To request a work from home day for my partner

[Sundaycoffee]

He's been visiting family abroad for a couple of weeks and is due to return back late next Wednesday (flight lands at 9pm after a 30 hour multi flight trip). He works in the office twice a week on specific days and his return to work the next day falls on an office day.
He spoke about potentially asking his boss if he would be able to work from home the next day instead of having to get up at 7am for the 90 min drive to the office but never got round to speaking to him before he left for his trip
I imagine he will be absolutely shattered the next day and briefly thought about asking his boss for a work from home day on his behalf as a nice surprise for him on his return.
It's a small agency of 14 people or is that totally unprofessional?

I’m gonna say he chose not to and wants to go in. He’s an adult with agency and could even email or phone his boss while away. We live in a very connected culture nowadays.

Oh my god do not do this!!! He will look so unprofessional!

Yeah a lot of it is self-inflicted and this is why I take it with a pinch of salt when someone talks about having to do this and that for their husband. Like the ones who just have to buy all the presents for their in-laws and then complain about it.

Oh god this would be mortifying!!

I expect my team to come back from holiday bright and ready to go, not jet lagged and too tired to commute!!

Yep. Professional martyr syndrome and the cult of busyness . I’m a better person than you because I am so busy and it would all fall apart if I didn’t just do everything as everyone is do useless. Nope, look inward, you are filling some kind of void in yourself.

If he wants it, he'll ask. Don't embarrass him by behaving like you're his clingy mummy, OP.

Jeez. He’s a grown man. Stop treating him like a child.

If he's been travelling for 30 hours he might have slept most of it so won't necessarily be 'shattered'. 9 pm isn't exactly late to return home, nor is 7 am early to get up for work either.

But if he does feel like he needs to WFH, then he can arrange it himself.

Absolutely no

Nope, look inward, you are filling some kind of void in yourself

Spot on! I mean sure, it’s up to them how they spend their time and efforts but it’s unwise to martyr and burn yourself out like this for a grown man.

Noooo. Just last week the Mother of a colleague of mine rang in sick for her. This colleague had vomiting and is a married Mum of 2 in her 30s so heaven knows why she could not do it herself - very unprofessional.

Bit of a derail but just reminded me of an ex colleagues girlfriend who called our manager to book 2 weeks leave for him as a surprise... for their wedding... they weren't engaged... She had planned a whole wedding abroad and invited their families without his knowledge as a surprise - he was actually really pleased but can you imagine how that could have backfired.

Turn this around if it was a male partner asking his girlfriend's boss for her work from home. It would have red flags all over it.

I would maybe send him, partner, a message to suggest he contacts his boss to ask, it may have slipped his memory, the work schedule.

Relieved that my family would have no idea who my line manager is and not be able to contact them without doing a serious amount of research first

I wouldn’t do this. Can’t you just remind him to let his boss know?

Of course, in abusive relationships it's not always the woman who's the victim, but one of the reasons that employers should ask their staff to phone in sick in person, ie actually speak directly to the staff member is that an email/text could be sent by anyone so could be an abusive partner covering up for themselves if they're not allowing them to leave the house or something worse has happened. It's a duty of care issue.

My first reaction is you shouldn't have two weeks abroad, landing back the night before due to work.
Don't cut it so fine as the flight could be delayed/cancelled and also you get a day to recover. Not that everyone suffers jet lag, I never have.

Definitely not!

a) he's a grown up and can sort his own work

b) don't point out to his boss that he is working whilst totally knackered and likely running at half pace!

I have worked plenty of days in the office straight after a holiday because I don't want to take an extra day of leave, including going to the office straight from the airport! I dress smart, smuggle the suitcase into a dark corner, and do everything I can to look like I'm working hard even when my brain is frazzled. The last thing I'd want is someone telling my boss that I'm likely underperforming and knackered!