I started my first “real job” in my career in October 2021 and I was finishing my Ph.D. It started out hybrid and I was coming in 1-2 days a week, remote the rest. The CEO of the company (~120 employees) sent out a company-wide email stating that now that Covid is getting better, they're considering officially implementing the hybrid work schedule into the company policy. He sent out a survey and asked us to email him or schedule a meeting to talk with him to discuss our thoughts.
My supervisor asked me what I thought about it and I said I would like to continue to come in as needed 1-2 days a week. She said she recommended 4 days a week “because it is good to be seen around the office” and “there is just something about being in the office that you don't get working from home”. I told her I would still prefer to work from home more frequently. She asked me to think on it.
Immediately after, I email the CEO and tell him that I would prefer to work remote most of the week and only come in 1-2 days. I also told him that the hybrid schedule was a significant factor in terms of me choosing this position. He thanked me, and said he realizes that a hybrid work schedule is probably the way to go if they want to retain talent.
A week later we have a company-wide meeting and the CEO says the results of the survey are in, everyone preferred the hybrid work schedule and most people would like to work from home 3-4 days per week. He also said “it is not the company's policy to make you come in X amount of days per week arbitrarily. You only need to come in when it is necessary for you to be there for a physical meeting or activity.
Then I spoke with my supervisor. She said that her supervisor (who reports directly to the CEO) asked her how many days per week she recommended my role (there are three others like me, entry level) come into the office. She told me that she suggested 4 days a week and that he was fine with that. She didn't ask for my opinion that time.
For about 3 weeks I came in 4 days a week and usually she came up with a reason I needed to be there on Friday as well. She works from home 3 days a week and all of my meetings are on Microsoft Teams because we have other project members working in other states.
Monday I graduated with my Ph.D, spent Tuesday on PTO to hang out with visiting family, and Wednesday I put in my 2 weeks. My supervisor seemed shocked and couldn't understand why.
I spent the last three weeks interviewing with another company and at the end of this month I'll be starting a full remote position that pays 13k more.
Listen to your employees. And follow your company's own damn policy for God's sake!