Company did a bait and switch at offer stage

[Soootired23]

I've been interviewing for a company for the past 3 weeks. I really like their product and have drunk the look aid about who they are etc...

I did see that the American counterpart of the role I've been interviewing for was hybrid, but they never published the British version of it and during the interview process a) my location was never mentioned as an issue and b) HR person even said they were fully remote in the UK. Even their website says they're remote in general (but again this role in the US says it's hybrid).

I'm basically at offer stage, and then the HM asks if I've ever considered moving more "centrally" which I replied that yes I will. (And it's 100% true) but not imminently.

Then they came back with a standard, "we're trying to build teams around our offices"...

My hunch is that they'll either make it a condition (with a deadline) or they won't but it will regularly come up.

So AIBU to be disheartened about this? I really thought this would put and end to my unemployment.

That's what I'm focusing on (to also distract myself)

UPDATE: I got the job and it's fully remote!

Happy days!!!

That’s great news!! Well done!
👏👏👏

Not quite, but whatever will be, will be. At this pace it might take 6 months!

Ladies, a bit of an update on this... I've now got the contract with me, but it only says a "flexible mix between remote work, and your local company office".... Which is 6 hours away!

I would insist that they amend your contract to remote.

As I mentioned before, for my current job I was told at interview that the role was remote with only the need to attend quarterly meeting in the office and they put in my contract that the role was 'hybrid'. I should have insisted on 'remote' being written down instead because six months later they tried to get me to be in the office once a week (which means 5 hour commute in total). I refused to do that but office attendance has been a constant issue since then...

So don't trust the employer to keep their word, make it sure it is written down or don't take the job.

Yes that's my worry! My commute is 5-6 hours each way! I'm open to do it, but not at my own expense.

I've asked for at least some written clarification, but I find a bit odd since they'll know that if they try to enforce a "proper hybrid" set up (and everything else remains the same), I'd end up quitting.