hybrid system. I do have a biggish local social network and I get to collect my youngest most days, why are my needs less important than a young new recruit or my DH gets to walk our youngest to school he would have been on the train before. That is good for childhood development to not have a semi-absent parent who leaves too early and arrives home too late to see. It correspondingly helps youth by cutting down on work travel pollution and the impact on Climate which surely is just as pressing as socialising at work?? Surely, hybrid maybe beneficial for everyone but people's needs vary and it is not as simple as suggesting everything should be about the poor young 18 year olds stuck inside. At 18 surely you can find ways to socialise other than through colleagues in an office and you can do this with hybrid situations anyway!

@DGRossetti I guess it depends how much power you have as a candidate at interview.

I am 51 and I don't have a degree and although I know my job very well having done it for 5 years, I wouldn't have the clout to go in to interview and call the shots.

Respect to anybody who has invested into themselves enough and found experience that gives them the power to do that though.

Not everybody is in that fortunate position. Some of us have to go in to interviewing demonstrating that we are flexible!

@over2021

This is the start of a whole new wave of sex discrimination in the workplace when women choose to work from home because of the impact on their "partner and children" code for saving money on childcare whereas the men return to long office hours and thus are better placed for promotion.

If I WFH'd I'd save £60 a week on before school care and fuel (£100 a week if I also didn't send to after school club which I know some working mothers are doing- I don't know any men WFH with a six year old coming in to ask for snack/drinks/meaning of life) so I get why people are reluctant as it probably feels like a cost now as opposed to a normal expense but that's really not an employer's problem- the country needs to get back to normal now.

For those saying it's an employee's market. You're correct... for now.

I agree. Whether we like it or not, there are disadvantages for those who are fully wfh if other employees are office based.

I have some staff who are fully wfh, some who are fully working in the office and some who follow a hybrid model. Hybrid is fine, and doesn't really impact on anything, but the relationships are very different with those who are fully wfh, no matter how hard you try to mitigate against that. I have to work really hard as a manager to ensure that wfh staff know what's going on and that they're included in everything, but I can imagine in many organisations that they will simply end up out of sight, out of mind. If women end up disproportionately wfh, I am concerned that this will merely exacerbate the gender pay gap.

I find it really weird that you were repeatedly telling me I was wrong when I wasn't but refuse to acknowledge it @MarshaBradyo. Why do you have a problem accepting you made a mistake?

It's ironic that you are criticising other posters for ridiculous things when you can't even get facts right.

And yet you are still on the thread giving your opinions as if they have any value. Complete lack of self awareness! I find it fascinating, it's such an odd way to behave.

@NorthernLighting

And the number of times I’ve heard on the phone ’Well, I’m wfh so there’s noone here to ask..but I’ll get back to you!’ Ok, but I’d prefer an answer now rather than a day later.

That’s not a function of wfh. That’s just bad organisations workers without training and authority.