I guess this is a correct community to post about this? If not let me know.

My company finally is asking politely that we have to go to the office twice a week. Or else. That else is not yet defined, but obviously there will be consequences of not going to the office.

I have been at this company for 15 years, from junior dev to manager.

I did a daily commute of about 40 mins in the morning, 40 to an hour back, never gave a second thought about that. That was normal.

After pandemics, I found out all I have been missing on my kids growing up. My second kid is much more attached to me since she saw me daily, even if I was in my office room at home, she got to see me more often.

So I found out how much my life improved by doing working at home. Hell in the middle of this sentence my kid just showed me some thing she drew.

I stood my ground, I basically politely told HR that I am not going back. And actually my reasons make sense, I work with people in other countries, they don’t care where I am.

And it will affect my performance, driving to the office, moving all my equipment, and having people around trying to talk to me will take a toll.

So yeah, I am polishing my resume, because there is no turning back now. I will be shunted if I ask for a raise, they can easily say “hey but you are not coming to the office, how come you want a raise if you are not part of the team”, never mind that I do everything that is expected and more.

Just off my chest I guess, and anxious about the future.

  • Feersummendjinn
    32·
    11 months ago

    Once it is clearly proven you can work remotely, a commute to the office should be viewed as a site visit with the travel time being on the clock and travel costs reimbursed. If they do that, then yeah sure I’ll listen to podcasts for an hour a day, anything else should be looked at as the pay cut it actually is. ((Travel time x hourly wage)+travel costs).

    • Poringo@lemmy.zipOP
      11·
      11 months ago

      Yeah I thought about this, we (or I) never considered all the time wasted in commute.

      In that case I should leave at 9 am, and return around 4:20 since I make 40 mins commute.

      Either that or get paid the extra time, which honestly I don’t think it’s going to happen.

    • abbadon420@lemm.ee
      4·
      11 months ago

      Or compensate it yourself. I have to come in the office twice a week, but I have to meet actual customers, so that’s fair. However, friday afternoon drinks start at 3 (until 8 or 9 usually), so that hansomly compensates for my 1 hour to and 1 hour back for that day. The other day’s commute I’ll compensate by starting late when I work from home. My employer doesn’t care about my hours as long as the work gets done.