I have worked for a large, global company for the past 3.5 years but at the end of last year I purchased a house that is four hours away. I told my boss that I hope I could work remote but no hard feelings if it wouldn’t work out, I’d find a new job. Keep in mind half my team, including my boss, is in the UK. I’m in the US and we had been working remote for 2 years due to Covid.
Also, during the first meeting about my move by boss told me that “I’m throwing all my hard work away” by moving.
Fast forward 8 months, I finally got written approval for my request to work remote but they are demanding I work from the office three days a month. I am responsible for driving my own vehicle, paying for my own gas, buying my own food, and finding my own lodging during this monthly trip. I am not sure where they got this number and wish it was a discussion rather than a demand. (Local employees have to go into the office twice a week).
These trips cost about $800 monthly out of my own pocket (20% of my income). I am the only one on my team requested to pay out of pocket for these trips. I have at least two people on my team based in other states that are compensated for their trips. I am the only one who is not and they are rarely asked to come in, maybe once a year. Are they trying to get me to quit? What rights do I have here?
Other things my manager and boss have told me during conversations:
“We looked at your compensation and decided you could afford the trips.”
After expressing worry of not being able to afford these trips my manager says, “I couldn’t afford my first house either so I lived off of beans and rice.”
“The situation you are in is the result of your actions.”
UGH