To not want to go into the office 5 days a week?

[Reptyler]

I have mild autism and low self confidence. Being around people is exhausting for me. Especially now the days are getting shorter and it’s getting colder, I’m getting ready for the long struggle through winter.

When I signed up for my job, I took it because the work from the office policy was very flexible. It was aim for 3 days a week. My contract specifies that this can change. Then it changed to 4 days a week. My team’s senior managers have decided we need to be in 5 days a week and if we aren’t then need to send an email around to the team saying why we aren’t coming in on a specific day.

Of course, the senior managers come in on average 4 days a week as they have client entertainment or are staying at their country or coastal houses.

I work long hours, usually 9:30am-8:00pm so find being in the office exhausting. I feel so much calmer if I can just lock myself away in my study at home and work.

Why don’t you try just not going in a day a week. Come up with some bland reason why you’re WFH. Might be time to start looking for another job.

No one wants to be in the office 5 days a week, but it seems you don’t have a choice so maybe look for another job?

If you work 9.30-8.00 that is 10.5 hours a day, so you are doing a full week (and more) in four days.

Or you could do 9.30 -6.00, five days a week, which would be less strain.

Why do you work so many hours? I'd look for another job as they've moved the goalposts.

Put a reasonable adjustment request in.

Ask for WFH days as a reasonable adjustment for disability.

Agree with others though, those are long hours - is that voluntary or contractual? Office days might be more doable if you have a better work life balance.

Put a reasonable adjustment request in.

www.acas.org.uk/reasonable-adjustments/asking-for-reasonable-adjustments

Quit. I have autism, I have not been in an office for 4 years now. Find a boss who expects results, not bums on seats. they are clearly wankers who cannot manage people.

In this situation I look for a new job. Fighting it would just cause you more stress. There are other jobs out there with companies that embrace the fully remote life, and they do it well. And you'll end up working normal working hours too, which it sounds like you need.