Another working from the office rant

[Paperswan]

Have been on fixed term contracts the last 5 years (academia). Have just moved internally so same role, same pay.

New line manager just said there’s an expectation to be in three days a week at least, more if there are extra meetings.

i know I can’t argue against it, if he says it he says it, but I’m just dreading it! Two hour (terrible) commute each way, £250 pay cut due to travel alone, all to sit in a shared office with students. I’m adding at least six hours on to my work week - not possible to work on the commute as it is a walk-train-bus-walk situation and the buses are unreliable and slow.

I also dislike the micromanaging aspect of it - I completely agree with face to face meetings but I resent going in for the sake of it when my commute is so long, and needing to book private meeting rooms for my many calls. Senior staff don’t seem to face these kinds of stipulations so my building is often completely dead.

agh - any tips or tricks for making it easier ? I am looking for roles in better locations but the job market is not good right now in my area!

I feel for you. It's utter nonsense dragging people into the office for the sake of it

My partner was told that they were all expected to come in 3 days a week about a year ago. Some people complied, some only did 1 or 2 days a week, some people continued to WFH full time. There hasn't been any more said about it. As you say, you'll probably have to go along with it for now, but hopefully they won't hold firm on it for too long. Good luck

You might get better advice on the academic common room. From my experience in academia, could it be that your line manager feels they have to state the expectation, but isn’t going to monitor it? I know a few institutions where that is the case.
alternatively, it could be their poor/ineffective way of raising a concern about your performance - have you had a recent review?

It’s my understanding that it’s his expectation of the research group he’s building (so all his junior staff, not just me).

have never had a review in all my time at the institute, but always had excellent recommendations. I don’t think he would have offered the role to me if he had reservations about me - they will be saturated with excellent candidates so easy to find someone else.

my previous manager didn’t have any in person requirements so it’s possible he’s emphasising now because he knows I previously worked mainly remotely.

I think all you can do at the moment is make the best of it. So stock up on some good books to read on your commute (or podcasts or puzzles or whatever you thing is), and perhaps look to make the best of your office location in terms of doing stuff at lunchtime - what’s around there to visit?