Just received this email dripping with bullshit.
Team,
COVID has been a major inconvenience to us all over the past 2 years. Fortunately, we've been coming out the other side of this dark tunnel over the past couple months. On a national level, media hype has died down, Covid numbers have dropped, officials are recalculating hospitalizations based on “with-Covid” vs “for-Covid” cases, and the Supreme Court has shot down many of the previous mandates issued by the Executive Branch. As a company, [Company Name] has dropped its existing COVID guidance policies and some [Company Name] teams are starting to come back full time. I feel it's time for us to make the transition as well.
Effective Monday, May 2nd, I'd like for everyone to transition back to full time in-office work. Please take this two-week window until then to make any arrangements you might need. If you are unable to make those arrangements within this window, please reach out to me with the situation and the time to resolve.
I understand you may work as efficiently at home as you do at work, but there's more to it than that. When everyone is at work, there's more comradery, we're able to bounce complicated ideas off each other, chat/bond over life stuff, etc. It's also important to separate your home and work lives. It's kind of like having a TV or cell phone in your bedroom. It's not a problem on a conscious level, but subconsciously it's a distraction when you need to sleep. Or you can use the “don't go to the bathroom where you eat” motto.
Looking at it from a career perspective, you also want members of leadership to actually 'see' you. Unless the entire company teleworks, management is more likely to favor someone they see every day as a future leader, than someone they don't.
I have always been flexible when it comes to allowing my people to balance their work and personal lives… and will continue to do so. My philosophy is, if the person works hard and is dependable, I'll do whatever I can when they need an accommodation. If there are situations where you need to work from home, just let me know. Life happens… whether it be vague deliver/repair times at home, doctors appointments, taking care of sick family/pets, etc. It's fine! Work for me, and I'll work for you!
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. As always, thank you all for everything you do. We are successful by the actions you accomplish every day!
There is just so much BS packed into this. If we're working just as well at home as we are at the office, then what is the point of having us come in? It's not going to boost productivity so why make the expense? If you'll do whatever you can to accommodate the balance in our work and personal lives, then how about letting telework be that accommodation? If we work just as well from home then whatever you think are distractions actually aren't distracting from our work. And some people DO sleep with TVs on, and sleep better with the noise or light from it. And did Mister Boss-man REALLY just admit that he favors his subordinates for promotion based upon his personal opinion of them rather than their actual work performance?
Unless the entire company teleworks, management is more likely to favor someone they see every day as a future leader, than someone they don't.
OHHH he is so close to getting it! Just have everyone telework, you moron!