So a little back story, I started a new position at a small business with the promise to wfh after a period of a few months working in the office to learn the job, understand the software/ system and get the overall gist of the job.
I was hired with specific intent to wfh, this was imperative to me taking the job. This was very clear before I even started working there, since the drive to the office is over 50 miles one way in moderate highway traffic. So, after 3 days in the position, I was presented & agreed to (signed) what would be considered like an offer letter of a sorts. It outlined my job hours, expected amount of time to complete my “training” on site and that my position was uniquely offered the ability to work remotely – with a few little exceptions like if someone were to be on vacation, my boss was out of the office, etc. no problem! It also stated after my 90 day probationary period, I would be evaluated in order to decide what exactly I’ll be doing remotely. (The small business is a water delivery service, so more customer service & order taking, creating deliveries, etc.)
After my 90 days, it was stated I was not up to par to work remotely yet, and that I needed “additional training” to get to the efficiency of her expectations. Meh, alright, I guess I have some more learning to do? Fine.
That was in September. Im fully trained, have great work ethic and know the job almost as well as my office manager. I can be trusted with more than enough responsibility & my workload is more than most employees who are doing similar jobs.
Ive brought it up multiple times, what else is there that I need to learn and what else do I need to do transition to home??? Im given vague answers, wanting me to learn collection efforts, etc…. Then last week I got covid.
I was out for over 5 days, and 2 of them would have been completely fine if I was wfh, but because Im not even set up to do so yet (no remote access, no laptop given to me, nothing!) I had to stay home and go unpaid.
Last week I feel I was setup by another employee & they claimed I did something that was a terminable offense – the “offense” is irrelevant, to this whole thing, and they made it a huge deal that my boss claimed was “so untrustworthy I cannot trust you to wfh – that offer is not longer on the table.”
Is there anything I can do? I feel like if it was a term of my employment they cant take that away, right? I feel like I was setup so they no longer have to honor it so Im forced to work in the office.