So I’m a primary caretaker to a loved one. I took a consulting/data analytics contract for a major telecom company. Three weeks ago, when I accepted the offer (and declined other 100% remote positions), I was told that the position would be majority WFH with maybe 1-2 days in office.
Fast forward to yesterday. I walk into the office to pick up my equipment and am informed that the team has just gone 100% in-office, but bc I’m a contractor they were “flexible” to 1-2 days WFH. Hardly anyone in this office was wearing masks, and it was cubicle city. I almost immediately reached out to the recruiter from the staffing agency and asked why the sudden change. I explained that I’m a caretaker and cannot afford to (1) be away from my loved one, and (2) contract anything to bring home to them, as they are immunocompromised.
The account rep’s first thought was to offer me more money. I declined and politely asked if my initial terms could be honored, or if I could at least work remotely for the first few weeks until I find alternate caretaking arrangements. He said he’d connect with the company and get back to me.
I got the call today that they’re cutting my contract. Apparently they escalated my ask all the way to the division’s VP, who said that the “optics” weren’t good if they let me work from home more than everyone else. Mind you, this is a 3-month contract where I would be running Python scripts and putting the results into powerpoint presentations. I’m absolutely incensed because they pretty much baited-and-switched me, and made me choose between this job (after i had already started AND turned down other offers) and my loved one.
Honestly, maybe I dodged a bullet. If the VP is more concerned about “optics” than the fact that this team has been understaffed for at least 6 months, spent 8 weeks hiring someone, and now has to start all over… then he’s an ignoramus who doesn’t deserve to be managing ANYONE. I mean, why would you further stall a team’s productivity because of “optics” when they’ve obviously had problems staffing in the first place, as evident from the inclusion of a staffing agency anyway. I guess I’m just upset that I was tricked and my time was wasted. Hopefully something else comes along bc I really really needed that money. Oh well. Back to the job board I go, I guess.