Until May I had been working in IT for a large fortune 500 company , I was based out of Florida. I have been with the company for 22 years and have been working remotely 100% of the time since the pandemic started (as has my entire team).
The company created a website and categorized all workers into 3 buckets-on prem, hybrid, and remote. My team was categorized as hybrid which means no set amount of days to come into the office but you had to work within commuting distance of one of the campuses. I decided to move out of state at the end of May and applied to be re-classified as remote. This request has sat since then not approved. My Boss has been working on the request since then.
Today i had a final meeting with my boss about the subject and he said that my request to be classified as remote was denied for the last time and I have two days to make a decision if i want to move back to Florida and establish an address there. If not i would need to talk to HR and they would initiate a voluntary separation for “personal reasons” and set me a rehire eligible.
At this point i dont think they are offering me any separation but said i can negotiate my leave date potentially up to 30 days out. My question, should i voluntarily separate or make them fire me? Florida unemployment benefits are crap, $275 a week max.
I wouldnt have any intention of going back to work for them so the “rehire” status isnt important to me. I am fully vested in my 401k and pension so will take that if I go. I will end up meeting with HR , advise on how to proceed with the voluntary separation aspect ?