To not want to go to the office if it's not compulsory?

nahhowaboutit · 2022-03-08T21:19:03+00:00

My employer has not made going to the office mandated/compulsory, we're allowed to choose what's best for us. My office is a 2 hour commute away and I struggle to concentrate when I'm there as it's open plan. Despite this my manager is always asking me when I'm going into the office and I feel pressured to go in once a week. AIBU to not want to go in at all if it's not compulsory and if there's no face-to-face meetings I'm needed in for?

Hellocatshome · 08/03/2022 21:22

What did you do before Covid? If you were employed in the job before Covid that is. I think as an employer they are entitled to be a bit if you went into the office everyday pre covid but now dont want to do the commute and say you can't concentrate in the office. Why don't you have a discussion with them and come to an agreement so they know when they can expect to see you.

SwedishEdith · 08/03/2022 21:24

If it's not compulsory, I'd stick out the not going in. Can you be straight with your manager or is it the kind of relationship where you have to pretend you'll be trying to come in occasionally? Just play the game and say you'll be coming in "soon" when you need to meet up with x.

yikesanotherbooboo · 08/03/2022 21:24

I don't know.If it isn't compulsory you probably don't have to go but in terms of showing your strengths as a team builder and player and your loyalty to your colleagues it will be harder if you are not there. This could have career implications. One of our colleagues has moved and is now working remotely. They are a long-standing and very well liked and effective team member. We are all delighted for them and the way their life has changed but all the same they are not part of the set up in the way that they were.Two hours commit sounds awful though, what are your options?

Original poster

nahhowaboutit · 08/03/2022 21:25

@Hellocatshome

What did you do before Covid? If you were employed in the job before Covid that is. I think as an employer they are entitled to be a bit

if you went into the office everyday pre covid but now dont want to do the commute and say you can't concentrate in the office. Why don't you have a discussion with them and come to an agreement so they know when they can expect to see you.

I wasn't employed by them before COVID

I think one of the reasons I feel annoyed is when I applied for the job it said I could be based at either of their two offices, one being local to me and one being a 2 hour commute away. Before I accepted the job offer I checked I could be based at the local one and they said yes. Once I started I found out my entire department is based at the one 2 hours away

OP posts:

Darbs76 · 08/03/2022 21:28

Well if it’s not compulsory then you’re not unreasonable. We have been told we go back 40% from next week, and it’s clear where everyone stands. A small amount of staff can apply to work at home permanently. If we said it was optional we wouldn’t get many in.

MurmuratingStarling · 08/03/2022 21:33

If it's not compulsory, I can't imagine why ANYONE would want to go back into the office now if they can work from home indefinitely!

Who wants to have to get up at 6am, get ready for work, and then have a 2 hour commute, when you can just roll out of bed at 8.30am, have a shower, pop some casual clothes on, grab a coffee and a bowl of cereal and start your job?

And who wants to have a 2 hour commute BACK, and not get in til 7.00-7.30pm, when you can finish work and be eating your dinner at 5.00-5.30pm with 'The Chase' on and your feet up?

I work from home and have done for 2 years. I will NEVER go back if I don't have to. I still see my colleagues socially occasionally (every 4-5 weeks) and am much more relaxed and happy working from home.

Like fuck will I go back unless I am forced to. I save a fortune on travel too, and hardly use any extra electric or gas.

YANBU @nahhowaboutit Anyone who thinks YABU is jealous because THEY can't work from home.

NotTerfNorCis · 08/03/2022 21:37

Covid has shown that being in offices often isn't necessary or desirable. Working patterns are shifting. I'd lay a bet that in fifty years, offices will seem antiquated and a thing of the past.

BoredZelda · 08/03/2022 22:04

it doesn’t doesn’t even matter what happened before covid. They have said it isn’t compulsory. The manager is in the wrong as they aren’t following company policy.

I worked in an office full time prior to covid and the commute was shit. The office environment is also shit and I was thinking about quitting. But I do love the job and the work I’m doing. My company has said I can do 3/2 split and if anyone in my office has a problem with that they can take it up with my bosses who agreed it. The whole “team player” thing is also bullshit as I am just as much of a team player, and they promoted me after I changed to my new working pattern so they clearly accept that.

People now full of “oh so entitled” and bleating about what happened before need to move with the times. Many companies were already moving towards a WFH pattern, all covid did was drag (some of the) dinosaurs in to the modern way of working.

StormTreader · 09/03/2022 15:33

If they feel like you have to come in, ask if you can have your office day at the local office.

Onlyforcake · 09/03/2022 15:38

It was a bit short sighted to have not discussed expectation about office attendance at interview. They obviously were expecting someone more engaged. They were crazy to take on someone with a two hour journey to the office in that case. Obviously not a good match.

JohannSebastianBach · 09/03/2022 15:40

Tell them that at interview they said the local office, which is why you took the job. Offer once a month.

Justkeeppedaling · 09/03/2022 15:42

I've been into the office today (I'm home now). It was lovely. I saw people I hadn't seen for 2 years, did lots of catching up and both social and professional "networking". There is more to working than just doing the work.
I think employers are conscious that, with everyone wfh, and some people never ever have worked in the offices of their current employer, that sense of "belonging", and cohesiveness will eventually evaporate, and companies will lose their own sense of identity. I know that's what my employer is concerned about - it's very big on it's role in society, and providing a caring and sharing environment for employees.
I like wfh, but honestly, sat here in my spare room, I could be working for anyone.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 09/03/2022 15:43

Was your manager part of the recruitment process? If not they may be unaware that you were told the local office was fine.

theemmadilemma · 09/03/2022 15:44

You need to have a conversation with your Manager and be clear and set expectations.

Be clear that when you accepted the role, your understanding was the office was locally based. You did not commit to regularly commuting a two journey each way. Based on that your intention would be to attend the non local office where your department is based on a monthly basis. Check that sit ok with his expectation and be prepared to compromise a little bit, but be clear weekly or more is not acceptable.

Whammyyammy · 09/03/2022 15:44

Tell your manager its not compulsory, fuel prices are horrendous, so you will be WFH for the foreseeable...

lanthanum · 09/03/2022 15:44

"I think one of the reasons I feel annoyed is when I applied for the job it said I could be based at either of their two offices, one being local to me and one being a 2 hour commute away. Before I accepted the job offer I checked I could be based at the local one and they said yes. Once I started I found out my entire department is based at the one 2 hours away"

Hello manager,

When I accepted the job, it was agreed that my workplace would be nearby-office. Since the rest of the team are at faraway-office, there's no particular gain to be had by me being in nearby-office instead of home, especially as I work less efficiently in an open-plan environment. Of course, if you are visiting nearby-office and want to schedule a face-to-face meeting, I'd be very happy to come in for that.

ouch321 · 09/03/2022 15:50

Just go in as a one off to say hi to everyone in person.

It's really really not that big a deal.

Spidey66 · 09/03/2022 15:51

@MurmuratingStarling

If it's not compulsory, I can't imagine why ANYONE would want to go back into the office now if they can work from home indefinitely!

Who wants to have to get up at 6am, get ready for work, and then have a 2 hour commute, when you can just roll out of bed at 8.30am, have a shower, pop some casual clothes on, grab a coffee and a bowl of cereal and start your job?

And who wants to have a 2 hour commute BACK, and not get in til 7.00-7.30pm, when you can finish work and be eating your dinner at 5.00-5.30pm with 'The Chase' on and your feet up?

I work from home and have done for 2 years. I will NEVER go back if I don't have to. I still see my colleagues socially occasionally (every 4-5 weeks) and am much more relaxed and happy working from home.

Like fuck will I go back unless I am forced to. I save a fortune on travel too, and hardly use any extra electric or gas.

YANBU @nahhowaboutit Anyone who thinks YABU is jealous because THEY can't work from home.

Everyone's different though. I would hate to WFH indefinitely. I'm doing it this week cos I have to self isolate due to cataract surgery Friday but don't like it.

The only part of my house that gets wifi is the front room. This means I have to work from there on a small fold out table, every time I move something falls off. My husband is retired and can't use the front room or wifi when I'm there.
It's unsociable, I like to meet colleagues, go out for a drink after work etc, just feel part of a team.
I keep picking from the kitchen
I like home/work boundaries. Work is at work and home is at home

Yes I have to pay fares and the commute is much longer than walking down the hall, but to me the advantages of going into work far outweigh the advantages of WFH. I suspect young people living in shared houses don't like it either. I don't mind doing it once a week but thats it.

RedskyThisNight · 09/03/2022 16:00

@MurmuratingStarling

If it's not compulsory, I can't imagine why ANYONE would want to go back into the office now if they can work from home indefinitely!

Who wants to have to get up at 6am, get ready for work, and then have a 2 hour commute, when you can just roll out of bed at 8.30am, have a shower, pop some casual clothes on, grab a coffee and a bowl of cereal and start your job?

And who wants to have a 2 hour commute BACK, and not get in til 7.00-7.30pm, when you can finish work and be eating your dinner at 5.00-5.30pm with 'The Chase' on and your feet up?

I work from home and have done for 2 years. I will NEVER go back if I don't have to. I still see my colleagues socially occasionally (every 4-5 weeks) and am much more relaxed and happy working from home.

Like fuck will I go back unless I am forced to. I save a fortune on travel too, and hardly use any extra electric or gas.

YANBU @nahhowaboutit Anyone who thinks YABU is jealous because THEY can't work from home.

I can see why you want to wfh indefinitely. But equally you were the one that chose that job in the first place.

But you are massively lacking in understanding that not everyone has the same job and the same circumstances as you and might find it preferable to work from the office.

In my case

15 minute walk to work used for destress/exercise
easier to do my job with colleagues around me
no dedicated office space at home; sick of working in unsuitable surroundings
better divide of work/life balance (I stop work when I leave the office; no unwritten expectation to be constantly on call)
find working at home lonely and depressing

maddiemookins16mum · 09/03/2022 16:17

I’m assuming all those who used to work in an office never at any point in their whole time there ever printed something to be posted?
Just curious.
I only ask ask as during the first lock down in March 20, our entire building emptied. We send documents to customers to sign. Overnight this task fell on two people (who needed to receive the post in daily) instead of the case handlers printing their own (as they always did). It was horrendous, imagine printing the docs for 45 claim handlers. Now they won’t come back and just expect others to pick up these tasks still.

Spidey66 · 09/03/2022 16:17

@RedskyThisNight My pov exactly...except I get the train to work. (Well I used to cycle in the spring/summer but fell off my bike last September and broke my shoulder and yet to regain my confidence. When I cycled in I loved the commute and it was free!)

I'm certainly not jealous of those wfh.

dipdye · 09/03/2022 16:20

No way should you go in. Wfh all the way

DetailMouse · 09/03/2022 16:22

Rather than just resisting, have a proper conversation about your reasons for not going

PoleFairy · 09/03/2022 16:23

My employer has no mandate to come in and we can wfh whenever it head to the office. I'm going in once a week and to be honest I think it's worth it to show face. I see senior people, build a relationship with them, network. I do think those who never go in will suffer career wise (in the same way if you went in and ignored everyone pre covid days then you wouldn't be viewed as a nice person to work with). I do go in because I like it too. It's nice to see colleagues and have "work friends", it's nice to listen to the radio on the way to work, it's nice to grab a coffee with friends at lunch (I never did this pre covid but now going in the office feels like an event), it's nice to feel a bit normal. It also helps me appreciate the wfh on the days I feel lonely because I think, well at least I'm done at 5.30 and dont have to drive home like I did on monday.

IKnowYouDontTurnTheLightOn · 09/03/2022 16:23

I don’t understand all the excitement about wfh - I absolutely bloody hate it. Most of my friends who are now wfh are definitely spending a lot less time “working” which I guess is the attraction but for me it’s boring and shit. I’m not in that environment at the moment but I would NEVER choose to wfh!