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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Going into the office 5 days a week!

243 replies

Honeybunnny · 23/09/2025 10:58

Hi

Im REALLY struggling with a good job offer which would probably kick start my career as it requires me to be fully office based. The office is a 2 minute drive so will have practically 0 commute but I have worked hybrid for a few years and I just love it. It changed my life so much and I am so much more relaxed at home, and more productive in general. It was a game changer for me.

The thought of returning to an office 5 days a week makes me feel queasy and I just can't shake it off.

It would be a shame to turn down the role purely because I can't bear to be in an office, they do not offer hybrid at all.

Any thoughts or has anyone gone from remote to office work?

Thank you

OP posts:
Outside9 · 23/09/2025 12:18

A 2 minute drive??

ilovesooty · 23/09/2025 12:20

GingerBeverage · 23/09/2025 11:47

What is their justification for requiring full time in the office?

If it's valid, then that's fine. If it's some kind of top-down male-centric box-ticking performative nonsense (remembering that hybrid working benefits women more) then the wider company culture may not fit you.

Every single time I hear about a manager wanting people in 5 days a week, it's a middle aged man with a stay at home wife who has benefitted from her labour at home his whole working life, and spares no thought for the women under his management.

Her manager's personal circumstances are nothing to do with her.

throwaway20262025 · 23/09/2025 12:20

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 23/09/2025 12:13

I find that attitude amusing.

It's not whether it's necessary but whether that's the rules the employer has.

There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?

I wouldn't appreciate working in the warehouse (often majority men) and seeing the admin staff (often majority women) moaning how they have to.commute 40% of their week.

I exaggerate probably above, but I don't think a common policy for all staff is regressive or old-fashioned.

Years ago, working at Mars, because the line workers had to be there on time for their shift or the lines would stop, they paid a good timekeeping bonus (about 10% of salary). Everybody, including the directors, had to clock in and would lose that bonus if they weren't in on time.

It felt very fair and equitable.

Edited
Show quote history

"There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?"

There are many companies where some people have to work night shifts, are you suggesting they make everyone in the company do that too for the sake of 'fairness'? No, because different roles have different requirements.

Putting a blanket decision across the entire company might be a business' prerogative, but it doesn't make it reasonable.

Praying4Peace · 23/09/2025 12:20

2 minute commute???
Try 90😃

ilovesooty · 23/09/2025 12:20

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 23/09/2025 12:15

What does it matter?
That's the offer she's been given

Show quote history

Exactly. Take it or leave it. She's very lucky to have such a short commute.

throwaway20262025 · 23/09/2025 12:21

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 23/09/2025 12:15

What does it matter?
That's the offer she's been given

Show quote history

It matters because their reasoning will give a pretty good indication to what sort of place it is to work, and what the culture is like.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 23/09/2025 12:22

I'd only go back to five days in the office if I had no other choice. It's not just that I personally prefer hybrid, but it's also a red flag for the company's short-sightedness in general.

ilovesooty · 23/09/2025 12:23

AnxietySloth · 23/09/2025 11:54

I would never go back to full time office work - not for anything.

I think it also indicates that the employer has regressive and non-inclusive work practices and doesn't trust its staff. Avoid.

If I were still in a job where I was employed by someone else I wouldn't consider a WFH role. We're all different.

K0OLA1D · 23/09/2025 12:25

I couldn't go back to full time in the office again. Unless the pay is a vast amount more than I am currently getting I wouldn't even consider it.

I only work around an 8 min drive away from the office, but its not the travel that puts me off, it being in the office!

Mondayblues2 · 23/09/2025 12:25

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 23/09/2025 12:22

I'd only go back to five days in the office if I had no other choice. It's not just that I personally prefer hybrid, but it's also a red flag for the company's short-sightedness in general.

I feel the same and would only take a "5 days in the office" job if it was a choice between that and starvation

vivainsomnia · 23/09/2025 12:27

It depends on what WFH is currently like. If it's 8 hours in front of the co.puter being monitored, then I'd definitely take the job. If it is one of those jobs you can do in 2 hours so you get the rest of the day to do stuff as you wish, then no, I wouldn't take it.

fairydustt · 23/09/2025 12:31

I’d have no problem doing 5 office days a week if my commute was 2 minutes. As it is, I have an hour and a half commute I do 3 days a week, the commute is the only reason I wouldn’t do 5 days in the office tbh

InMyShowgirlEra · 23/09/2025 12:33

I love WFH but in this situation I'd do it. Are the hours flexible? I'd look at it as a temporary step whilst you look for a more flexible employer.

Littlemisscapable · 23/09/2025 12:34

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 23/09/2025 11:01

I think the two minute commute really softens the blow. I'd take it.

This..sure you can go home for lunch and have no commute. If it is progression then def go for it. U might e enjoy working in office and separating home and office life.

IWasScaredToBeHeld · 23/09/2025 12:36

YABU. You can roll out of bed at 8:45 and be at work on time. If you have a lunch hour you can pop home and put the washing on/peg it out/put dinner in the slow cooker. It’s literally like working at the bottom of your garden.

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 23/09/2025 12:37

throwaway20262025 · 23/09/2025 12:21

It matters because their reasoning will give a pretty good indication to what sort of place it is to work, and what the culture is like.

Show quote history

Conversely, someone who won't take a job just around the corner because they want to be at home indicates what sort of employee they intend to be.

WFH rarely benefits the.company. Especially for new starters. There is a world of differences between being on teams calls and informal discussions and conversations around desks, or being in a canteen where you meet people you don't directly work with.

For the OP looking to kickstart her careerr, I'd suggest that the opportunities for networking far outweigh the annoyance.

FWIW, there is a real data leakage problem with letting people WFH when they have access to personal data. Many companies are not even aware of that.

FriedFalafels · 23/09/2025 12:38

It doesn’t matter the length of a commute for me, no role would ever be worth being fully office based again.

I’ve recently shifted from once a fortnight to several days a week in the office. That’s pushing it for me and I hope to get it down in future. It’s just nice not to talk to others, be make up free, tie my hair back and put on some comfortable clothes on my home days but mostly not needing to be social. It keeps my batteries up for the other days

I can also utilise my lunch break and commute time to get the house in order

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/09/2025 12:41

I work in an office on 60:40 and it’s non contractual have taken a new job for an extra day a week. I work in the legal sector. I work a lot with recruiters, US firms and banks are pushing for a full return to the office so unless you’re hybrid is contracted I definitely think the model will be something of the past in the next 5 years.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 23/09/2025 12:42

If it's definitely going to boost your career then yes I would.
The commute is a dream, and it doesn't have to be permanent.
Lots of people make sacrifices for their career - even working away from home during the week.
As far as sacrifices go, this is a minor one.
You can return to wfh some time in the future.

AmpleLilacQuail · 23/09/2025 12:42

Definitely take it, being able to go home for lunch is such a treat! You’ll get back into the routine of being in the office 5 days a week pretty quickly. I’m jealous, I hate wfh but can’t seem to escape it 😩

CanSeeClearlyNowTheRainHasGone · 23/09/2025 12:43

throwaway20262025 · 23/09/2025 12:20

"There are many companies where some people have to be onsite all the time. It seems pretty reasonable to treat all employees the same, doesn't it?"

There are many companies where some people have to work night shifts, are you suggesting they make everyone in the company do that too for the sake of 'fairness'? No, because different roles have different requirements.

Putting a blanket decision across the entire company might be a business' prerogative, but it doesn't make it reasonable.

Show quote history

That's not a good analogy. -- People on night shifts have enhanced wages to compensate..

I dont see people here saying "pay me less than my peers and I'll WFH" which might be a reasonable proposition. .

ParmaVioletTea · 23/09/2025 12:43

WFH rarely benefits the.company. Especially for new starters. There is a world of differences between being on teams calls and informal discussions and conversations around desks, or being in a canteen where you meet people you don't directly work with.

This.

I feel really sorry for young people starting out in new jobs or careers and having to deal with a rigid Teams/WFH culture and/or colleagues. There is so much informal knowledge & information that gets communicated by in-person working and the sociability that goes with it. We are social animals after all.

And I feel sorry for the companies & institutions where people aren't present. I don't mean a blanket "presenteeism" - I just mean, a workplace culture with employees who resent being there or talking to their colleagues!

BeMellowAquaSquid · 23/09/2025 12:45

K0OLA1D · 23/09/2025 12:25

I couldn't go back to full time in the office again. Unless the pay is a vast amount more than I am currently getting I wouldn't even consider it.

I only work around an 8 min drive away from the office, but its not the travel that puts me off, it being in the office!

Sorry to hijack but can I ask you what puts you off being in the office? Would there be anything not of monetary value that would see you come in more? Am trying to increase footfall and I’m genuinely interested to hear from people who have this mindset.

RickertyRocker · 23/09/2025 12:46

WFH benefits everyone. You either work or you don't. Some people find they are more productive in the office, for others, the opposite is true.

Bums on seats 9am to 5pm company culture would not align with my values. Of course there need to be flexibility, especially for new starters. Flexibility goes both ways or not at all.

WFH is a much better for working around my disability. It is better for my company because I am flexible with them. If there is a deadline, I will work longer hours to meet it.

RaininSummer · 23/09/2025 12:48

Assuming you actually work properly when working from home, how will your life change in reality if it's such a short journey to work as you won't lose any time at all which I thought was the best thing about working from home?