New manager want me in the office. I wfh-help!

[Stressedgiraffe]

We've changed management structure so my new manager wants me in the office. Ideally once a week but might settle for every month.
I've been there over 2 years. I wfh permanently but my contract says HQ.
I live 5 hours away always have done. They knew where I lived when I started. I go into the office about every 3/4 months for a few days .
Could I push for a change in location in my contract or do you think I'm screwed?

Astonishing to see so many bitter anti-WFH posts on here when MN is a site for women which prides itself on its feminist credentials, and it's beyond doubt that WFH benefits women hugely by helping them access work, and stops them being pushed out of the workforce. Reintroducing compulsory office working will see the gender pay gap soar.

Can only assume most people who are so bitter about WFH are either men, or are resentful that women these days have more options.

You're right though, people often don't realise that employees can be prevented from working remotely but that doesn't mean they can be made to come into an office.

And its possible the OP being so niche might be the main factor here. Her skillset is sufficiently in demand that the organisation had to headhunt her, meanwhile some manager in post for 5 minutes wants to use that on something else?! One wonders what the manager's manager would have to say.

I hope you dont' get pulled in on what sounds like the preferences and whim of your new manager. She may well 'prefer' it, but tough shit.

I'd not back down, but def look for a new role as she may well make you her pet peeve project

My 3 Millennials are all home based and akways have been. They’re companies aren’t failing because of not being in a work place.

One works in media
One in lecturing. Does f2f lectures but all prep at home.
One in civil service. He was forced back but had to sit in the canteen as there weren’t enough desks.

People are not going to give up on working from home just because of what your husband thinks.

DH works in medical supplies. He works from home 3 days week.

Come come, when someone's husband says something it must be right!

and EXPENSIVE!

Course you would. Have fun with all the constructive dismissal claims.

Read my post properly arseinthecoopwindow it's not what my husband thinks it's coming from ceo level - hybrid working is perceived necessary because productivity has fallen and companies are failing

Orange marmalade on toast - read my post properly, he works in an office, I have a f job which can only be done face to face

Yeah, and?

Evidence that productivity has fallen due to remote working, please.

Hybrid working is perceived necessary because middle management - which is what your husband is, by the sounds of it - are wedded to presenteeism.

But oc.

They want to micro manage their employees.

See it’s not falling in any of the areas my family work in. These CEO’s need to look forward not back.

On average, those who work from home spend 10 minutes less a day being unproductive, work one more day a week, and are 47% more productive.

Findings of just one study on this.

This!

@lovescats3 I don't think you understand the difference between anecdotal evidence and statistical evidence.

Maybe come back when you have some actual personal experience to relate rather than parroting what your husband and his mates say.

I think there are many different sorts of business . All of whom will be measuring their productivity. My DH has a structural and civil engineering consultancy. They found young staff were very much disadvantaged by WFH when forced to do so. They needed direct oversight of work. They need to be certain they aren’t making expensive mistakes and they need to learn from experienced engineers. Working remotely was not great for the company or many employees. They do now have a hybrid model. Younger people like being in the office and others do come in because working as a close knit team matters. Structural design is all about safety. It’s vital to understand the business to make decisions about work patterns.

I'm not anti feminist and I work in a scientific environment so thanks I understand what empirical data is, I was merely relating what I had been told ,it may not be what you want to hear

Explain your circumstances and agree to one day a month. And then time your annual leave to include that one day and bring it down a bit so that its only 7 or 8 days a year.

Younger people like being in the office and others do come in because working as a close knit team matters

@TizerorFizz I've really found that the younger members of staff enjoy coming into the office.

Younger people, as with all other groups, are a mixture. In person work is brilliant for some of them, at the opposite end of the spectrum some others are disadvantaged and excluded by it. Obviously those in organisations where some/full office attendance is expected are by definition not seeing the ones who it doesn't work for.

You're that shit at managing people and measuring output?

My husband and his contemporaries who are managers in various companies say we are less productive now with WFH

Oh right case closed then - you can disperse now ladies.

I'm also far less productive at home, most people are if they are honest! We generally just don't like to admit it out loud.

Nope. I WFH full time and I am far more productive at home. I actually used to find going into the office at my old job such a black hole- between finding a desk, finding rooms for calls, chatting around me and to me, coffee trips and lunch, office days were basically a write off in terms of actual work.

Exactly this 👏 all the data from the past few years shows more women are remaining in the workplace and actually doing better career wise since more hybrid and flexibility was introduced.