And now I'm being told I need to report to the office 3 days per week. (Tl;Dr at the bottom)
I've been working from home since early 2020 pandemic days. Even earned two promotions while completing several large important company projects ahead of schedule and above expectations. I even just got my latest annual review which was a rating of “exceeded expectations” in my new role.
And yet, the new president apparently came on site and saw the empty cubicles and has ended remote work if you live close to the office. (We have 3 buildings and only 1 floor of 1 building is empty)
I went from the happiest I've ever been doing a new job that I'm enjoying and thinking I could stay with this company for 30 years to updating my resume and LinkedIn the same night I found this out. Top it all off we passed on buying a new home because we figured we could just gain some more equity for a few more years instead of moving closer or further away if we had the knowledge of this coming.
I'm thinking maybe I just say I've moved to a friend's house who lives outside their arbitrary office radius but I know that could have repurcussions if discovered. I know companies are pushing for RTW so it will be hard to find something fully remote but I'm lucky I'm in an in demand field.
I just can't believe that one person is so upset about some empty cubicles they'd make a decision like this. I've been up for hours trying to think through possible scenarios of how to ask for an exclusion or demanding a pay raise or something to take some control back and I just needed to vent so if you made it all this way thanks for reading
Tl;Dr: worked remote since the pandemic, loved my job thought I'd never leave, multiple promotions and accolades. New president is lonely and demands everyone back in the office for no reason. Now actively searching for something new