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?

Why can’t you just talk to them and remind them that during recruitment they said one day a week?

If it will have a big impact on your finances, don't go till you have another job surely! Your notice period probably isn't long so early in your time of working with them

[quote OLP2019]@jammyc yes obviously that's tricky and you have to find new solutions for children but pre covid when we all worked in an office didn't we have to find solutions then?![/quote]
But not without notice - there is no time to plan for the OP.

@Darbs76

We will be telling our teams they are expected back from March 50/50 and I’m dreading the aftermath, so many entitled people who fail to understand that yes their employer can call the shots. We have been told we are taking a hard line, people need to go back to their previous arrangements but I’ve no doubt I’ll be getting a lot of calls with ‘I can’t come back because of…’ take your pick, I’ve already heard a load of reasons when we were gearing up to return in August but it changed. I can’t understand why people can’t just do what their employer tells them. A 50/50 model is great. They forget about new staff trying to learn the job and all the other things being in the office brings. But ultimately yes we can make it work at home but we can’t as our employer wants us back, and given they pay our wages they call the shots.

Employers don’t own their staff.

I really despair that people seem to think that this is the case.

Employers can insist on changing arrangements but should recognise that people were thrown into a situation by a global pandemic.

Do employers think that for the last two years, employers would just meekly keep arrangements in place since March 2020?

That’s ridiculous.

There needs to be a bit of give on both sides.

As it is, I’m going to be job hunting because I know my employer will insist on a presenteeism type approach.

I don’t mind going into the office. I do mind being like a possession or a child.

I do mind being treated like a possession

Yep. Leave if it no longer works and find a company that has embraced and seen the benefits/lack of disadvantages of having their employees work from home

More choice than ever out there and perhaps if more people are willing to take the risk and quit in these circumstances, more businesses will seriously assess before making such decisions

I voted YANBU as obviously you are well within your rights to move jobs if the current job doesn't suit you.

However, they aren't being unreasonable to want staff back in the office. It will state you place of work in your contract and unless this says home based, you are unreasonable to be annoyed about it

The thing is that their request may not be unreasonable but notice period is.

A weekend is not enough time for people to just switch back on services that they haven't used for months or years.

The employer would have been better off giving say 2 weeks notice and asking employees to get in touch if they are having any problems to see if there can be any way to assist.

A lot of services are run on a supply- demand basis ( kids clubs etc) and so have shut down - if people then need to seek alternatives then they can buy those alternatives ( ie childminders) will not hold open spaces without defined start dates.

The notice period here is the unreasonable thing.

It’s quite short notice but it’s inevitable we’ll all go back at some point.

I felt like this when we were asked to go back into the office 3 days a week. We were given 2 weeks notice. I was really nervous, didn’t know how it would affect us. But I’ve negotiated flexibility and really I’m only in the office 16 hours a week and can do school pick ups easily. It’s nice to be able to meet real people a couple of hours a week.

Of course if it doesn’t suit you, then there’s plenty of remote jobs out there, but they will all expect some form of commute to the office at some point I think. Do whatever you think is best For you.

I think they are being unreasonable, for the time frame. They must know many people have routines that will require sorting out with more than one working days notice.

If they never promised it was fully remote they are within right to ask for people back to a hybrid model, but I would expect a phased return with a min6 a few weeks notices,

For example on Friday they should have said this is everyone's 3 week notice to be back 1-3 days a week and by end of Feb everyone to be back 3 days a week. Gives people chance to sort things out.

But if this is am

Massively disruptive to you do as you ah e and get another job. There are quite a few out there! And they will snatch the best people no doubt.

You are being ridiculous. People working from home at all times have knock-on effects for other businesses and people. Businesses are closing because they don’t have the normal foot traffic and people are getting things done efficiently because people are at home not doing their jobs as well as they would were they were in the office.

I for one am looking forward to having my issues dealt with properly again.

Get over yourself and get on with it.

YABU

I can't believe you didn't ask that at interview.

Exactly. The lack of notice is unreasonable.

Of course if my contract stated office based 5 days a week then that’s what I need to comply with, and without breakfast club will need to come up with an alternative solution. Fine.

But to those who suggest I should have paid for a space for 2 years without using it once I think that’s unrealistic.

As it happens my employer is adopting a hybrid contract so 3 days I have cover for is manageable.

I think corporate employers will soon find that if they don’t adopt an openness to flexible working they will lose top talent.

In the OPs case, she was told 1 day a week, she’s now been given very short notice to increase to 3 days. I don’t think she’s BU and agree she should explore new opportunities

YANBU to resign - hopefully for you these jobs you are interviewing for are indeed fully remote and will be for the foreseeable.

@user9764577436

You are being ridiculous. People working from home at all times have knock-on effects for other businesses and people. Businesses are closing because they don’t have the normal foot traffic and people are getting things done efficiently because people are at home not doing their jobs as well as they would were they were in the office.

I for one am looking forward to having my issues dealt with properly again.

Get over yourself and get on with it.

Do you think it is reasonable to give no notice?

Why cant you go in 3 days? What difference does it make being in an office to home?

Why cant you go in 3 days? What difference does it make being in an office to home?

I’m not OP but for me, 2-3 hours travel a day and thousands of pounds a year.

I am hoping for more notice than a weekend. Our nursery has no further hours available until after Easter and although I have family who could help they would need more notice than a couple of days.

If we are asked to go back in I am going to ask if I can work from home early in the morning (as I have been doing) and go into the office straight after the nursery run. I will be prepared to be told no but there is no harm in asking.

I think a year from now working from home will be a dim and distant memory for most.

At the moment many companies are being flexible but IMO the more companies who call their employees back into the office the more companies will do so, And WFH will go back to being a luxury rather than an expectation.

And I’d love to know where all these permanently work from home jobs are. I’m currently looking for work and trust me although there are some jobs which state they are remote, almost all of them state that they are “temporarily” remote, with maybe a few stating that there will be some time in the office required. But permanently work from home jobs really aren’t out there, because companies still want to have the choice.

@bonetiredwithtwins

Employees who got rid of their childcare and second cars were naïve at best stupid at worst - they've taken advantage of a situation which we all knew would never be/could never be permanent- saved themselves hundreds if not thousands of pounds and now are complaining about it

Employers have every right to expect employees back in the office

I agree with this. You've had a good run, now it's over.

Moving jobs because it doesn't suit you any more is fine, obviously. But a lot of jobs will be going back to at least some office working now / soon, so you could find yourself in the same position in a few months.

@RockallMalinHebrides
I think there was a notice/talks about coming back to a hybrid model. And if it’s THAT important for OP, she should have specifically asked. I know I would! I remember organising childcare even though I didn’t know if I got the job yet.

You are absolutely doing the right thing coz next it will be four days in the office and then five. Then the reasonable unpaid overtime clause that they also failed to mention.

The labour market has changed. Flexible working patterns and WFH are here to stay and employers who think otherwise or remain uncompetitve in the job market are going to struggle to retain and recruit the best people.

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

Employees who got rid of their childcare and second cars were naïve at best stupid at worst - they've taken advantage of a situation which we all knew would never be/could never be permanent- saved themselves hundreds if not thousands of pounds and now are complaining about it

How many people actually did the above? certainly my childcare bill reduced because the school stopped wrap around care for some time, definitely not my choice!

What's wrong with employees having some power & the opportunity to save. Companies saved loads too, hence why so many have switched to hybrid.

@Fridafever

Why cant you go in 3 days? What difference does it make being in an office to home?

I’m not OP but for me, 2-3 hours travel a day and thousands of pounds a year.

Did you take this job on though mid pandemic knowing full well where your actual place of work was?

We will be telling our teams they are expected back from March 50/50 and I’m dreading the aftermath, so many entitled people who fail to understand that yes their employer can call the shots.

Um, not really. People don't have to accept a job. There are shortages of staff in many areas. In my industry we can't get good people, if a member of my team said "I'm wfh or I'm leaving" tbh I'd have to accept them wfh, they'd be so hard to replace