BE WARNED: THE FOLLOWING IS QUITE RANTY
I just got an entry level job after five years out of the workforce. I was active-duty military with two combat deployments. I separated and decided to attend college to pursue a BA in Sports Management. Figured it was time to do something that i enjoyed for once. Once I finished my BA, I decided to enroll in an accelerated Master's Program.
Now I am working as an Administrative Assistant for a corporation. It pays 29K a year, and is very easy, but also very boring. None of the work is difficult, and tbh, it feels like “busy work”. When I'm not doing random excel calculations or scheduling meetings, I often find myself remembering combat. So, I asked my boss if I could work from home a few days a week to break up the monotony of sitting in an office. Generally, I see one to two customers a day and never have to answer the phone. Essentially, my entire job can be done remotely. Then I'd be free to feel any emotion without wearing a 'mask'.
My boss was fine with it. He agreed working M-F 8-5 can be mentally exhausting. I explained that if I need to take a mental health day, then I have to waste my PTO. Therefore, I am forced to work in an environment that isn't ideal for PTSD. He sent it up the ladder and I ended up getting a call from HR.
The representative repeatedly reminded me that when I accepted the position, that it wasn't telecommute. I told them I understand but I also wasn't aware of many job intricacies prior. They waited to tell me that the “and other additional duties” clause of my description meant they could force me to do LITERALLY anything. HR incessantly asked how working from home would help me at all… I told them it'd allow me to feel my emotions without ruining the company image, also that it'd reduce my anxiety and I could fulfill my duties whilst feeling depressed, angry, sad, etc. They didn't understand and now want a cavalcade of documentation, because ya know, clearly, I'm a big stinky liar…
TL;DR
Why does HR care more about corporate drivel than ensuring the employees are treated fairly and feel understood?