To say "Tough!"

[McSteamyorMcdreamy]

...but in a professional way...

Background. Manager of office. Team have the ability to WFH on an adhoc basis.

Currently going through a review and two individuals are banging on about WFH on a permanent basis, with 3 days a week at home.

There are some in the office that don't want to, which is fair enough - so looking at splitting responsibilities (some which involve you having to be in the office) on a fair basis across the team.

I was asked today (by a WFH'er) when the new rota will be put in place because the travel time/traffic/use of petrol is starting to impact her mental well-being.

Implementation of new rota isn't going to be a 5 minute job yet she, and the other team member are constantly banging on about it.

I am at the point of saying "Bloody tough!!! You applied for an office based job, you knew where it was and you know where you live!!" Now sod off!!!!

Aibu??

I think it would be reasonable to give a realistic date of when you expect the new arrangements to be in place.

Sounds like she's misusing petrol, if it's affecting her like that.

I'd have raised an eyebrow and said, 'It will be in place when all the arrangements have been worked out, but it is unlikely that anyone will be permanently WFH. You do realise that you accepted an office based job and that the business needs are of prime consideration - not individual employees preferences?'

I'd be briskly formal and disapproving if she was going to keep whinging about it.

I was asked today (by a WFH'er) when the new rota will be put in place because the travel time/traffic/use of petrol is starting to impact her mental well-being.

"The email will be out by [end of the week - basically whenever you're going to send it out + 1 day's leeway]."

What she's saying is that she's panicking and working herself up because she's set up an arrangement that works for her in terms of the other commitments in her life. If she now has to be in the office on given days, she's going to have to undo those arrangements, possibly involving other people who are giving her grief or putting pressure on her to tell them what she needs, or rejigging her finances given fuel costs. She needs to know where she stands, is what she's saying. Which is fine. But it's also fine for you to do your job the way you need to do it, not to her timetable.

If you've agreed to make these changes to the rota (which it sounds like you have?), I think giving some idea of when they will come into force would be good for everyone, not just those who want to WFH, because it sounds like there'll be a change to responsibilities for the others as well.

They shouldn't be constantly banging on about it though. I'd give a realistic timeframe to everyone, and then just refer them back to that if they pester you.

Is not unreasonable of your employees to ask the question? Surely you have a time frame as to when you will have the rota completed?