I was hired in late 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. Our entire office was working remotely. That year was our best and most successful year to date.
As the pandemic waned, my office moved to a hybrid work situation – two days in the office. During this time, I was hospitalized with chrons disease and placed on medication for pain. I asked my doctor for a letter explaining my condition, which they provided with the caveat this condition is easier managed remotely. My office has only two single use bathrooms.
My request, backed by medical documentation, signed by a team of doctors and specialists, was approved. I remain remote full time but go into the office when requested.However, every chance they get the management team will use events in my personal life against me as a way to get me back into the office.
I took a work trip to Florida for a work conference in October last year. My boss said “We want you in the office. If you can go to Florida, you can come into the office.”I refused, citing my medical documentation and previous approval to work remotely.
My boss has stated that my position was not created remotely, which is technically true. However, two employees at the company are also not remote workers, but simply moved to other states where they continue to work remotely full time, without the hassle of management.
During my recent Q1 evaluation, my boss asked how WFH was going. I said it was going fine, no issues. He informed me they “may end that” sometime in the future and we can have a conversation about it, as he also reiterated my position “was not created remotely”.
To be honest, I'm fucking tired of this back and forth. I'm tired of them using whatever I do in my time outside of work as a means to lure me back into the office. I can't work around others anymore, it's too distracting with the constant conversation and the chaos of the workday. I work well remotely.
I have a diagnosed, well documented medical condition which they have approved as a reason to remain remote. I do everything that is asked of me without complaint. I work late, I work weekends. I do it all for the good of the business.
I am planning to refuse to come into the office based on the information above. I'm looking for any sort of recourse against their request, which I'm sure will inevitably come before the end of the year.
Thanks for reading.